POKERPLAYER: Happy anniversary, Phil. It’s 20 years since your first WSOP cash.

PHIL HELLMUTH: Wow! In 1988, I must have been 23, and was so young and dumb. I remember in the Main Event I sat beside a man named Johnny Chan. I didn’t even know who he was or that he was world champion.

He busted me and I finished 33rd, which was in the money. Right after I got eliminated my friend, ‘Big’ Al Emerson, took me to one side and instead of saying, ‘Well done, nice job,’ he said, ‘You idiot! This was your best chance to win the Main Event of the WSOP and you may never get there again in your life.’

I looked him in the eyes, and said, ‘Are you f: ;...