Phil Hellmuth Wins 1989 World Series of Poker Main Event

Phil Hellmuth became the youngest ever winner of poker's most prestigious event, the WSOP Main Event, back in 1989 and since then he's added 14 more bracelets and millions of dollars to his impressive Hall of Fame career. Relive the moment that kick-started it now in this video where he defeated Johnny Chan.
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[@thefirstonyoutube]

This has to be the worlds most historical Poker moment x

[@joelshack85]

24 year old Phil is more mature than 40 year old Phil

[@georgebush8824]

He kept losing lol

[@ChopToTheSuey]

@@georgebush8824 "kept losing" meanwhile he has the most WSOP bracelets of all time and is arguably the best poker player of all time.

[@silasgreene2479]

Its probably the money and the bracelets that get to his head. God bless his heart

[@kmale76]

@@ChopToTheSuey Hold Em player, not best all around player

[@randomnamemab]

@@ChopToTheSuey are u on crack

[@MrXGames]

According to my research on KZbin, this was the last hand Phil ever won.

[@melk00l]

lmao

[@joshuaking1194]

From My research it was the last time he was the aggressor in the pot🤣

[@kloveyoubye8911]

@@joshuaking1194 🤣😂

[@FunesLegend]

Yall sound like haters 🤣

[@cippex_]

Hahahahah

[@zingermike]

Look honey, he called me with A 7 suited. These crazy internet players.

[@Generalbas1972]

@zinger22 i *JUST* had to see if anyone were gonna make that comment in the comment section and you didn't disapoint. Thanks for a good laugh - Cheers

[@llgg1668]

It‘s 1989 honey what‘s the internet?

[@j-roc6989]

@@llgg1668 ask Tim Berners-Lee lol

[@Generalbas1972]

@@llgg1668 hahahahahaha

[@bardo0007]

No internet in 1989.

[@pladampa]

This guy sems so nice and humble. Bet he went on to become one of the calmest nicest players.

[@moehio]

No, but he did go on to be the best.

[@pladampa]

@@moehio 💯

[@dougpeters1625]

The only video on KZbin where Phil wins a hand

[@jamesm9192]

Was thinking the same thing lol

[@JT-gi8rx]

Yet he’s won over a dozen bracelets lol. Just more fun to see him lose.

[@markturner9010]

ahahahah

[@hehexd2037]

young Phil Helmuth seemed so polite . i bet it all changed after that day he won the WSOP

[@out2lunch330]

He beat “The Legendary” Johnny Chan, probably was so amped 😂

[@jedmccullough7959]

Agree.

[@coolpoolshark]

Phil Hellmuth sounded the same.

[@conorfarm3r]

He got high off of his own farts and hasn't come down since.

[@Greg_lark]

@@conorfarm3r 😂truth.

[@TravelingwithValeman77]

You will never see another player reach the final 2 in 3 straight years. Johnny Chan is a living legend.

[@markstepanekii388]

@Christopher Thomas so there was a 300,000 prize pool?

[@TDASS281]

Way smaller player pool back then

[@davidleonard7439]

@@TDASS281 first place was 750K Either the buy in was insane...or EASILY there were hundreds, if not a thousand players. Yeah, yeah, it's not 10,000 like now- filled with a bunch of rich schlums, half-wit internet players and lucky amateurs who won a seat from a satellite tournament or had a sponsor. More than HALF the players in the WSOP hall of fame, played throughout the 80s, Chan being one, himself. The field mat have been shorter but the competition was much better

[@TDASS281]

@@davidleonard7439 there were 178 players in this event. Not trying to diminish his win but it is not on the same level as final tabeling twice in the current era where each main event has about 7k people or more

[@shammycat3538]

@@TDASS281 And the level of competition is much, much stronger now.

[@DaveKnott]

Never noticed this before, but Hellmuth was wearing headphones at the table, even back then.

[@squashhead1374]

Yup. Headphones to a Walkman. Haha

[@davidm7328]

I know people give Phil a hard time for his rep these days, but he was really ahead of his time when he won this match. You could tell Johnny was rattled and couldn’t figure him out at all. A classic indeed.

[@robd1811]

He was in Danny boys head for their past 3 matches

[@T3n50r]

He's still crushing it tho

[@Youaremychildren]

Totally, he was playing GTO/Math\exploitative in the right combinations way before other players. A lot of players in this era were ‘feel’ players. I’ve always said math/gto until stacks get tighter then switch to exploitative can win tournaments.

