ESPN Expands WSOP Final Table To Fit Phil Hellmuth

ESPN didn't film the final table where Phil Hellmuth won his record 11th World Series of Poker bracelet last week (in fact they miss many of the best final tables every year). Perhaps they felt bad about it, so they expanded the final table of Event 28 to fit Phil in. Bodog Beat reports:

Phil Hellmuth is at the “final table” of the $3,000 No Limit Hold’em event at the 2007 World Series of Poker and looking for his 12th WSOP bracelet.

There are ten players remaining in the $3,000 No Limit Hold’em event at the 2007 World Series of Poker and play has been stopped for the night. In most other WSOP events play would have continued until one more person busted out to make the traditional nine-person final table. However, all ten remaining poker players in this event will sit down at a televised “final table” tomorrow in the ESPN arena to duke it out for the bracelet.

What made a difference? Phil Hellmuth is one of those final ten players. Officially, the event will not reach “final table” status until one more person gets sent to the rail, leaving the usual nine. The problem is that Hellmuth is short-stacked with only about 13 big blinds left and will be all-in soon, much sooner than later, possibly making him that tenth player out. So, unofficially, because of missing his 11th bracelet win, ESPN has squeezed an extra chair in at the TV table so they won’t miss the “Poker Brat” at another final table.

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Phil will not be eligible to tie TJ Cloutier’s record for WSOP final table appearances until that tenth person busts out, so no malfeasance as far as the record books are concerned. Just ESPN and their sponsors looking to boost ratings and hoping that Phil will last, but just in case they’ve guaranteed him at least some TV time.