It’s official – Phil Hellmuth WILL play this year’s WSOP Main Event. The 17-time gold bracelet winner has opted against a boycott after 73% of his X/Twitter followers voted for him to play.
As we reported yesterday, Hellmuth had turned to his fans to decide whether or not to go ahead with his plans to sit out this year’s flagship World Series of Poker tournament.
The self-styled “Poker Brat” is unhappy about the schedule but this morning tweeted “I am 100% playing in the @WSOP Main Event!”
The vote itself lasted less than a day but attracted more than 4000 votes. 73% voted he should play while only 27% voted for the boycott. The voting, however, was itself now without its drama, as a rapidly-appearing block of 3000 “don’t play” votes appeared to be the work of ne’er-do-wells.
I am 100% playing in the @WSOP Main Event!
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 29, 2025
I’ll be coming in themed as “Highway To Hellmuth.” Might dress up like an 80’s rock star. Can’t wait to share the artwork we have for this Grand Main Event Entrance@BetRivers might give away a Ford Mustang#POSITIVITY #PHNiceLife pic.twitter.com/x4XLYLG3El
Hellmuth’s “will he, won’t he” drama has been one of the main talking points in the build-up to this year’s 56th Annual WSOP in Las Vegas.
As always with the 1989 champ, it stirred the public into commenting, and split them right down the middle.
- Atta boy Phil! We will love to see ya play – @douglasddecker
- Phil, do you know which day one of the main event you are playing in yet?? I want to start the same day you are. @thenextmelblanc
- I was surprised when I saw the poll numbers flip like that. Seems clear someone had a bot farm on their side -@bonanzabrandon
- Such a clown, maturity level and commitment of a 14-yr old -@ajones9er
Hellmuth’s Grand Entrance 2025..?
Of course, now that he has vowed to play, the question of his Main Event ‘grand entrance’ is up for discussion.
Hellmuth has previously dressed up as Thor, Darth Vader, Gandalf the White, Julius Caesar, a NASCAR driver, a circus ringmaster, and last year as a kung fu master.
This year it looks like rock stardom will be the theme:
“I’ll be coming in themed as “Highway To Hellmuth.” Might dress up like an 80’s rock star. Can’t wait to share the artwork we have for this Grand Main Event Entrance.”
As for the poker itself, Hellmuth will be looking to improve on his 17 gold bracelets, 80 final tables, and $17,941,604 in WSOP earnings across the entire range of their events.
Meanwhile, it’s son Phil Hellmuth Jr who is already at the tables and grinding the WSOP.
Here comes another familiar face!
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) May 28, 2025
Son of 17-time WSOP Gold Bracelet winner @phil_hellmuth aka Phil Hellmuth III has taken his seat in Event 1: $1,000 NL Hold’em Mystery Millions!
Will this start his path to follow dad and take home the gold? We will find out!
Follow live… pic.twitter.com/BMLzYh6Log
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