The World Series of Poker launched the summer season schedule on Monday, however Phil Hellmuth made some sequence information of his personal on Tuesday. The 17-time bracelet winner introduced that he would not be taking part in the $10,000 principal occasion.
Hellmuth received the occasion 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 previous, the bracelet goat says that the occasion has merely develop into an “endurance contest” that favors youthful gamers.
“I truly believe that 80% of the players want changes made to the WSOP main event,” he famous on Twitter. “12 hour days, or longer, for six to seven days in a row is brutal and disproportionately affects older players.”
The 2024 principal 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.
Test Of Endurance
Hellmuth has performed each principal occasion since 1988, however says he received’t be taking part in this yr and launched a video detailing why.
“It’s just too tough,” he stated. “People at home are like, ‘Phil, you can play seven days in a row.’ Yeah, try it. Try getting up and playing noon until midnight seven days in a row.”
Some of these days could embody taking part in till 2 or 3 a.m., Hellmuth famous, and that schedule might be exhausting.
“I think that really hurts the older players in a much bigger proportion than the younger players,” he stated. “And I’ll say this: more great players come and tell me that they blew the main event because they got too tired with 100 left, 50 left, with 30 left. It’s turned into an endurance test. I don’t think that the World Series of Poker main event is measuring skill.”
“It’s still my favorite event in the world, don’t misunderstand me, I don’t want to miss it. But I know that I can’t do that. I’m 60 years old. I don’t think I could have done 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 stated the event shouldn’t be about “people getting tired and blowing up chips.”
“I hope that in 2026 there are some changes made so that we can restore more skill and less endurance,” he added. “I really hope they make those changes.”
Hellmuth hasn’t made the cash in the primary occasion since 2009, when he completed 436th. He additionally narrowly missed out on cashing this yr within the WSOP Paradise principal occasion, busting on the cash bubble.
I’m not taking part in 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 Main Event. 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 event. That occasion solely had 393 entries. The oldest principal occasion winners in fashionable historical past embody 55-year-old Hossein Ensan (2019) and 45-year-old Damian Salas (2020).
As far as individuals, 97-year-old Jack Ury nonetheless holds the report for being the oldest to play in the primary occasion.
| Year | Entries | Player | Age |
| 1970 | 7 | Johnny Moss | 62 |
| 1971 | 6 | Johnny Moss | 63 |
| 1972 | 8 | Amarillo Slim Preston | 43 |
| 1973 | 13 | Puggy Pearson | 44 |
| 1974 | 16 | Johnny Moss | 66 |
| 1975 | 21 | Sailor Roberts | 44 |
| 1976 | 22 | Doyle Brunson | 42 |
| 1977 | 34 | Doyle Brunson | 43 |
| 1978 | 42 | Bobby Baldwin | 28 |
| 1979 | 54 | Hal Fowler | 52 |
| 1980 | 73 | Stu Ungar | 26 |
| 1981 | 75 | Stu Ungar | 27 |
| 1982 | 104 | Jack Straus | 51 |
| 1983 | 108 | Tom McEvoy | 38 |
| 1984 | 132 | Jack Keller | 41 |
| 1985 | 140 | Bill Smith | 51 |
| 1986 | 141 | Berry Johnston | 50 |
| 1987 | 152 | Johnny Chan | 30 |
| 1988 | 167 | Johnny Chan | 31 |
| 1989 | 178 | Phil Hellmuth | 24 |
| 1990 | 194 | Mansour Matloubi | 37 |
| 1991 | 215 | Brad Daugherty | 39 |
| 1992 | 201 | Hamid Dastmalchi | 39 |
| 1993 | 231 | Jim Bechtel | 41 |
| 1994 | 268 | Russ Hamilton | 46 |
| 1995 | 273 | Dan Harrington | 49 |
| 1996 | 295 | Huck Seed | 27 |
| 1997 | 312 | Stu Ungar | 43 |
| 1998 | 350 | Scotty Nguyen | 35 |
| 1999 | 393 | Noel Furlong | 61 |
| 2000 | 512 | Chris Ferguson | 37 |
| 2001 | 613 | Carlos Mortensen | 29 |
| 2002 | 631 | Robert Varkonyi | 40 |
| 2003 | 839 | Chris Moneymaker | 27 |
| 2004 | 2,576 | Greg Raymer | 39 |
| 2005 | 5,619 | Joe Hachem | 39 |
| 2006 | 8,773 | Jamie Gold | 36 |
| 2007 | 6,358 | Jerry Yang | 39 |
| 2008 | 6,844 | Peter Eastgate | 22 |
| 2009 | 6,494 | Joe Cada | 21 |
| 2010 | 7,319 | Jonathan Duhamel | 23 |
| 2011 | 6,865 | Pius Heinz | 22 |
| 2012 | 6,598 | Greg Merson | 24 |
| 2013 | 6,352 | Ryan Riess | 23 |
| 2014 | 6,683 | Martin Jacobson | 27 |
| 2015 | 6,420 | Joe McKeehen | 24 |
| 2016 | 6,737 | Qui Nguyen | 39 |
| 2017 | 7,221 | Scott Blumstein | 25 |
| 2018 | 7,874 | John Cynn | 33 |
| 2019 | 8,569 | Hossein Ensan | 55 |
| 2020 | 1,379 | Damian Salas | 45 |
| 2021 | 6,650 | Koray Aldemir | 31 |
| 2022 | 8,663 | Espen Jorstad | 34 |
| 2023 | 10,043 | Daniel Weinman | 35 |
| 2024 | 10,112 | Jonathan Tamayo | 38 |
*Ages from w50p.com
Players Divided
Some gamers responded in settlement, reminiscent of on-line poker ambassador Jen Shahade who famous that the schedule might be robust on pregnant girls and people with disabilities. But others felt that including days off would prolong the event much more, making it much more troublesome for gamers touring into city to play.
