Deeb on Hellmuth: He'll Never Win Another Bracelet; I Could Catch Up in 12 Years

The WSOP Paradise festival is reaching its climax, and while most of the poker world is glued to the conclusion of the record-breaking Super Main Event, Shaun Deeb has captured attention with his bold statements. In an interview with Jeff Platt, the two-time WSOP Player of the Year and holder of eight bracelets confidently declared that Phil Hellmuth will never win another bracelet, and that he himself stands a good chance of matching Hellmuth's record 17 bracelets.

"Playing Not to Win, Just to Survive"

Deeb's criticism was straightforward: he observed that Hellmuth often "plays not to win" but rather to "survive as long as possible." He believes Hellmuth should play more tournaments, adopt a more aggressive game, and not limit himself to just one buy-in in major events where the field is large and variance is brutal. Deeb also hinted that opponents are familiar with Hellmuth's "tricks" and that Hellmuth hurts himself by openly sharing his intentions to "trap" others.

Deeb turned the conversation to himself, confidently estimating he has about a 60% chance of catching up to Hellmuth's 17 bracelets over the next 12 years. Currently 39 years old, the American has eight valuable bracelets and, despite trailing by nine, he still has 22 years in his favor.

Hellmuth Defends: People Underestimate His Skills

The PokerNews portal caught up with Hellmuth for a response. Initially, he suggested that Deeb might just be "trolling," but conceded there might be some truth. In response to Deeb's remarks, Hellmuth explained that if people see him making a mistake when tired at WSOP, it doesn't reflect his true potential or depth of knowledge.

Regardless of who ends up being right, the facts are undeniable: Hellmuth holds the most significant WSOP records — 17 bracelets, 198 ITM placements, and 79 final tables. In 2021, he reached seven final tables in one series (a record shared with Jeremy Ausmus). He's also the only player to win a bracelet in five different decades; his most recent being in 2023 in the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty event.

Meanwhile, Deeb secured his eighth bracelet in October, is a two-time WSOP Player of the Year, and has achieved eight titles in the past 11 years. The Deeb vs. Hellmuth saga isn't just about egos; it's a clash of two approaches: the old school that relies on reads, discipline, and tournament practice, versus the modern generation that believes in volume, pressure, and a more aggressive strategy. Whose side are you on in this epic showdown?

Sources – X, PokerNews, WSOP