Phil Hellmuth is one spot away from tying TJ Cloutier for the most World Series of Poker final table appearances (39) ever, sitting as a short stack with 10 players remaining in Event #28 ($3,000 No Limit Hold'em).
WSOP Hold'em final tables traditionally seat nine, meaning Hellmuth will need to survive one more bust out to officially own a piece of the entire WSOP Triple Crown (most bracelets, most cashes, most final table appearances).
Play resumes again at 2 p.m. PST.
Hellmuth secured his eleventh bracelet earlier this summer, winning the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Event #15. The title moved Hellmuth past poker legends Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan.
Last year, Hellmuth grabbed the first piece of the Triple Crown, cashing for the 50th time to pass Men "The Master" Nguyen for the most ever. Monday night's Event #28 cash was his third in 2007 and his 60th total.
One more eliminated player and he holds all three records outright.
Hellmuth was arguably the best player at last year's WSOP, winning his tenth bracelet, making four final tables, and cashing a record eight times in one Series.
This year, he's making another bid. Three cashes, a potential two final table appearances, and a title is a WSOP career for most. For Hellmuth, it's just a start.
The only other major records not under Hellmuth's control are all-time winnings and most Main Event titles. Chances are slim Hellmuth will capture either, given the large participation levels in the modern WSOP.
Hellmuth is fifth on the all-time money list ($5.53 million), trailing fourth-place Paul Wasicka ($6.1 million). Even with a first-place finish in Event #28 ($527,829), Hellmuth would still need a major cash to move up the ladder. Jamie Gold continues to lead this race ($12 million) with Joe Hachem ($7.89 million), Allen Cunningham ($6.49 million) in second and third.
Becoming the all-time money leader is conceivable, but tying or passing the Main Event titles record may be impossible. The late greats Johnny Moss and Stu Ungar hold that record at three, one ahead of Brunson and Chan. Massive Main Event fields make breaking this record prohibitive.
But Hellmuth would probably disagree. He said before the WSOP began that he would become the "Record Man." So far no record has proven to be out of his reach.
