Phil Hellmuth's High Hopes For WSOP 2011

Few people would question the poker credentials of the 1989 WSOP Main Event winner Phil Hellmuth Jr.
The so-called “poker brat” is currently placed 5th on poker’s ‘All Time Money List’ having earned $11,453,638 in live tournament cashes. Furthermore, with 11 World Series of Poker bracelets to his name, the 46 year-old has already found himself immortalised in the Poker Hall of Fame.
However, despite cashing for a total of $638,125 at the WSOP since picking up his last bracelet in 2007, Hellmuth would dearly love to get his hands on yet another bracelet in order to exert some influence over the growing group of players largely responsible for his recent woes. Namely, the Maths experts who utilise probability theory and risk all their chips at bizarre moments to bully opponents off pots.
As Phil Hellmuth explains: “The reason I won 11 bracelets is my ability to read opponents. These new guys are focused on the math. And they are changing everything.”
At ten years his junior, Daniel Negreanu is probably one of Hellmuth’s most ardent detractors, although much of it is done in the name of good humoured needling. According to Negreanu:
“The big difference between Phil and me, is that I can see how the game has changed and that I have to adjust my game as well to be able to continue playing…one should learn to play better poker.” 
Even Hellmuth’s closest rival, the 10 times WSOP bracelet winner Johnny Chan had some harsh words to say about Hellmuth’s accomplishments, when he explained:
“If I played that many, I’d have at least 20. I’d win a bracelet every year, no question about it.”
With the 2011 WSOP about to kick-off on May 31st, Phil Hellmuth will now be more determined than ever to add to his impressive tally, whilst silencing his critics. The expected reduced fields at this year’s competiton post-Black Friday may also provide Hellmuth with the golden opportunity to do just that.