It was close, but no cigar, for the “Poker Brat.”

Phil “Poker Brat” Hellmuth Jr.’s try for an unprecedented 12th career World Series of Poker (WSOP) championship gold bracelet has fallen short–by two steps–at the 2008 WSOP in Las Vegas.

The prickly poker pro, whose nickname would probably be Phil “Give ‘Em Hell” Hellmuth if Harry Truman hadn’t landed the moniker first, finished in third place in 2008 WSOP Event #51, a $1,500 buy-in, H.O.R.S.E. tournament that had 803 entries, 80 payouts and a total prize pool of about $1.1 million.

Hellmuth was attempting to become the first person in history to win an even dozen WSOP gold bracelets.

He still has the most–11–of anyone in history, one ahead of Johnny “The Orient Express” Chan and Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, who each have 10 for their careers.

Winning Event #51 was James Schaaf of Torrance, California, USA, scarfing $256,412.

Runnerup was Tam “Tommy” Hang of Seattle, Washington, USA, hangin’ with $158,933.

Third was Hellmuth, of Palo Alto, California, USA, making a hell of a run…and $93,168.

Fourth was Esther Rossi of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, raising $68,505.

Fifth was Jason Dollinger of Coral Springs, Florida, USA, dolling $54,804.

Sixth was Sam Silverman of Las Vegas, winning $42,966 worth of silver.

Seventh was Annand “Victor” Ramdin of New York City, New York, USA, ramming $32,992.

Eighth was Matt Grapenthien of Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pocketing $27,511 in grape money.

Ninth was Ed Brodgon of LItchfield Park, Arizona, USA, parking $22,031.

Tenth was Lon Heimowitz of Monticello, New York, USA, mounting $22,031.

(E-mail Tom Somach at [email protected].)