The Poker Brat has confirmed his participation for the big event
Phil Hellmuth is officially back in for the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event, reversing his earlier stance and sticking to a familiar routine that poker fans have come to expect. Despite announcing earlier this year that he would skip the tournament due to concerns over the grueling multi-day structure, the 17-time bracelet winner has decided he simply can’t stay away.
Hellmuth had taken issue with the tournament’s demanding schedule and argued that the structure doesn’t account for older players who may need more recovery time. He had even called for a designated rest day by Day 6, saying it would allow participants to perform at their best during the final stretch. But even with those concerns, the longtime poker icon couldn’t resist the pull of the game’s biggest stage.
I am 100% playing in the @WSOP Main Event!
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
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 29, 2025
Rather than make the decision quietly, Hellmuth turned to social media and let his fans weigh in. He posted a poll asking whether he should play, and after 75% of respondents voted in favor, he agreed to suit up once more—literally. His annual costumed entrance, a tradition that has become a spectacle in itself, is expected to continue.
Although he has said he will boycott the Main Event next year if changes aren’t made, few in the poker community are taking that claim too seriously. For someone who lives and breathes the WSOP, walking away entirely seems unlikely.
Hellmuth’s return guarantees at least one more year of drama, flair, and competitive fire at the tables. Whether you love him or love to root against him, the Main Event wouldn’t quite feel the same without him making an entrance—and plenty of headlines.
