BY TOM SOMACH

It’s hard to imagine the name “Phil Hellmuth” and the word “fail” in the same sentence, considering the Wisconsin-born poker pro has won more World Series of Poker (WSOP) championship gold bracelets–11–than anyone else in history.

But fail he did–again–as he attempted the baker’s dozen, to win a 12th bracelet, at this year’s WSOP in Las Vegas.

The just-concluded competition, WSOP Event #45, was a $5,000 buy-in, six-handed no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament with 728 entrants and a total prize pool of $3,421,660.

Almost anyone else would’ve been thrilled to end up in 31st place out of 728 in a WSOP event–and in the money–but not the “poker brat.”

He doesn’t see the $13,344 he won as hard-earned prize winnings, he sees it simply as another failed attempt at Bracelet No. 12.

Earlier at this year’s WSOP, Hellmuth, who had been tied with Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson and Johnny “The Orient Express” Chan for most career WSOP bracelets with 10, won his record-setting 11th bracelet, in Event #15.

Days later, in Event # 28, Hellmuth made the final table and appeared to be on his way to a 12th bracelet, only to end up in sixth place.

Now, in Event #45, he ends up in 31st place.

He still has a shot, though, at the big One-Two.

He will be participating in at least one more WSOP event this year, the 55th and final event, the $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament, the so-called “main event” whose winner is crowned “winner of the WSOP.”

As for the winner of Event #45, it was Bill Edler of Las Vegas, Nev., USA, who earned almost a million bucks for the win–$904,672 to be exact.

Finishing as runnerup was Alex “Diesel” Bolotin of New York, N.Y., USA, who took home $504,686.

Other notables who moneyed in the event were online poker room operator and professional gambler Anthony “Tony G” Guoga of Melbourne, Australia, who finished tenth and won $58,852; 2006 WSOP main event winner Jamie Gold of Malibu, Calif., USA, who finished 44th and won $9,238; poker pro Men “The Master” Nguyen of Bell Gardens, Calif., USA, who finished 48th and also won $9,238; and actor Tobey “Spiderman” Maguire of Los Angeles, Calif., USA, who finished 66th and won $6,159.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)