Phil Hellmuth has a reputation for being on the tighter side of things, but that wasn’t the case in the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise $25,000 Super Main Event when he called off preflop with queen-deuce after starting the hand with 26 big blinds.
The hand took place on Day 2 in Level 12 (15,000/30,000/30,000), which is when reporter Adam Lamers saw Corey Kempson open to 75,000 on the button and Samuel Chartier called from the small blind.
Phil Hellmuth three-bet to 350,000 from the big blind and Kempson four-bet shoved all in. Chartier quickly folded and Hellmuth used a time bank before sticking in an additional 450,000 chips.
Phil Hellmuth: Q♣2♥
Corey Kempson: J♠J♥
Hellmuth must have had some type of feeling as we have all seen this play before against Alex Foxen.
The J♣10♠9♣flop gave Kempson top set, but Hellmuth did pick up an open-ended straight draw. Unfortunately for the “Poker Brat,” neither the 5♠turn nor 4♦river was the "White Magic" the 17-time bracelet winner needed and he was eliminated from the tournament.
https://twitter.com/PokerNews/status/1868763168593334343
All that said, Hellmuth’s call came while the late registration period was still open and he did opt to jump back into action.
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