Sexton’s 2001 TOC

Date: 2007.01.22 | Category: Hand Of The Week | By: Phil Hellmuth   

In September 2001, I made it down to the final 27 players in a field of 402 at Mike Sexton’s brainchild, the TOC (Tournament of Champions). After two days of playing one-third Seven Card Stud, one-third Omaha Eight or better and one-third limit Hold’em, day three would now be 100 percent limit Hold’em. World Champion Scotty Nguyen, and poker legends T.J. Cloutier and “Miami” John Cernuto, “Syracuse” Chris Tsiprailidis and I had to be among the favorites at this point in the tournament.

I had just finished a commanding performance over the first two days of play, and day three promised to be the big payday for me. I was going to win the TOC! I was clearly on top of my game, and this time no one was going to stop me from claiming the big prize. I had just finished fifth in the WSOP (World Series of Poker), won a bracelet at the WSOP for another no-limit Hold’em tournament and won a no limit Hold’em event in Vienna in early June. Man, I was rolling big time in no limit Hold’em! Who could possibly stop me from winning this event?