[@bradenreed272]

This is the first time I've seen Phil actually win a hand on this website

[@junkrat1]

"honey he called my all in with A7 Suited!, these people have no concept of poker"

[@BTbass]

Remember when Phil Hellmuth screamed at Dwan for going all in with 10s heads up? This hand played out the exact same way basically. Raise, reraise, all in, call. Hilarious.

[@DoctorChained]

Not the same situation at all. Chan had significantly lower chips. When Dwan went all in they had exactly the same. He was risking the entire tournament.

[@robd1811]

Yea and phil had Aces

[@BibashSharma-rl3ij]

Son I'll tell you this much son.....😂

[@alex8480]

"Meanwhile, a very disheartened Oriental Express" LMFAOOOOO

[@lucafanning3942]

His nickname is the Orient Express

[@robp9995]

Norman Chad would be fired today if he referred to Johnny Chan as the Oriental Express. These are the times we live in. Sad really.

[@chaka5613]

@@robp9995 that was his nickname dude...

[@kayhaich]

What's the difference between that or European or African or indian express? Recognition he is oriental? It's not an insult.

[@Norbworthy]

Throwback to when people described Phil as ‘the aggressive young player’

[@T3n50r]

This is my favorite WSOP winner vid. Phil got so much passion and love for the game it's insane, a character for sure but you can't refute he's a straight up legend among the likes of Negreanu and Doyle Brunson. He got so much heart and it makes me happy seeing him win and entertained when he's mad. All from a place of love for the guy tho, can't find anyone like him anywhere and at the core he's a great human being tho that lets the game get the best of him sometimes, haha

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

2:42 close, I get where the announcer was coming from, because if the board paired, both pairs (the kings and queens/tens) would both be higher than Phil’s 99, a Jack would have given Chan a Broadway, and an ace would have given Chan top pair, however Phil could have won it with a king as well because that would have given him a full house while Chan would only have the set of kings.

[@thegoldstandard55]

I know people like to rag on Hellmuth for his play and talk but this man has been on top of his game and relevant for 33 years.

[@robertschleeter3300]

Say what you want about Phil, man is a legend at the poker table both of these gentlemen are some of the greatest to ever play cards.

[@lerugolf]

Thing is he thinks he's the best. While new internet players CRUSH him hard.

[@treasurer3763]

@@lerugolf That's like saying MJ thinks he's the best while new players would crush him now

[@doublethomas8415]

@@treasurer3763 He's still winning tournaments though lol

[@L-Jamieson]

I love helmuth, he’s been winning for 30 years, and still taking on people to show them who’s boss, beat the magician heads up last week as well

[@jonathancrocker366]

You can see the confidence in Phil... he had all signs of becoming a great.

[@tqsuited]

“And there it is! Hellmuth wins the championship!” Iconic quote and moment.

[@cwheremonster8870]

I met Phil a few years ago at a Warriors game. I wanted to NOT like him so bad. The guy was so effing nice and personable. We chatted the entire halftime. He even asked me a couple questions about my game. Don’t get me wrong. He was just being nice. But still, it wasn’t what I was expecting. He just won his 16th bracelet. Nothing surprises me any more.

[@user-yz8hu7lw4n]

its almost like being annoying to opponents is a strategy XD.

[@kayhaich]

I don't see anything mean about him ever. I mean that unironically too.

[@Simon-nv5zj]

Johnny tanks for a long time and in the interview afterwards Phil thought he might have had Ak....wow what a difference 30 years in poker strategy makes.

[@JT-gi8rx]

Yeah everyone made it sound like Chan was crazy. A7 suited is excellent while playing heads up...

[@TheGoodChap]

Its crazy how helmuth looks and sounds exactly the same all these years later

[@fn151]

Nice to see Phil get some roses for a change. Dude is a living legend.

[@amirqureshi2585]

Can someone explain how any card higher than a 10 would help Johnny? Because if another King came out, wouldnt Phil have a full house?

[@durrantalan]

Exactly my thought. 10s or queen gives chan the better 2 pair (ace kicker), jack gives chan the straight. Ace gives chan the best 2 pair. King gives chan trips and Phil the boat. Commentator got a bit carried away in the moment

[@Jeffexploreschannel]

@@durrantalanyea but even Chan said “any high card” I’m sitting here confused. Glad other people caught that. I thought maybe I was just dumb 😅

[@tehyca420]

Searched for that comment thanks

[@NotPennysB0AT]

Yea came straight to the comments looking for this cuz I thought I was stupid lol

[@christophergargaro959]

I've always thought of Phil as a poker purist. He loves the game and doesn't respect people who he feels don't. The rating and berating is somewhat of an act for TV which he's even acknowledged in the past. It's really just what Phil is thinking inside - and honestly in many cases what we all think when the donkey with two big cards tries to dust off their stack and hits gin. Phil just says it out loud. But I have heard many stories about him being an exceptionally personable and nice guy away from the table.

