The Poker Brat lost a winning hand and his entire stack on the river and was forced out
Phil Hellmuth’s run at the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event came to a sudden end on Day 3 after a brutal river card sealed his fate. The 17-time bracelet winner, known as much for his poker resume as his dramatic entrances, was knocked out before the second break of the day, despite starting play with a solid chip stack.
The hand that ended his tournament unfolded during a three-way confrontation. Michael Zulker opened the action with pocket queens. Leon Sturm flatted behind with pocket eights. Then, Hellmuth moved all-in for his final 93,000 chips, pushing with ace-king — a standard spot given his position and stack size. Action folded back to Zulker, who decided to shove as well, forcing Sturm to fold and setting up a classic race between two strong hands.
The flop ran out harmlessly with 4♣, J♦, and 3♠, keeping Zulker ahead. The turn, however, shifted the momentum. A king hit the felt, giving Hellmuth top pair and a strong chance to double up. But the excitement didn’t last long. The river brought the one card in the deck that could end his Main Event — the final queen — giving Zulker a set and sending the poker legend to the rail.
He wasn’t going to play, but now he’s no longer allowed to play as all his chips are gone! @phil_hellmuth with a sickening exit from the 2025 @WSOP Main Event extending his drought in the greatest tournament of all time to 10 years! pic.twitter.com/KtSQ7FVoYY
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 9, 2025
Hellmuth, who had hinted at skipping the Main Event this year but eventually made his signature late arrival in full costume, exited quietly. There were no outbursts or commentary — just a silent exit after a rough beat that ended his hopes of another deep run.
This marks the tenth consecutive year Hellmuth has failed to cash in the Main Event. Despite several strong performances in side events, the game’s biggest stage continues to be an elusive challenge for one of poker’s most decorated players.
