Shaun Deeb believes Phil Hellmuth's run at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is effectively over. Speaking with WSOP reporter Jeff Platt on Monday, Deeb said he doesn't expect the "Poker Brat" to ever claim bracelet No. 18 and even backed himself to eventually overtake Hellmuth's all-time lead.
When PokerNews caught up with Hellmuth on Tuesday at the WSOP Paradise series in the Bahamas, the 17-time champion didn't shy away from addressing Deeb's remarks. He suggested that "he was trolling me," before adding, "he might not have been." Hellmuth also quipped, "He's a little strange sometimes," when asked about Deeb's comments.
Is Hellmuth Done?
Deeb earned his eighth bracelet in October, leaving him nine behind Hellmuth, who has held a commanding lead for decades. Only Phil Ivey (11) and the trio of Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Erik Seidel (10 each) sit in the double-digit club.
Despite trailing by more than half, Deeb told Platt he gives himself a 60% chance of catching Hellmuth within the next 12 years. He reiterated that he wasn't trolling and explained why he doubts Hellmuth will win another bracelet.
"I think he doesn't try hard enough to win, he tries too hard to survive," Deeb said. "He's rich enough, he should be going for the win a lot more. He should be putting in more volume. He should not be maxing everything for one bullet and play some of the smaller field big stuff. But that's Phil. He's a unique individual."
Deeb added that he "would be shocked if he wins one again," though he acknowledged that small-field events could still offer chances. Even so, he said it has become difficult for Hellmuth: "People kind of know his tricks. He kind of tells his opponents how to play against him. And that's not the best strategy when you're trying to trap people, telling them all day you're going to trap them."
Hellmuth pushed back on that assessment, saying, "I find it interesting, people do not know how good I am. They don't know the knowledge that I have. So, if you're playing poker with me at the Series and I'm tired and I make a mistake, that doesn't quite show the full potential."
Hellmuth's WSOP résumé remains unmatched: 17 bracelets, 198 cashes, and 79 final tables. He also shares the record for the most final tables in a single series (seven), a mark he set in 2021. The BetRivers Poker ambassador is the only player to win bracelets in five different decades.
Even so, Deeb, 39, believes the 61-year-old legend is past his peak. Hellmuth's first bracelet came in the 1989 Main Event, where he famously beat two-time defending champion Johnny Chan heads-up. His most recent victory was the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty in 2023.
Shaun Deeb, a two-time WSOP Player of the Year who becomes Hall of Fame eligible next summer, has captured eight bracelets in 11 years, making a run at 17 within the next dozen seasons plausible. Phil Hellmuth, however, insists he's aiming higher, saying he still hopes to reach his long-stated goal of 24 bracelets.
Source:
https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/12/shaun-deeb-critical-of-phil-hellmuth-50186.htm
