Me, My Haircut at the 2002 World Series of Poker & Gabe Kaplan
Saturday, May 9, 2009 - Phil Hellmuth
As we get ready for the WSOP 2009 I can’t help but think back to 2002. I knew the ramifications of what I was saying. I knew that the American public would perceive my statement as “sour grapes.” Oh well, I said it anyway. I just didn’t think that it would come to this!
While I was helping Gabe Kaplan with the ESPN Commentary during the last day of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2002, I put my foot in my mouth, way in my mouth. Robert Varkonyi had just lost $400,000 of his last $640,000 with 9-9 vs. Julian Gardeners A-A (all-in before the flop) on the first hand. So I just opened my mouth and blurted it out.
It seemed pretty safe to say, especially at that exact time, and, I wasn’t very impressed with Robert’s play anyway, so I said it, “If Robert Varkonyi wins the WSOP, I’ll shave my head.” Sensing some possible added drama, the executive producer said, “Repeat what you just said.” I still felt like backing off, but I thought, “What are the chances that this comment makes the final ESPN cut to make me look bad anyway? I mean, Robert has to win first place from $240,000 in chips.” So I repeated the statement for the ESPN Commentary.
Now the players were told what I said, and I looked at Robert right then, and he seemed to bristle a bit. I thought, “Oh no, I may have lit a fire under him!” I don’t know if that was the case or not, but I do know that Robert began to play better then anyone else in the field from that moment forward. He did manage to hold off an ace or a king when John Shipley moved all-in with A-K versus Robert’s J-J, and he pretty much dominated the final table play after that. He was only all-in one other time when he put in one million dollars before the flop with J-J vs. John Shipley’s A-J. After that pot, Robert steadily increased his chip lead until he had a stranglehold on the rest of the players.
With four players left, and the blinds at $15,000-$30,000, Robert opened for $100,000 with Q-10 (the same hand that he busted me out with versus my Ah-Kh in a memorable [for me!] pot two days earlier). When Scott Grey moved all-in for $250,000 more with A-9, Robert called saying, “This is Phil’s favorite hand (a reference to the beat he put on me), so I call.” I don’t like his call here at all. But with a flop of Q-Q-8, Q-10 really was my favorite hand! The turn card brought a 9 and the river brought an A, both of which hit Scott’s A-9, but it wasn’t enough to beat three queens.
Now they were down to three players. The first hand after a fifteen-minute TV timeout was spectacular. Julian Gardener opened the pot for $100,000 on the button. Ralph Perry raised, and made it $300,000 to go from the small blind. Then Robert moved all-in (four million dollars!) from the big blind. Julian flashed his hand to me when he folded it and he had 10-10. Ralph decided to call with his J-J, and Robert had A-A in the big blind! This was one of the most exciting (and cold blooded) hands in WSOP history. In two hands, Robert had eliminated two players and now he faced Julian–with 5 million in chips to Julian’s 1.3 million in chips.
After only 10 more minutes, the blinds were up to $20,000-$40,000 when the following hand came up. Robert made it only $80,000 to go on the button with Q-10 (that hand again!), and Julian called in the big blind with Jc-8c, and the flop came down 4c-4d-Qc. Now Julian checked, and Robert bet out a relatively small $50,000. Julian decided to move all-in for $900,000 total (an $850,000 raise), and Robert announced, “I call.”
Now the hands were flipped face up, and the fourth card was a 10. With two million dollars in the pot, tournament director Matt Savage (who did a great job throughout the whole WSOP) announced, “Julian needs a club or a 9.” Not exactly Matt, what about the one card, that actually was a club, but still didn’t win the pot for Julian? How about the 10c on the river for Robert to immortalize Q-10 with a full house (tens full of queens) which beat Julian’s jack high flush with a final board of 4c-4d-Qc-10s-10c. What a great last card–both players make a big hand! Right after they turned the 10c on the river, the crowd started chanting, “Shave Phil’s head – shave Phil’s head…”
Of course, Becky Behnan made sure that someone had some barbers equipment on hand, and, I am a man of my word. I would have loved to avoid the head shave, but I certainly deserved what I had coming, and I knew it! First Robert, followed by Becky Behnan, Andy Glazer, the Devilfish, and others, took turns shaving my head in front of a room full of spectators, press and cameras. Although the “side show” spectacle of having my head shaved by Robert (who was very gracious and tried to let me out of a shaved head) in front of over 1000 people, was, apparently, very entertaining for those watching, it was Robert’s day.
Robert played magnificent poker while he dominated the final table at the World Championships of poker. Congratulations to Robert Varkonyi, the 2002 World Champion of poker.
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Tags: Devilfish, espn, gabe kaplan, Robert Varkonyi, WSOP
May 9th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Phil,
I loved the story……..and am still chuckling.
I joined ultimetbet based solely on the fact that you demand integrity…..I see it in almost every game here.
I’m counting on it and have enjoyed playing poker at this site.
So thank you and thanks to ultimetbet for being a transparent site.
Everettez
May 9th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
That is fantastic. Any pictures?
May 12th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Mr. Helmuth;
Ever since watching that series for 2002,I have been playing Holdem Poker. I want u to know that at first I found u to be Pompus and Arrogant,needless to say ive learned to respect and appreciate your Profeesionalism in the art of poker. You bring a new image to the poker world and I beleive ypou set a new standard for all players to attempt to achieve. I hope one dat that I can have the privilidge to either watch or if lucky play you. I have learned a great deal watching you over the last 7 years sionce the 2002 World Series and you have become one of the top Pros that is feared and respected in the tournament world. Best of luck and one day I hope to play in an event that you are in and if lucky enough to sit at the same table as you. I wish you and your Army all the luck and sucess. My ultimate goal is to make it to the World Serieas of poker if for nothing else the experience as well as the opportunity to participate. Im sure you get alot of mail sounding like this but thtas ok. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and will try to get you in the Beat the Brat tourny on Tuesdays. best of luck.
Sincerly;
JAVAJONES