They’re down to heads-up in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event. Phil Hellmuth is contending for his 10th WSOP bracelet. He’s already set a record with the most cashes in WSOP history — this one making 51. And if he can pull off the win here, he joins Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan in the 10-club.
So who stands in his way? A kid … Jeff Cabinilla from East LA … an online player playing in his first ever live tournament. Right now they’re about even in chip stacks — trading blinds (and the lead) for the past hour-and-a-half. Hellmuth, of course, has got to be the favorite. And to that extent — no disrespect to the rookie — the “poker brat” is just one good play/bad beat away from either keeping up with the biggest dogs in poker or going on tilt into perpetuity.