[@maranatha9924]

Chris Marlowe does everything! He has been the Nuggets TV play by play commentator for nearly 20 years. He's also the Olympics beach volleyball commentator as he was a former pro. Now I find him with Phil Hellmuth in 1989 in the World Series of Poker. One of the great voices in sports.

[@fishwatch8677]

Chan with the Fila tracksuit and Hellmuth with his tape deck, likely listening to “You’ve Got The Touch” from the Transformers soundtrack.

[@VenomousStare]

Uncle Philly was winning bracelets before dim YT commenters were even born! great vid!

[@ERTChimpanzee]

Dim who?

[@nunyabidness2143]

That was the most awkward victory fist pump by Phil I've ever seen in my life.

[@bonnguyen5049]

Johnny Chan look like drug mafia back then!😀😀

[@BoleDaPole]

Johnny Chan also sounds like a mafia boss name.

[@HandleChanged-z9c]

Meth-teeth

[@elitestar]

He was definitely connected to triads

[@kayhaich]

That fila jacket dope af

[@iwishiwasthomasshelby]

I wish they made the same video of the first title for Doyle, Negreanu, Phil Laak, Mike Matusow, Doug Polk, etc. it’s always refreshing to see these legends’ win before they became famous.

[@TheGoodChap]

There's video of negranu playing against a really wild guy in the 90s thats really funny, don't know if it was a tournament win though

[@anthonybirch6291]

If his personality would have stayed this way as a respectful opponent and gracious winner I think he'd be one of my favorites.

[@nca1668]

He is soo much more fun this way... Wait for it, ignition 🤯 @#$&*%§?(*&$#

[@bonnguyen5049]

Phil looks alot better than back then!

[@sarahdeshay1394]

Has anyone ever won a tournament without winning the last hand, as so eloquently explained by the announcer? Poker has come a long way!

[@Mathemagical55]

Chuck Norris won a tournament on the first hand.

[@holdyourplums4204]

Helmuth makes a 40,000 opening bet at the WSOP ME final table........ In 2019....the heads up blinds, were 2m/4m....... Staggering difference. :-)

[@sportsjefe]

Ah hell, let's just answer the questions. 1) The coverage was live, and the play by play / interviewer is long time broadcaster Chris Marlowe. Marlowe isn't a poker commentator, he's a jack of all trades, but mostly basketball and volleyball guy on an assignment. But hey, given 30 years of hindsight I'm sure you too can call the cards accurately on national television, right? 2) Bob Stupak gave Johnny Chan the 'Orient Express' nickname in 1982 after winning one of his big tournaments.

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

He was almost right for when he said Chan needed any card 10 or higher to double up, as the 10 or Q would have put two pair on the board with Chan’s ace kicker, a J would have given Chan a Broadway, and an ace would have given Chan top pair (aces up compared to Phil’s kings and nines), however Phil would have won it if a king came because that would have given him a full house, and Chan would only have the set of kings on the board, as he didn’t have a Q or 10 in his hand.

[@DJDonkeytron]

Couldn't help but notice how the back to back defending champ was wearing sunglasses here, while Phil just stares him down without any of his own.

[@TheGillenium]

Eh, no real effect with those glasses. You can still se his eyes clearly.

[@JeSuisHulk]

450k in 1989 was a shitload of money average house prices was about 50k at that time.

[@tonyharris5533]

Phil was a 2 to 1 favorite and Ivey wasn't around yet to sucker Hellmuth into buying insurance 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thedevilsmilk]

I still don’t think people respect Johnny Chan as much as we should. The Goat.

[@hehexd2037]

more of phil hellmuth WSOP videos please!!

[@chrisinkles5857]

Wow, it's so much better to watch back then, when you didnt know what cards they have...

[@robertdevries2045]

2:27 helmuth isn't aware that he's all in: he's checking after te flop

[@eelson2]

Love how he now berates players that play EXACTLY how he played then!!

[@user-ly6pl3bk7j]

35 years ago. Can't believe it was that long ago.

[@anthonyjames9289]

Chan legend Hellmuth a legend awesome love all the old schools cardplayers ! Ill join them this summer 2022 WSOP champ !

