Hellmuth For 12? Pillai Takes Down $3K NLHE Bracelet

Filed in archive Tournament News on July 3, 2007

Phil Hellmuth Jr. will tell how many final tables Phil Hellmuth Jr. has made, and how many more final tables Phil Hellmuth Jr. will make in the future at the World Series of Poker. Because Phil Hellmuth Jr. can dodge bullets and set records like only Phil Hellmuth knows how to.

No limit hold em is what Phil Hellmuth Jr. knows, especially with the eleven bracelets to back up his smack talk. Event number twenty eight at the World Series of Poker featured the "Poker Brat" tying TJ Cloutier's WSOP final tables appearances mark.

But, Phil Hellmuth Jr. wouldn't be walking away with his improbable 12th bracelet finishing sixth as Shankar Pillai used aggressive play to win the $3,000 buy in event.

Tiltboy and former Omaha Eight or Better bracelet winner Perry Friedman fell short in his quest for a second bracelet in seventh.

Final table reporting? Pokernews.com of course was there for Pillai's victory and $527,829 that came with it:

Hellmuth's run toward a possible 12th WSOP bracelet ended when he was eliminated in sixth place (worth $74,464). With Jason Song on the button, Hellmuth raised under the gun to 120,000 and Shak called. After a flop of QT6 , Shak moved all in on KQ , and Hellmuth called for his last 305,000 on AT . Hellmuth needed an ace, ten or the runner-runner straight, but after the turn and river was sent to the rail.

Ben Fineman went out in fifth place for $100,431 on a hand with Jason Song. Song held pocket nines and Fineman wasn't able to improve his Q-3 start.

Dustin Holmes remained a front runner until the final four, when he took several hits. Pillai bounced Holmes out in fourth place when he drew out a wheel straight beginning with A-2 against Holmes' A-4. Jason Song was in the back of the pack starting out, but survived to the final three before departing, finally finished (with $212,274) when his Q-5 failed to draw against Pillai's pocket aces.

Pillai then went heads-up with Beth Shak. Shak was in or near the lead much of the day, but Pillai would take this title in the end. In Hand #148, Pillai raised on the button to 180,000. Shak re-raised to 735,000, which Pillai called. The flop brought T83 and Shak moved all in for 1,575,000. Pillai took several minutes for consideration, then called. Shak held K8 for a pair of eights, king high. Pillai showed A8 for a pair of eights, ace high. The turn 7 brought no help, nor did the river 2 , and Shak was bounced in second place with $328,683, with Pillai then accepting the champion's share of $527,829 and the bracelet.

Final Standings and Payouts:

1. Shankar Pillai - $527,829
2. Beth Shak - $328,683
3. Jason Song - $212,274
4. Dustin Holmes - $141,516
5. Ben Fineman - $100,431
6. Phil Hellmuth, Jr. - $76,464
7. Perry Friedman - $57,063
8. Brett Richey - $42,227
9. Daniel Corbin - $30,814
10. Luke Vrable - $21,456