Phil Hellmuth Claims He’ll Skip World Series Of Poker Main Event

The World Sequence of Poker released the summer schedule on Monday, however Phil Hellmuth made some collection information of his personal on Tuesday. The 17-time bracelet winner introduced that he would now not be enjoying the $10,000 essential occasion.

Hellmuth won the event in 1989, cashing in for $755,000 and changing into the youngest ever on the time to win the title at simply age 24. Now 60 years outdated, the bracelet goat says that the occasion has merely turn out to be an “endurance contest” that favors youthful gamers.

“I actually imagine that 80% of the gamers need adjustments made to the WSOP essential occasion,” he famous on Twitter. “12 hour days, or longer, for six to seven days in a row is brutal and disproportionately impacts older gamers.”

The 2024 essential occasion was received by 38-year-old Jonathan Tamayo after the motion performed out over 15 days, together with 4 beginning flights, two day 2 flights, and someday off after setting the ultimate desk.

Take a look at Of Endurance

Hellmuth has performed each essential occasion since 1988, however says he received’t be enjoying this 12 months and launched a video detailing why.

“It’s simply too powerful,” he mentioned. “Folks at dwelling are like, ‘Phil, you possibly can play seven days in a row.’ Yeah, attempt it. Strive getting up and enjoying midday till midnight seven days in a row.”

A few of these days might embody enjoying till 2 or 3 a.m., Hellmuth famous, and that schedule will be exhausting.

“I believe that basically hurts the older gamers in a a lot larger proportion than the youthful gamers,” he mentioned. “And I’ll say this: extra nice gamers come and inform me that they blew the primary occasion as a result of they acquired too drained with 100 left, 50 left, with 30 left. It’s was an endurance take a look at. I don’t suppose that the World Sequence of Poker essential occasion is measuring ability.”

“It’s nonetheless my favourite occasion on this planet, don’t misunderstand me, I don’t need to miss it. However I do know that I can’t try this. I’m 60 years outdated. I don’t suppose I may have completed it at age 50.”

Hellmuth believes there ought to be scheduled days off throughout the primary occasion and that 80% of the gamers would agree with him. He mentioned the match shouldn’t be about “individuals getting drained and blowing up chips.”

“I hope that in 2026 there are some adjustments made in order that we will restore extra ability and fewer endurance,” he added. “I actually hope they make these adjustments.”

Hellmuth hasn’t made the cash in the primary occasion since 2015, when he completed 417th. He additionally narrowly missed out on cashing this 12 months within the WSOP Paradise essential occasion, busting on the money bubble.

I’m not enjoying the WSOP</a> Main Event. It has become an “Endurance contest.” <br><br>I truly believe that 80% of the players want changes made to the <a href="https://twitter.com/WSOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">WSOP Foremost Occasion. 12 hour days, or longer, for 6-7 days in row, is brutal and disproportionately impacts older gamers pic.twitter.com/7K4OcJOZ56

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025

A participant in his 60’s hasn’t received the primary occasion since 61-year-old Noel Furlong took down the 1999 match. That occasion solely had 393 entries. The oldest essential occasion winners in trendy historical past embody 55-year-old Hossein Ensan (2019) and 45-year-old Damian Salas (2020).

So far as contributors, 97-year-old Jack Ury nonetheless holds the file for being the oldest to play in the primary occasion.

*Ages from w50p.com

Gamers Divided

Some gamers responded in settlement, corresponding to online poker ambassador Jen Shahade who famous that the schedule will be powerful on pregnant ladies and people with disabilities. However others felt that including days off would lengthen the match much more, making it much more tough for gamers touring into city to play.

“The principle occasion construction is nice,” 888poker ambassador Ian Simpson famous. “We would like them to cease rising the rake and normal bills concerned within the journey.”

A number of gamers doubted that Hellmuth would actually have the ability to keep away from the match in any respect, with Kevin Martin saying that it will be like Michael Jordan skipping the NBA finals.

This may additionally dispose of his customary main event entrances which have seen him costume as a racecar driver, Roman emperor, battle normal, circus ring chief, Gandalf, Poseidon, and even Darth Vader.

“No probability that you simply skip the primary, your fomo (worry of lacking out) will kick in by day 2 when you possibly can nonetheless reg and you’ll [still] play three ranges,” tv author, producer, and poker participant Matt Salsberg famous. “After which should you survive one and a half extra days, you’re within the cash and adrenaline kicks in, plus you possibly can nap on dinners and get massages. Man up!”

Three-time bracelet winner David Baker agreed. “I miss the 72-hour periods at Commerce once we would make enjoyable of individuals quitting after solely two days straight. Now should you don’t get your gymnasium, tan, mani/pedi and 12 hours of magnificence relaxation every day you possibly can’t play.”