[@MrRondonmon]

When he asked him a question at tHe end I thought he was going to say "I can dodge bullets baby"...JK. The commentator was horrible, that was a bad flop for Helmuth, and after the turn, he said any high card would win it for Chan, well, a K would have not won it for Chan. Zit faced Helmuth, lol.

[@DoctorChained]

But a T would have won it for Chan. So any card above a 9 except a K would have won it for Chan.

[@sarahdeshay1394]

He also pointed out that Phil won the tournament be winning the last hand.

[@JM19649]

The Walkman is a nice touch

[@roybell415]

Johnny Chan just came to California from Houston after the card club he was involved in closed down and somebody bought it. He plays Baccarat at the bike and also cash game poker right now.

[@thedevilsmilk]

2:43 if a king comes doesn’t Phil have a full house. I don’t get that statement.

[@sportsjefe]

Live coverage from 1989, remember. And Chris Marlowe isn't a poker commentator, he's a jack of all trades, but mostly basketball and volleyball guy on an assignment.

[@alohajoe98]

It's wrong. A king would not have helped Chan. It would have given Phil a full house. Johnny could have won with an ace, queen, jack or ten, but not a king.

[@j-dub618]

Has Johnny Chan aged at all?????

[@slayer38009]

Johnny was lying when he said he hadn’t lost any confidence, you could see it in his face. Phil? Completely confident

[@loopyguy7611]

wow, winning poker more then i been alive, crazy

[@malcolmwasher2308]

Johnny chan was a beast

[@RavishingBeyond]

Years later Hellmuth gave Dwan hell for playing TT for stacks preflop. Go figure.

[@pkrlife00]

Different as dawn called with TT and didn’t shove

[@RavishingBeyond]

@@pkrlife00 Zero difference, son. He lectured Dwan by saying 'Son I wouldn't put in more than X preflop with TT, son.'

[@pkrlife00]

@@RavishingBeyond it’s almost like the game hasn’t changed in 25 years.

[@RavishingBeyond]

@@pkrlife00 Don't move the goalposts. Phil shouldn't criticize Dwan's play when he won the big one doing the same exact thing.

[@pkrlife00]

@@RavishingBeyond oh no Phil was way wrong. I’d have called too

[@bsheaves]

I really wish Phil would adapt some GTO into his game. DNegs did it and completely upped his game in the process.

[@noopa0532]

First youtube video of phil winning a hand

[@real_BARNEY]

Go Phil!!

[@danielneshkov1836]

Oh my goooood I never seeen this videoooo young phill bruuuh

[@tonzaxyo8404]

holy shiet! Phil actually smiling! First time i see this one happening

[@Shshshshshhshhs]

1997 WSOP PLEASE EVERYONE ASKS FOR IT... you have basically every other notable WSOP besides that one... There's such little footage of the greatest player of all time (Ungar) and we all want to see him play! There are enough videos of Phil Hellmuth on the internet and even this one is already around.

[@luket3149]

this.

[@jusdepoisson]

go see the documentary about him

[@PokerGO]

Don't worry, we have it and we will release it on PokerGO in full and some clips of Stu will be posted on KZbin and Facebook to celebrate the legend that he is.

[@Shshshshshhshhs]

Fishjuice I did

[@davidbernau8315]

Ungar probably the best ever. He got a backer and won the WSOP because he needed money. Wasn't really a question in his mind who was going to win. If he was on his game, it was Stu and then the rest of the field. Sad his demons grabbed hold and he couldn't get away.

[@markc8049]

young phil played super aggressive. it seems like they get tighter with the years and bad beats

[@irsute8833]

Super aggressive back then was just not very aggressive by today's standards.

[@JMS1089]

He is a stronger heads up player then most realize.

[@gomriria2197]

@@JMS1089 he is underrated, but as a person, a true disciplined guy never went broke, number of bracelets, married to the same women, donate to charity, apolizes for his blows up and is funny and good person to be around he deserves it.

[@ionisius]

Tighter, more arrogant and more of a whiner , he actually seemed pretty cool whenever this was

[@elyastoohey6621]

That wasn't very aggressive. The game has refined and so had aggression. Back then you had a heap of super loose play. AJ all in etc. In a way today's players are less aggro, but they are a more calculating aggro. DOn't forget Hellmuth helped change the game. WHat was perceived in the late 80's as loose aggression, may have today been more calculated aggression.

