I have to say something which grosses me out about Hellmuth - his eating at the poker table and the lack of hygiene.
First, I have no issue with any player in a long session ordering food to the table and then paying due attention to how they eat and clean their
hands (if needed) before handling chips and cards.
But, some known players have long adopted bringing food to the table
before play has even started. I believe it a silly transparent gesture to show they are unconcerned about the competition, food is a priority. Their lives are so busy they can only slip in a meal when playing the lesser demand of poker. Whatever. Antonio Esfandieri always shows up with food anytime he is scheduled to play on television, its a cliche. But it's become such a thing with Phil Hellmuth that the likes of commentators Ali Nejad and Nick Shulman cringe at the behavior with Poker GO providing embarrassing slow-mos of Helmuth stuffing food into his mouth.
And this is the point. For one thing, Hellmuth is not a dainty eater. He stuffs large helpings of greasy, messy food into his mouth and this is where the gross comes in.
Just days ago I watched a recent clip from a 'high stakes'
poker game where Hellmuth commenced stuffing as play began. The food was so greasy he literally had to hold his right hand in the air to not touch anything. He licked his fingers and then looked around for a tissue to wipe his hands on. He didn't have one. Apparently, even after this happening numerous times on the PokerGO set, they did not have a tissue or wet wipe at hand either. So, after a minute or two, Hellmuth gave up and started using both hands to pick up chips and cards.
I had no idea why no one at the table felt fit to tell him to go wash his hands.
Cue the heads up with Dwan, same routine. Hellmuth stuffs his face (again with what looked like a greasy burger) , licked his fingers and then immediately picked up chips and cards. Sometime later he did seem to retrieve a paper napkin and made a cursory, quick wipe of his hands. I swear to god, if I was sat at at table and someone pulled this stunt, I would refuse to play until the floor insisted they went to wash their hands.
Just gross.