“The main event structure is great,” 888poker ambassador Ian Simpson famous. “We want them to stop increasing the rake and general expenses involved in the trip.”
Several gamers doubted that Hellmuth would actually have the ability to steer clear of the event in any respect, with Kevin Martin saying that it could be like Michael Jordan skipping the NBA finals.
This would additionally put off his customary principal occasion entrances which have seen him costume as a racecar driver, Roman emperor, battle basic, circus ring chief, Gandalf, Poseidon, and even Darth Vader.
“No chance that you skip the main, your fomo (fear of missing out) will kick in by day 2 when you can still reg and you can [still] play three levels,” tv author, producer, and poker participant Matt Salsberg famous. “And then if you survive one and a half more days, you’re in the money and adrenaline kicks in, plus you can nap on dinners and get massages. Man up!”
Three-time bracelet winner David Baker agreed. “I miss the 72-hour sessions at Commerce when we would make fun of people quitting after only two days straight. Now if you don’t get your gym, tan, mani/pedi and 12 hours of beauty rest each day you can’t play.”
Perhaps if the Hellmuth doesn’t play, his son Phillip will. The two lately took on some excessive curler occasions on the PokerGO studio and Phil says his son is changing into a fairly good participant.
The elder Hellmuth additionally lately made information by signing a web-based poker ambassador take care of Rush Street Interactive.
The principal occasion is ideal. It ought to be mentally taxing to try to win a 10000 particular person discipline. Speeding up the construction is a horrible selection and in the event you add days off then numerous leisure individuals wouldn’t have the ability to come bc they simply can’t take that a lot day off away work…
— Ben Lamb (@BenbaLamb) February 18, 2025
This 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 no less than begin the dialog of why it must be 12 hour days straight for essentially the most prestigious event on the planet. Like why not lower it down only a wee bit?
— Rania Nasreddine (@raniatalk) February 18, 2025
Yeah I agree that that is not the reply. The days are already too lengthy. If it have been as much as me I feel I might do 90min ranges, 6 ranges per day. Each day is 1 hour shorter than how it’s now, and by day 5 you have shaved off a full day of play
— Seth Davies (@Sdavies22) February 18, 2025
I’m 58, play each single day in the course of the WSOP. I like it. It’s not an issue. Make the primary occasion 12 days, 12 hours a day for me.
— Jon Shoreman (@JonShoreman) February 18, 2025
I’m not taking part in 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 Main Event. 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 after we would make enjoyable of individuals quitting after solely 2 days straight. Now in the event 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 sequence is 45 days 12 hour days the primary is not or shorter a day than another day of play.
B) clearly the occasion supposedly displaying the very best ought to have a bonus for youthful individuals. We become older we worsen, that is life all of us have to just accept that. https://t.co/dIQ3T0dWgD— Scott Seiver (@scott_seiver) February 18, 2025
Just wish to level out that within the final two years: I imagine the newest we’ve got ended a Main Event day has been within the 12:30am-1am vary. (Phil says some nights it’s important to play till 2-3am, that simply would not occur anymore)
The addition of someday to the event was key to… https://t.co/6fFEy76GMm
— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) February 18, 2025
I can positively attest to this. I’m in the very best form of my life and ready extensively for the 2023 Main.
I used to be operating 60+ minutes per session, and lifting/biking/swimming 6 days per 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 Player) (@AlecTorelli) February 18, 2025
I agree 100% with what @phil_hellmuth says right here.
Ever since my critical 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 diminished my play quantity on account of it—not only for… https://t.co/Ca8Y10nb7F
— Faraz Jaka (@FarazJaka) February 18, 2025
More 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. Nobody loves it extra. The man 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
