Dennis Phillips may still turn out to be 2008's biggest winner(credit: Poker Stars)
Over the last few years there have been very different winners of the World Series of Poker main event, and each has contributed to poker in their own way. This year the man who came in third, Dennis Phillips, might do more for the game than the last few champions.
In 2003 Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP; just by virtue of the fact that he satellited in and was an amature he helped poker. In 2004 Greg Raymer won and has proven himself a tireless advocate, brining his lawyer- trained brain to serve the game and the industry.
In 2005 Joe Hachem won, and the Aussie champ has used his charm to great affect; one of his first phone calls after his victory was to Raymer, asking for advice on how to be the “face of poker” for the upcoming year.
Then in 2006 Jamie Gold won; Gold has done tons for charity in the intervening years, but his mix up over paying a debt cast a black mark on his victory. In 2007 Jerry Yang won and seemed to disappear, uninterested in stumping for the industry.
This year’s victor, Peter Eastgate, is an untested commodity; but he is young and on the upswing of his poker career, so there is hope.
But what about Dennis Phillips? Coming into the WSOP final table the chip leader, and then swiftly knocked down to short stack, Phillips fought his way back to being a serious threat, eventually finishing 3rd. In the months during the break before the final table played out, Phillips gave some 200 interviews and made all manner of gestures of good will, such as visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center to talk to wounded soldiers.
He is a hard working fellow who will probably go back to work despite his new status as millionaire, and will likely keep playing high profile poker, now that he can afford the buy ins. A gentleman at the table and a skilled player, Phillips will continue to be a benefit to poker as long as he plays.
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