Michael Phelps-Phil Hellmuth; Who's the best?

Yesterday was day one (a) with today being day one (b) of the Bellagio's main event series. This is a $15,000 buy in and should have somewhere around 325 players. I played a few satellites yesterday and did not win a seat and have made the decision not to play this event. Although I really want to play, I feel like I am behind on many of the projects I am involved in and can use this time to catch up. There are enough events these days that it is not necessary to play in every one of them, although I do love events at the Bellagio.

There was an interesting bit of commotion in the tournament room yesterday when Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps came to visit. He has been playing the tournaments across the street at Caesars and final tabled one of them. I talked with him for only a moment and did take a photo with him, so I guess I was a little star struck, but at least I didn't attach myself to him like Phil Hellmuth for an hour while in the middle of playing the Bellagio main event. Phil said later that he and Michael were the same in that they were both the best in their sport, and that most likely Phelps will stay the number 1 swimmer of all time but he (Phil) has people gaining on him. I won't even address the arrogance but what I will do instead is take you through Hellmuth's bust out hand from the Bellagio main event, which happened not long after he paraded around the tournament room with Phelps for the better part of an hour.

With the blinds 200/400 and the ante 50, Hellmuth, who begins the hand with 22,000 in chips, raised to 1,400, UTG + 2. A player in mid position calls and Will "The Thrill", fresh off winning a huge pot from Freddy Deebs and with 90,000 in chips, re-raises to 4,800 from the button and the blinds fold. Hellmuth quickly calls as does the other player. The flop comes Q 6 4 rainbow and Hellmuth, first to act checks, as does the mid position player. The Thrill opens with 9,200 and in typical Phil fashion insta shoves all his chips in to the pot dramatically, with the other player folding. Will calls quickly and Hellmuth shows A Q with Will tabling pocket kings. The river and turn come J 4 and Phil heads to the rail. I wonder if Phil Hellmuth's game focus is like Michael Phelps?

I am headed over to Fox studios to be a guest on their morning show and give an update on the upcoming WSOP final table which resumes November 9^th. Later in the day I will be at a media event at the Venetian for the opening of a new poker TV show.

For more information on Roy Winston, you can visit his website: www.oraclepoker.net or send him an email. The contents presented herein on this blog are purely the opinions of Roy Winston, and are not intended to reflect or promote the opinions of any other person, group, or entity. If you like what I write than thanks for reading, and if not well, thanks anyway.