Phil Hellmuth has created headlines long before the 2025 WSOP has started. Soon after this sumer's schedule dropped, Hellmuth stated that he wouldn't be playing this summer's Main Event.
In an exclusive interview with PokerOrg, he claimed that the tournament's marathon length and how it skewed against older players was the deciding factor. He called for a change to the structure.
“If the WSOP Main Event does not give us a day off after Day 3 or Day 4, then I will not play in it!” Hellmuth told us. "This will end my run; I have played the Main Event every year since 1988.”
Hellmuth has won a record 17 WSOP bracelets, including the Main Event in 1989. However, he hasn't cashed in the Main Event since 2015, when he finished 417th.
The WSOP responds
We reached out to the WSOP and spoke with Executive Director Ty Stewart, asking him what the WSOP had made of Hellmuth's declaration.
"We try to make decisions in the collective best interests of the entire field," Stewart told us. "Recreational players are a huge part of the Main Event, and many have practical considerations like vacation days, time away from family and cost of travel.
"We've been unwilling to compromise on the value and traditions of the event with 120-minute levels and an ultra-deep structure. We feel playing five levels per day with the opportunity for multiple days off is a happy medium for a tournament that's already 15 days."
Stewart went on to say that discussions had been held: "Phil did make us aware of his intentions to be public with his decision to sit out should we not add an extra break day. We had these discussions as early as WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas."
Does Negreanu agree?
We also reached out to Daniel Negreanu to get his point of view. As a GGPoker pro, someone who holds sway with the WSOP and a friend of Hellmuth's, Negreanu is uniquely placed to see both sides.
"I talked to him [Hellmuth] for an hour last night," Negreanu told us. "The WSOP Main Event is a marathon and has been for decades. For some, that is part of the allure, a structure that from its very first birth in the 70s had two-hour levels and a very slow structure. It’s a bucket list tournament for most, and if you get to the end, it will take all you got.
"Fatigue certainly plays a role," Negreanu added, "based on a variety of factors including age, stamina, and physical health, but I wouldn’t be happy with speeding up the structure or turning a two-week tournament into a three-week one."
Players split down the middle
We spoke with 2003 Main Event champ Chris Moneymaker, who didn't side with Hellmuth. "LeBron James plays great in the NBA at 40. Hellmuth can sit at a table at 60," Moneymaker told us. "Nothing should change. If you get to an age where you can’t play the Main Event then there are other events you can play. If you want to win the most coveted bracelet on earth, you are going to have to work for it.”
The issue caught fire on X, with many players putting their views forward, although it's fair to say there's no consensus.
Here are some of the best responses from PokerOrg Player Advisory Board members and other big-name players, starting with Faraz Jaka, who penned a lengthy tweet that started, "I agree 100% with what @phil_hellmuth says here."
Jaka talked about his back issues and how operators should create healthier playing conditions. His post outlined four improvements they could make.
- Make shorter days – add a day if needed. Yes, it increases costs, but you’re losing players long-term to burnout and injury.
- Faster structures – not speeding up already fast ones, but some long, drawn-out events could be adjusted.
- More flexibility – let the floor make a judgment call to end play earlier or push back Day 2 starts when turnarounds get unreasonable.
- Put yourself in players’ shoes – they want a full night’s sleep, time to eat, exercise, and handle life outside of poker for an hour or two.
His sentiment was shared by Christina Gollins, who has suffered health issues herself and is only in her mid-30s.
Ari Engel said that there should be a minimum "12-hour turnaround in any/all WSOP events between [the] end of [the] day and [the] start of play next day."
Other players, like Scott Seiver, want to see the Main Event stay as it is.
And there are some players who think Hellmuth will have a change of heart, including Joey Ingram, who commented on our original story, saying, "I think Phil will 100% be playing the event but he also might make a good point about allowing for more of a break as the event goes longer."
What say you, poker players? Jump into our Ask the Org thread: Is the WSOP Main Event too long? Or leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
