Phil Hellmuth has been oddly quiet of late. He’s stayed home for much of the World Series of Poker. Playing just the odd event here and there. As a result, he has been out-Hellmuthed this year by players like Mike Matusow and Daniel Negreanu.
Unsatisfied with this, Hellmuth has surfaced again. For a bit. Specifically for the $25,000 buy-in, no-limit hold’em Poker Players Championship.
Well…I haven’t been up before noon in months, nevermind 8 AM…Hello morning! Couldn’t miss today’s $25,000 buy in @WSOP Tourney on @GGPokerOfficial, so, borrowed a plane ✈️ ✈️✈️ Nor Cal to Cabo #BraceletHunting #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/nxTebUzbFW
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) August 23, 2020
Like a G4
This event is something of a come down from the $50k mixed game of previous years but plays more to Hellmuth’s strengths. Or rather his strength: tournament no-limit Texas hold’em.
His return to the limelight might have been an example of peak Hellmuth. In just one Twitter post he drops Randall Emmett’s name (producer of the Irishman), drools over Gulfstream’s brand, casually flashes his Hugo Boss jacket, and makes sure three of his sponsors get their logos on screen.
Crass consumerists everywhere eat your heart out.
Cuz he’s back, baby.
Thanks for loaning me your plane ✈️✈️✈️ Randall Emmit: NICE G4! Bay Area to Cabo to play @WSOP tourneys on @GGPokerOfficial through Sept 6th. #GoingForWSOP16 #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/9cnHtoSysj
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) August 23, 2020
He just wouldn’t be Hellmuth if he stopped there though. So he more or less live-tweeted his entire private jet trip down to Cabo.
This act is a perfect Hellmuthian stew. Equal parts escapist aspirational programming and outright offensive privilege and waste.
Both aspects of which are given a more visceral intensity by the social isolation of a global pandemic and the general misery of a global recession.
Travel in time as well as miles
On the way to another @WSOP Bracelet @phil_hellmuth? #GGPoker pic.twitter.com/fUrJJd3xyA
— GGPoker – HOME OF ONLINE POKER'S LARGEST PRIZEPOOL (@GGPokerOfficial) August 23, 2020
For a few hours, we were back in the early 2000s. All that was missing was a half-dozen scantily clad backing dancers and a Napoleon costume for Hellmuth himself.
Unusually, it looks like he won’t be playing the main event this year. The 1989 WSOP Main Event champ and fifteen-time bracelet winner seems happy to play the odd game here and there.
No doubt he’s more concerned with his new career as a self-help guru and author.
For the players
Whoosh!! Moving FAST, and 41,000 feet high, higher than commercial airlines fly #ILoveMapsAndData #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/VmCXGhvoRj
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) August 23, 2020
Some people watch movies—I have one eye on the movie—on this rig, but two eyes on these map configurations! Thanks for loaning me your plane Randall and @LaLa_Kent #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/ILnJN7F0wv
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) August 23, 2020
After an incredible number of photos of the in-flight displays, and none of the view out the window, he touched down safe in sunny Mexico.
In the end, it was all worth it. For the pool, and for the golf course. Oh, and the poker, of course.
In @WSOP $25,000 buy in Online Tourn on @GGPokerOfficial, 110 left, 55 get paid ($57,000). I’m playing outdoors here in Cabo (no shirt!). Enjoying this view…I would like drinks and cigar late late, after crushing. Tomorrow, can grab one of these and hit golf course #POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/NW89UTwGRe
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) August 23, 2020
We could all learn a thing or two
I think we are all looking forward now to Hellmuth showing the Negreanu’s, Polk’s, and Matusow’s of this brave new world, how to do an at table rant. Not a sad expression of frustration and meanness. But as a nakedly self-serving act of showmanship.
He might not be as good as he once was, but he’s as good once as he ever was.
