Hellmuth appeals to god for cards at the Main Event

LAS VEGAS - When Day 4 of the World Series of Poker Main Event began Friday, Phil Hellmuth was at ESPN's featured table with 475,000 in chips. More than five hours later, and with about half as many chips, Hellmuth went into "meltdown mode" at one of the outer tables in the Amazon Room, and it provided plenty of entertainment for the fans, his fellow players at the table and the ESPN cameras that were rolling non-stop during the 20-minute diatribe.

"OK, Lord, I've passed the test," an in-rare-form Hellmuth shouted to the heavens with his hands in the air after folding another hand pre-flop. "Can I have some cards now?"

Phil Hellmuth appeals to god for better cards Friday. (photo by Gary Trask, Casino City)

It was about 30 minutes before the day's dinner break, but Phil must have been hungry. A Harrah's staffer delivered a salmon dinner with a side of asparagus and one oyster to him and placed it on a chair next to him. The more Hellmuth ate, the more agitated he became.

Gus Hansen, playing at a nearby table, wandered over to see what was going on.

"Hey Gus, you wouldn't believe the day I've had," he said to Hansen. "I've been dealt nothing. Absolutely nothing. Gus, if you got dealt the hands that I've been dealt today, you would have been gone an hour ago."

"Well, maybe, and hour and 15 minutes, Phil," Hansen responded with a smile.

"No, believe me Gus, you would be long gone," Hellmuth snapped back. "The only reason I'm still here is because I'm Phil."

On the next hand, Hellmuth looked at his hand and then buried his face in his hands. He stood up, tossed his sunglasses across the room and disgustingly folded once again.

An exasperated Hellmuth folds again. (photo by Gary Trask, Casino City)

When a Harrah's employee rushed over to retrieve the glasses, an ESPN cameraman scolded her and told her to put them back down on the ground. She reluctantly did so, and then the man with the camera cleared the area so he could get a clear close-up of the discarded shades.

"Look Phil," chided one of the players at Hellmuth's table. "They're filming your glasses."

"Nice toss Phil," said another tablemate with a laugh.

But Hellmuth wasn't listening. Instead he focused his wrath on Tournament Director Jack Effel.

"Hey Jack, when are you going to change dealers?" Hellmuth asked.

"Every 30 minutes Phil," Effel smiled back. "Same as we always do."

"Well I can't wait 'till this guy is out of here," Hellmuth fired back as he motioned to the unsuspecting dealer. "I've lost 19 out of 20 pots since he got here."

"It doesn't matter because I'm going to have a million chips before the night is over," Hellmuth boldly predicted.

"That's what makes you Phil Hellmuth," Effel said, still with a big smile on his face.

"You ain't kidding Jack," Hellmuth said. "Once I start getting some cards, I'm going to steamroll these amateurs. I can hardly wait."