2008 WSOP Event #51, the 1,500 USD buy in H.O.R.S.E. will be remembered more for Phil Hellmuth not getting a 12th bracelet than for James Schaaf getting his 1st one.

Hellmuth was second in the final table of eight players. Hopes soared high as he reached the final three with Tommy Hang and Schaaf. Then Hellmuth got into a tangle with Hang. He held four spades to Hang’s queen pair. Though he managed to get a straight when the board came down it was not good enough for the two pair that Hang managed. This was his fourth cash in WSOP 2008 and his highest placement.

With 11 bracelets Hellmuth has the highest number of bracelets. He is followed by Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson with 10 each. Hellmuth has won bracelets in the last two WSOPs. The question on everybody’s mind is will Hellmuth extend his lead or will one of the other two catch up?