July 9, 2007 – The poker world is holding its breath today after a freak accident on the Las Vegas strip in which pokerlegend Phil Hellmuth lost control of his high-speed racecar.
Hellmuth had spent the day testing the 200 mph racecar in the Nevada desert. Upon approaching his hotel, the 11-time WSOP bracelet winner lost control of the vehicle and crashed head-on into a pole.
While the racecar was totaled, witnesses report that Hellmuth was conscious as he left the vehicle unscathed but visibly shaken. According to one onlooker, Hellmuth quipped, “Well, you can’t win every race.”
With the Main Event of the World Series just hours away, it’s still unknown whether the UltimateBet pro will recover in time to vie for the Main Event title and a 12th WSOP bracelet.
"I'd be amazed if he was able to play poker today after such a high-speed collision,” stated eyewitness Brian Balsburgh of Poker Royalty. “He had severe whiplash.”
Hellmuth’s Main Event start time was scheduled for 12pm on Monday, July 9th. While friends are no doubt praying for a quick recovery, foes are likely relishing in his misfortune. After all, Hellmuth’s absence from the floor at the Rio Hotel & Casino definitely makes the playing field a lot less fierce.
