Las Vegas Weekly

July 5, 2009 · 8:09 PM

Phil Hellmuth, dressed as Julius Caesar, arrives at WSOP to mayhem at The Rio

By Robin Leach

Phil Hellmuth.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Scantily clad Grecian goddesses drew a media mob when they escorted poker prince Phil Hellmuth, dressed as Julius Caesar, into the third starting day of the World Series of Poker at The Rio today.

Regular Vegas DeLuxe reader Richard Corey shot the arrival and posted his video to YouTube this evening.

With a record 11 winning gold bracelets, Phil is highly regarded at the top of his profession as one of the living legends of modern-day poker play despite being branded “The Poker Brat” for his temperamental play. The letters B-R-A-T are tattooed on his knuckles.

The 35-year-old, who is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame, collaborated on the book Deal Me In published in May. It tells the heartbreaking and inspirational stories of 20 top players who turned professional.

Phil became the youngest player to win the Main Event in 1989 at 24 years of age. He held that distinction until last year, when 22-year-old Peter Eastgate of Denmark captured the title with a prize of $9.15 million. Phil still holds two other records: the most WSOP cash prizes -- 72 in all -- and the most number of WSOP final tables at 41!

During his time at WSOP, he has won more than $6 million and is ranked eighth on the all-time money list. Last October, he launched www.pokerbrat.com, the logo for which was stenciled on the backs of the glamour girls.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

Share This