The WSOP bracelet leader could take a break for the first time since 1988
Phil Hellmuth has announced that he will not participate in this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, ending a streak that began in 1988. The 1989 Main Event champion cited the tournament’s demanding schedule as his primary reason for stepping away, arguing that the structure unfairly impacts older players.
I am not playing the @WSOP Main Event. It has become an “Endurance contest.”
I truly believe that 80% of the players want changes made to the @WSOP Main Event. 12 hour days, or longer, for 6-7 days in row, is brutal and disproportionately affects older players pic.twitter.com/7K4OcJOZ56
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025
Hellmuth expressed frustration over the lack of scheduled breaks, stating that the WSOP rejected his request to include a day off after Day 3 or Day 4. Without that adjustment, he has decided to sit out for the first time in nearly four decades.
The 17-time bracelet winner believes the Main Event has evolved into a test of endurance rather than a pure poker competition, which he claims disproportionately disadvantages older players. He pointed out that even some of the biggest names in the game have struggled in the later stages due to fatigue, ultimately making mistakes that cost them their deep runs.
Not everyone agrees with Hellmuth’s perspective. Scott Seiver acknowledged that younger players naturally have an edge but argued that this is simply part of competition. He pointed out that aging impacts performance in all fields, and poker is no exception. Daniel Negreanu also disagreed with Hellmuth, siding with Seiver’s view that endurance is an inherent challenge in the game.
However, some professionals see merit in Hellmuth’s stance. Nadya Magnus noted that the long tournament days affect not just older players but also those with medical conditions. She warned that as the player pool ages, participation in lengthy events could decline, ultimately shrinking prize pools.
Hellmuth’s absence will be significant, given his deep history with the WSOP Main Event. Whether his concerns lead to future schedule changes remains to be seen, but his decision has certainly sparked debate within the poker community.
