October 04 2012, PokerNews Staff

On Thursday night in Cannes, France, Phil Hellmuth broke his own World Series of Poker bracelet record by winning the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.

“I’m really trying to keep my head down the last couple of years. You start reading the press, and you start listening to people. They want your autograph every day, pictures and stuff like that, and then you start to think, ‘alright I’m kinda cool.’ But you have to ignore all of that. You have to keep your head in the game. [Daniel] Negreanu was criticizing me for a couple of years, and he was right. My head wasn’t where it was supposed to be,” Hellmuth told PokerNews‘ Sarah Grant after his win.

Hellmuth not only broke the record for most WSOP bracelets, he also became the first player to win both the World Series of Poker Main Event and the WSOP Europe Main Event. He has taken the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year lead, and will win that honor if 2012 WSOP Main Event final tablist Greg Merson doesn’t win the 2012 WSOP Main Event later this month.

“He [Greg Merson] has to win!” said Hellmuth regarding the WSOP POY scenario. “You know what, if he does it, just more power to him. I heard he’s a fantastic player with a lot of talent. I think it’s going to be a fun sweat.”

Video: http://www.pokernews.com/video/wsope-2012-phil-hellmuth-wins-world-series-of-poker-main-eve-7246.htm

Read the PokerNews Live Reporting Blog to check out Hellmuth’s run to 13, and as always, follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

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