Phil Hellmuth once again had to settle for second place in the WSOP's Event #33, the $10,000 Stud Hi-Lo Championship. Hellmuth could have secured himself his 12th bracelet, but lost heads-up to Eric Rodawig.

Phil Hellmuth earlier today once again came breathtakingly close to winning the 12th WSOP bracelet of his career, but once again The Poker Brat had to settle for second place after an agonizing heads-up duel.

Hellmuth, who finished second in the $10,000 2-7 Lowball Championship less than two weeks ago, this time entered the prestigious $10,000 Stud Hi-Lo Championship with hopes of improving his record.

168 players had signed up for the event, and among them were some of poker's absolute brightest stars, illustrated by the number of well-known pros who made it to today's final table.

Facing players such as John Racener, Ted Forrest, David Benyamine and Ali Eslami, Hellmuth was by no means the only player with considerable WSOP experience among the final nine, but still The Poker Brat managed to navigate his way through to the crucial heads-up final.

Entering heads-up play with one third of the chips, Hellmuth put up a good run for his bracelet chances, but eventually he had to surrender to his opponent, 26-year-old Eric Rodawig from North Dakota.

Rodawig, who had live tournament earnings of a mere $43,000 before his win today, cashed in $442,183 for his win, which was at the same time his first WSOP victory.

Hellmuth got denied his 12th career bracelet, but could find some consolation in a $273,233 runners-up cheque, enough to boost his 2011 WSOP earnings to more than $500,000, following his other runner-up title for which he banked $226,907.

The result will also put Hellmuth on top of the WSOP Player of The Year ranking, ahead of Sam Stein and John Juanda.

Almost at the same time as Rodawig and his rail were celebrating his impressive win, Event #31 $1,500 NLHE also found its winner in Canadian Kirk Caldwell.

Caldwell overcame a strong field of 2,828 runners to claim a $668,292 first prize, making him the 2011 series' fourth Canadian champion so far.

Source: Poker.org