Phil Hellmuth Announces Shocking Withdrawal from WSOP Main Event
Poker legend Phil Hellmuth, the all-time leader in World Series of Poker (WSOP) titles, has revealed he will not be competing in this year’s $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship. The 17-time bracelet winner took to social media late Monday to explain his decision, citing the tournament’s grueling schedule as a significant disadvantage for older players.
“It’s just too exhausting,” Hellmuth admitted. “The Main Event has turned into an endurance test, and I don’t think I can win under these conditions. It disproportionately favors younger players.”
Set to run from July 2 to July 16 at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, the Main Event remains the most prestigious tournament in poker. The structure, featuring two-hour levels and long late-night sessions, demands peak stamina from competitors as they battle for the coveted championship title.
Last year, Jonathan Tamayo, 38, outlasted a record-breaking 10,112-player field to capture the $10 million top prize. In the past two decades, only two players over the age of 40—Hossein Ensan (55) and Damian Salas (45)—have won the event, reinforcing Hellmuth’s argument about the increasing physical demands of the tournament.
Turning 60 last July, Hellmuth is no stranger to the Main Event’s history. He first claimed the title in 1989 at just 24, becoming the youngest champion at the time. He later added a victory at the 2012 WSOP Europe Main Event, making him the only player to have won both.
However, success in recent years has eluded him. Hellmuth hasn’t cashed in the Main Event since 2015, though he has remained a fan favorite, often making grand entrances in elaborate costumes, from Darth Vader (2022) to a karate master (2024).
Despite stepping away this year, Hellmuth left the door open for a possible return—if WSOP organizers implement schedule changes.
“If you polled the players, 80% would agree that the Main Event should have scheduled rest days,” he argued. “I hope that by 2026, adjustments are made to restore more skill and less endurance to the game. That’s the only way I’ll be back.”
Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/sport...-winner-says-he-wont-play-main-event-3306768/
Poker legend Phil Hellmuth, the all-time leader in World Series of Poker (WSOP) titles, has revealed he will not be competing in this year’s $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship. The 17-time bracelet winner took to social media late Monday to explain his decision, citing the tournament’s grueling schedule as a significant disadvantage for older players.
“It’s just too exhausting,” Hellmuth admitted. “The Main Event has turned into an endurance test, and I don’t think I can win under these conditions. It disproportionately favors younger players.”
Set to run from July 2 to July 16 at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, the Main Event remains the most prestigious tournament in poker. The structure, featuring two-hour levels and long late-night sessions, demands peak stamina from competitors as they battle for the coveted championship title.
Last year, Jonathan Tamayo, 38, outlasted a record-breaking 10,112-player field to capture the $10 million top prize. In the past two decades, only two players over the age of 40—Hossein Ensan (55) and Damian Salas (45)—have won the event, reinforcing Hellmuth’s argument about the increasing physical demands of the tournament.
Turning 60 last July, Hellmuth is no stranger to the Main Event’s history. He first claimed the title in 1989 at just 24, becoming the youngest champion at the time. He later added a victory at the 2012 WSOP Europe Main Event, making him the only player to have won both.
However, success in recent years has eluded him. Hellmuth hasn’t cashed in the Main Event since 2015, though he has remained a fan favorite, often making grand entrances in elaborate costumes, from Darth Vader (2022) to a karate master (2024).
Despite stepping away this year, Hellmuth left the door open for a possible return—if WSOP organizers implement schedule changes.
“If you polled the players, 80% would agree that the Main Event should have scheduled rest days,” he argued. “I hope that by 2026, adjustments are made to restore more skill and less endurance to the game. That’s the only way I’ll be back.”
Source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/sport...-winner-says-he-wont-play-main-event-3306768/
