For most players, bagging up a stack at the World Series of Poker is a momentous, exciting event, and step one in what they hope will be the culmination of a dream come true. For Phil Hellmuth, who survived Day 1 of Event #16: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em, it was less than thrilling.
A holder of a record 13 gold bracelets, Hellmuth was presumably a big favorite in a field full of amateurs who lack even a fraction of the experience of the long-time pro. He said that was definitely the case, as he saw plenty of perplexing plays.