Phil Hellmuth Defies Doubts with Hot Streak in 2026 Poker Tournaments
Despite predictions to the contrary, poker legend Phil Hellmuth is off to a remarkable start in 2026, proving he remains a force in the high-stakes tournament circuit.
Phil Hellmuth, 61, is demonstrating he can still compete with the younger generation of poker pros, racking up two final table appearances and three cashes within the first nine days of the new year. This impressive run comes after a challenging 2025, which marked his worst year in tournament poker since 2009.
According to data from The Hendon Mob database, Hellmuth cashed for $289,960 in 2025, a significant drop from his usual earnings. His performance at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) was particularly subdued, with no bracelets and only one final table appearance. However, the BetRivers Casino ambassador is already nearing his 2025 total, signaling a potential turnaround.
Hellmuth’s recent success has unfolded at the PokerGO Studio, specifically within the PGT Last Chance Series. He secured ninth and fourth place finishes in the first three $10,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournaments, earning $98,100 and $70,200 respectively. A fortunate hand on Friday, January 9th, involving Nick Seward and Stephen Song, helped secure his third cash in Event #5. Seward’s pocket jacks eliminated Song, ensuring Hellmuth would add to his winnings. He received $17,550 for a min-cash in that event.
A particularly dramatic hand in Event #5 saw Hellmuth, Kristen Fox, and Sergio Aido all eliminated in a three-way pot. Fox held 7♥7♣, while Aido had A♠Q♠, and Hellmuth held 6♠6♥. The board ran out J♦J♣2♣3♥8♥, resulting in a 17th-place finish for Hellmuth and a 16th-place finish for Aido. Landon Tice followed shortly after in 15th place. As of publishing, Connor Rash held the chip lead with 14 players remaining, with the tournament scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
The poker world is also witnessing the emergence of the next generation of Hellmuths. Phillip Hellmuth III recently reached a final table in a $600 Monster Stack World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) event at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, finishing in 10th place for $3,600 – on the same day his father was also at a final table.
Hellmuth’s strong start to 2026 arrives after a prediction from Shaun Deeb that the 1989 world champion would never win another WSOP bracelet. While these early results in non-WSOP events don’t definitively disprove Deeb’s claim, they undeniably demonstrate that the “Poker Brat” is far from finished.
The PGT Last Chance Series will conclude on Sunday with the final table of Event #6, a $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo tournament. The PGT Championship $1 million freeroll is set to begin on Monday at the PokerGO Studio.
