2007 WSOP Event 15 - No Limit Holdem $1,500

  Back in the seventies members of a band called Three Dog Night took guitars and forlornly sang about how one is the loneliest number. We are not incredibly certain how the band got its name, but there are a myriad of options. A couple of the more obvious possibilities is that the founder of this group woke up one morning, hung over, with three females he had met at a bar that caters to Bea Arthur look-a-likes. The name could also be in reference to some desperation fueled inter-species action. No matter what theory one comes up with, it all ends badly and anybody who would be associated with a group who identifies themselves with such a scurrilous name deserves the pangs of loneliness that come from being such an isolated number as one. Even though one may seem to be lonely, we are sure Phil Hellmuth could argue today that he is equally isolated with the number 11 as anyone who complains about being stuck on 1.  Phil Hellmuth hit a milestone in the sport of poker. He has just won a record setting 11th World Series of Poker bracelet by beating over 2,500 players and now stands alone as the most decorated WSOP player in history. The difference between Phil and the guys who whine about "one" being tortured isolation is that Phil is perfectly happy being the only guy with eleven bracelets. In fact he probably desires absolutely no company as the sport's top player. Being the only one in the limelight seems to suit him.  There are a large percentage of people who die a little inside whenever good things happen to Phil. This is generally because the man can be a complete ass. Today though, we are all Phil Hellmuth fans, and happily give this poker pro the respect he deserves. This is a monumental accomplishment in the sport and one we should all be proud to have been a witness to. Those who choose to be bitter, or attempt to diminish his accomplishment quite frankly don't understand professional poker.  Winning is not as easy at it used to be (not that it was ever easy). The new infusion of players that have come about from the sport's popularity on internet and television has completely shut down champions like Doyle Brunson, who can no longer seem to compete in poker's new world. Regardless of what has come along, Phil seems to still plod along, throwing tantrums and winning bracelets.  Today he is no longer chasing the numbers of those who came before him, but will be the standard that all present and future players measure themselves by. We congratulate Phil on this record setting victory.PlacePlayerPrize1Phil Hellmuth$637,2542Andy Philachack$394,5943Rick Fuller$247,5184Morgan Machina$161,4255Scott Clements$112,9976David Simon$82,5067Fabrice Soulier$64,5708Ut Nguyen$48,4279Taylor Douglas$38,025