Phil Hellmuth has put it to his fans to decide whether he plays the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event or goes ahead with his one-man boycott.
The Poker Brat owns a record 17 WSOP gold bracelets and has played in every main event since, but he recently announced that the gruelling format was too much for him now and he would be giving this year’s edition a miss.
Of course, many observers’ reaction was to claim he wasn’t serious. And that does make sense; after all the lure of being a two-time main event winner is likely too strong for Hellmuth.
I will let YOU guys decide if I play or boycott?
Should I play in the 2025 @WSOP Main Event? Or boycott hoping that they change the structure for next year: by giving us Day 6 off?
In my next tweet I will release a poll and honor whatever the results are#POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/ex2hq5VBhs
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 27, 2025
Should the WSOP Main Event Be a Test of Endurance?
When we discussed Phil Hellmuth’s complaints about the Main Event schedule three months ago, we also touched on the philosophy behind it — should endurance be a part of the tournament?
Poker isn’t chess where arduous seven-hour games make it difficult for players in their forties to compete at their peak level.
This is a more relaxed, less intense environment, even if the money sometimes at risk would make you think otherwise.
I am not playing the @WSOP Main Event. It has become an “Endurance contest.”
I truly believe that 80% of the players want changes made to the @WSOP Main Event. 12 hour days, or longer, for 6-7 days in row, is brutal and disproportionately affects older players pic.twitter.com/7K4OcJOZ56
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025
So for that reason, maybe we should look to accommodate some of the changes suggested by Hellmuth.
A day off after Day 3 or Day 4 would certainly help break the cycle of playing from midday to midnight for a full week.
Is Phil Hellmuth serious about making his point here? His agent, Brian Balsbaugh, says he is.
“FWIW, he’s not bluffing. He’s not grandstanding. He’s sad about it. It’s authentic. Nobody loves it more. The man has dedicated his life to the pursuit of gold bracelets.”
One poster on yesterday’s thread pointed to the overall summer schedule as being the cause of fatigue rather than one single event.
Another wrote that Hellmuth has game but he probably can’t “cry baby” his way into the WSOP organisers changing anything. They suggested a signed petition as the most effective way forward.
Not everyone cared so much, though, as proven by the tweet below.
Who, me? https://t.co/JdDwtkTVhd
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 27, 2025
PokerOrg reported that only 4.2% of responses to a poll think he won’t play. When asked for their opinions, Alex Foxen and Jonathan Little both replied that they didn’t care.
And there’s the entrance. It’s like a part of WSOP folklore now. There’s no doubt that Phil Hellmuth loves the attention he gets for being basically Mr WSOP. He is the biggest draw in town every year.
Will we see a year without the show? We doubt it, but let’s see what the poll says. Love him or hate him, a WSOP Main Event without Phil Hellmuth just wouldn’t be the same.
