Gossip Column: Bryn Kenney Throws Shade at Phil Hellmuth: Is the “Poker Brat” Just a Minor Leaguer?

Okay, folks, grab your popcorn because things just got interesting! Bryn Kenney, the guy with a record-breaking $67 million in live tournament winnings, just threw some serious shade at Phil Hellmuth, the “Poker Brat” himself.

This all went down on the Digital Social Hour Podcast with Sean Kelly. Kenney, a New York poker pro, was discussing a range of topics, including a $3.5 million loss, poker drama, and the Poker Hall of Fame. But things got really interesting when the conversation turned to Phil Hellmuth. While acknowledging Hellmuth’s undeniable dominance at the WSOP (those 17 bracelets are hard to ignore!), Kenney questioned his overall skill level, basically saying he’s a “minor league” player. Ouch!

You can watch the complete podcast below.

Kenney’s Diss

Kenney’s argument is that Hellmuth hasn’t fared well in high-roller tournaments, which feature the toughest competition and the highest stakes. Kenney believes that to be considered a true poker great, you need to consistently compete and win at the highest stakes.

He even went so far as to compare Hellmuth to a Triple-A baseball player, suggesting that he’s only dominant because he’s playing against weaker competition at the WSOP. Essentially, Kenney implied Hellmuth is a big fish in a small pond.

Hellmuth Fires Back!

Now, we all know that the “Poker Brat” isn’t one to back down from a challenge or a verbal sparring match. Hellmuth took to Twitter to defend his legacy, highlighting his WSOP accomplishments and his success on the High Stakes Duel show, where he went head-to-head against some of the biggest names in poker. He also reminded everyone about his $1.6 million heads-up challenge, which, let’s be honest, takes some serious guts.

To me the @WSOP (World Series of Poker) is the “big leagues.” Always has been, always will be. It’s aggravating to me when people lie about me and my legacy. For the record, I am winning over $1.5M in “High Rollers.” (Easy to confirm this on HendonMob)

You said I wouldn’t play… https://t.co/ISfqZD5J3y

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) October 5, 2024

And Hellmuth does have a point about his heads-up prowess. He absolutely dominated High Stakes Duel for a couple of years, winning his first six matches – three against Antonio Esfandiari and three against Daniel Negreanu – for a total of $700,000 in profit. He then went on to defeat Nick Wright, split matches with Tom Dwan and beat Scott Seiver before finally falling to Jason Koon for $1.60 million. His overall record on the show was an impressive 9-2, proving his ability to take on top pros in heads-up no-limit hold’em.

Let’s not forget his victory in the 64-player NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005 and his runner-up finish to Mike Matusow in 2013. These achievements demonstrate Hellmuth’s ability to compete and win in heads-up formats against top competition.

More Than Just Bracelets

It’s important to remember that there’s more to poker than just tournament results. Factors like cash game performance, longevity, and overall impact on the game also play a role in determining a player’s legacy.

Hellmuth, with his unique personality and entertaining table presence, has undoubtedly had a huge impact on poker’s popularity. He’s a master of self-promotion and has brought countless new fans to the game.

Kenney, while a highly skilled player, doesn’t have the same level of mainstream recognition or cultural impact.

The Debate Rages On

So, who’s right in this debate? It’s a tough one. Hellmuth is undeniably the king of the WSOP, but his high-roller results aren’t as impressive. On the other hand, Kenney has crushed the high-roller scene but doesn’t have the WSOP accolades to match Hellmuth.

Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide who they think is the better player. But one thing’s for sure: this war of words between Kenney and Hellmuth has ignited a fascinating conversation about what it truly means to be a poker legend.