On Tuesday night, the most decorated tournament poker player in history – at least in terms of World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelets – made his debut at the 2023 PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT). 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth made his way to Resorts World and took a seat in Day 1c of the $1,650 Main Event.
“Haven’t played a tourney in months (maybe first tourney since WSOP!!?),” Hellmuth shared on social media. The “Poker Brat” was in good spirits on his way into the venue, even taking out his phone and taking selfies with the likes of Julien Martini, Maria Konnikova, and Michael Ian Black and sharing on social media with #POSITIVITY.
https://twitter.com/PokerNews/status/1722057114657476754
Two Loose Cannons: Find Out Who Won $50k Stakes to Play PokerStars Big Game
Early Action w/ Hellmuth
As usual, Hellmuth late registered for the tournament. However, he did so with only 10 minutes until the dinner break, so he really didn’t get much going until after. That is when PokerNews reporter Matt Hansen decided to spend an orbit with the Poker Hall of Famer.
Hellmuth returned from dinner with a Snickers bar and 27,600. Also at the table was Mitchell Halverson, who was looking to add to over $1.7 million in career earnings with a deep run at Resorts World. Halverson has had a great year and it all started with an 11th-place finish for $112,600 at the PCA in January.
Hand #1: Hellmuth started the orbit in the small blind and folded to a raise of 2,200 from the button.
Hand #2: Hellmuth raised to 2,500 from the button and a player in the big blind called. The flop was J♣J♦8♠ and both players checked to see 6♦ on the turn. The big blind checked and then folded when Hellmuth tossed out 1,500.
Hand #3: Hellmuth folded from the cutoff.
Hand #4: Hellmuth opened with a raise to 2,500 from late position and a player on the button called. The flop was 7♠10♦A♥ and Hellmuth check-folded to a bet of 3,500 from the button.
Hand #5: Hellmuth folded.
Hand #6: Hellmuth folded.
Hand #7: Hellmuth folded.
Hand #8: A player in middle position raised to 2,500 and Hellmuth called from the big blind. Both players checked the 6♦3♠4♠ flop and the turn was A♣. Hellmuth called a quick bet from his opponent and the river was K♥. Both players checked and Hellmuth turned over 2♦2♣ to take the pot.
It wasn’t the most exciting start of Hellmuth, who joined a flight that included the likes of David “ODB” Baker, Kyna England, Matt Salsberg, Andrew Moreno, Chris Moorman, Shannon Shorr, and Josh Reichard.
Baker Off to Hot Start
Speaking of Baker, he got off to a hot start on Day 1c. In Level 5 (200/500/500), action was three ways with 8♦6♦4♣ on the board when a player in the small blind bet 7,800 into a growing pot. Baker responded with a raise to 21,000 before a player on the button slid out a stack of grey T-5,000 chips. The small blind folded and Baker called for a total of 38,700. Action was heads up and Baker was at risk.
David “ODB” Baker: 5♥5♣
Button: 5♦4♦
The board finished up 9♥J♣ and Baker dodged all of the trouble to jump over the 100,000 mark with pocket fives.
To see how Baker, Hellmuth, and others are faring, be sure to follow our live updates from the 2023 NAPT Main Event here.
Executive Editor U.S.
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
Live Reporting Executive
Las Vegas-based PokerNews Live Reporting Executive, originally from Chicago, IL