Maybe if the Hellmuth doesn’t play, his son Phillip will. The 2 not too long ago took on some high roller events at the PokerGO studio and Phil says his son is changing into a fairly good participant.

The elder Hellmuth additionally not too long ago made information by signing an online poker ambassador deal with Rush Avenue Interactive.

What Scott mentioned beneath is all true and I might add that the WSOP essential occasion since 1970 has been a gradual construction with 2 hour ranges.

It’s a bucket record occasion for a lot of, with the grind being a part of the attract.

There are solely two methods to handle Phil’s considerations:

1) Make it a 3… https://t.co/kpAsmc6fd6

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) February 18, 2025

The principle occasion is ideal. It ought to be mentally taxing to try to win a 10000 individual discipline. Rushing up the construction is a horrible alternative and should you add days off then quite a lot of leisure individuals wouldn’t have the ability to come bc they simply can’t take that a lot day without work away work…

— Ben Lamb (@BenbaLamb) February 18, 2025

That is like Micheal Jordan skipping the nba finals.

Don’t do that to us Phil

— KMart (@KevinRobMartin) February 18, 2025

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025

I do suppose it’s wonderful for Phil to make use of his voice to a minimum of begin the dialog of why it must be 12 hour days straight for essentially the most prestigious match on this planet. Like why not reduce it down only a wee bit?

— Rania Nasreddine (@raniatalk) February 18, 2025

Yeah I agree that that is not the reply. The times are already too lengthy. If it have been as much as me I believe I might do 90min ranges, 6 ranges per day. Every day is 1 hour shorter than how it’s now, and by day 5 you’ve got shaved off a full day of play

— Seth Davies (@Sdavies22) February 18, 2025

I’m 58, play each single day through the WSOP. I find it irresistible. It isn’t an issue. Make the primary occasion 12 days, 12 hours a day for me.

— Jon Shoreman (@JonShoreman) February 18, 2025

I’m not enjoying the WSOP</a> Main Event. It has become an “Endurance contest.” <br><br>I truly believe that 80% of the players want changes made to the <a href="https://twitter.com/WSOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">WSOP Foremost Occasion. 12 hour days, or longer, for 6-7 days in row, is brutal and disproportionately impacts older gamers pic.twitter.com/7K4OcJOZ56

— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025

I miss the 72 hour periods at Commerce once we would make enjoyable of individuals quitting after solely 2 days straight. Now should you don’t get your gymnasium, tan, mani/pedi and 12 hours of magnificence relaxation every day you possibly can’t play.

— David Baker (@audavidb) February 18, 2025

A) the world collection is 45 days 12 hour days the primary is now not or shorter a day than another day of play.
B) clearly the occasion supposedly displaying the most effective ought to have a bonus for youthful individuals. We become older we worsen, that is life all of us have to simply accept that. https://t.co/dIQ3T0dWgD

— Scott Seiver (@scott_seiver) February 18, 2025

Simply need to level out that within the final two years: I imagine the newest we now have ended a Foremost Occasion day has been within the 12:30am-1am vary. (Phil says some nights it’s a must to play till 2-3am, that simply would not occur anymore)

The addition of someday to the match was key to… https://t.co/6fFEy76GMm

— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) February 18, 2025

I can undoubtedly attest to this. I am in the most effective form of my life and ready extensively for the 2023 Foremost.

I used to be operating 60+ minutes per session, and lifting/biking/swimming 6 days every week. I ate clear, fasted, meditated, and so forth.

I used to be cruising for six days, however on Day 7, I hit a…

— Alec Torelli (Poker Participant) (@AlecTorelli) February 18, 2025

I agree 100% with what @phil_hellmuth says right here.

Ever since my severe again points from my herniated disks began a few years in the past, I’ve realized how brutal these 2AM+ finishes and brief turnarounds are and have decreased my play quantity on account of it—not only for… https://t.co/Ca8Y10nb7F

— Faraz Jaka (@FarazJaka) February 18, 2025

Extra importantly, there ought to be 12 hour flip round in any/all wsop occasions between finish of day and begin of play subsequent day. https://t.co/qbYzfzDgli

— Ari Engel (@AriEngelPoker) February 18, 2025

FWIW, he’s not bluffing. He’s not grandstanding. He’s unhappy about it. It’s genuine. No person loves it extra. The person has devoted his life to the pursuit of gold bracelets. https://t.co/zspSPvcWOH

— Brian Balsbaugh (@Balsbaugh) February 18, 2025

Does this appear to be the face of somebody skipping the primary occasion? https://t.co/m9RkefQ6C4 pic.twitter.com/VX7rDWblI1

— Matt Kiefer (@2littlemice) February 18, 2025