[@B0bi_007]

2:43 so the commentator does not know that a T also wins it for Chan since it counterfeits 99

[@jaymetantillo883]

I knew I was a 2-1 favorite I didn’t think I’d be a 2-1 favorite

[@watersheep2546]

Announcer said Chan needs any card higher than a 10 after the turn was shown? This makes no sense Phil would have won with a king

[@lancel71]

I love Phil Hellmuth!!

[@Comical_LLama]

both showed so mch class

[@countdemoney7294]

A7s......WOW! Just WOW!

[@JT-gi8rx]

A7 suited is pretty solid when heads up...

[@jasonhounsell3297]

For anyone watching this in past 2022 lets not forget Phils Q4 3b and call off 4b :D :D :D Thought he would have had something a little bigger :D

[@kennethvong5343]

Bro was beautiful

[@kyle22686]

Love how you didnt see hole cards back in the day. BRING THIS BACK!

[@brucevonah511]

seeing hole cards is how it all took off tho right?

[@fisnoun8639]

Old style commentary here is so funny

[@gnawbabygnaw]

“You gotta gamble sometimes.” Johnny Chan

[@DubSun33]

We know how he became a poker legend, can you please explain how he became a pain in the ass?

[@tonyharris5533]

He was whining in this tournament too. One instance whe he says he folds pocket 10's you hear him in the background complaining. Have to watch the full episode to see it.

[@DubSun33]

@@tonyharris5533 Very hard to listen to Hellmutt, so self delusional, beyond cringeworthy.

[@kaykobadkhan]

I am a huge fan of Phil

[@EvanT-ls4jb]

It's crazy to me how everyone is yelling out that Johnny needs any high card to win on the river when a third king obviously doesn't.. even the great Johnny Chan said it.

[@veganwaffle]

I miss Vegas in the 90s

[@sissywalker1955]

He calls chen ex champion he's still a champion!

[@tonyharris5533]

178 entrants, $1,780,000 chips in play. Small potatoes compared to today.

[@jeromelawler902]

Nowadays 1,780,000 is practically the starting stack 🙄🙄🙄

[@tipsy09]

In some ways it’s was harder because it was all pros

[@Frostshokula]

“He called me with A7 honey!”

[@travisrowe7697]

If I didn’t know this was real life, I’d assume Johnny Chan And Phil Helmuth faced off in the craziest poker match as part of some wild 80s B movie called Royal Flush or something… straight out of 1980s central casting 😂

[@Breeder333]

Is Chan wearing Blublockers?!

[@johnmorgan9782]

Can someone answer me a question? When they're waiting for the river, the announcer says (and I think you can hear a tournament official also saying) "any card higher than a 10 and Johnny Chan wins it..." But that's not true. A King would have given Hellmuth a full house?

[@kingofkoolaid3161]

I think the announcer got too carried away, he was wrong

[@StephenShinn]

He was the Ninja Blevins of his day

[@thelonewolf8333]

First hand, all in, what a way to win lol

[@nathanciocca7870]

Very happy for Phil, maybe he’ll make it big one day

[@johnh6689]

unfortunately if you look him up on youtube there's only videos of losses. :( so i guess not.

[@EGarrett01]

Imagine the intimidation of making it to the final two and being against the guy who won the last two World Series.

[@VicMackeyful]

"honey, he called me with A7 suited! Guy cant even spell poker!"

[@andressandoval9043]

“He called me with A7 suited honey!”

[@JerryThomas-fg9ms]

its crazy how chan won 2x in a row and made it to heads up the very next year. players must have been HORRIBLE back in the 80s

[@ottokaare5925]

I mean there wasn't much math and theory back then

[@DmitriChoulanov]

Legendary Phil

[@williamchristopher5653]

It's obvious Chan was playing strict GTO here

[@christinemurray1444]

Still the man

[@BPoweredLove]

Wow. Sloppy early days of TV poker playing - they didn't even spell Hellmuth's name correctly on the screen. Anyway, I guess I don't know poker because they said (both the announcer and Chan) that anything higher than a ten and Chan wins. But it looks to me that with Ace - yes, Chan has two pair aces high, King - no, that would be a full house to Phil, Queen - both have same two pair but Chan has ace kicker and Jack - both have a straight. Where am I wrong here? I'm lost.

[@AustinRead1996]

did he just call that dude an oriental express?? lol 4:02

[@fastfunpokerjamie124]

Hellmuth was right he’s slightly greater than a 2:1 favorite. Johnny was wrong when he said he was only a 3:2 dog.

[@DoctorChained]

Hellmuth said he's a 3:1 favorite, which is correct.