The World Collection of Poker launched the summer time schedule on Monday, however Phil Hellmuth made some collection information of his personal on Tuesday. The 17-time bracelet winner introduced that he would not be taking part in the $10,000 important occasion.
Hellmuth gained the occasion in 1989, cashing in for $755,000 and turning into the youngest ever on the time to win the title at simply age 24. Now 60 years previous, the bracelet goat says that the occasion has merely turn into an “endurance contest” that favors youthful gamers.
“I actually consider that 80% of the gamers need modifications made to the WSOP important occasion,” he famous on Twitter. “12 hour days, or longer, for six to seven days in a row is brutal and disproportionately impacts older gamers.”
The 2024 important occasion was gained by 38-year-old Jonathan Tamayo after the motion performed out over 15 days, together with 4 beginning flights, two day 2 flights, and sooner or later off after setting the ultimate desk.
Take a look at Of Endurance
Hellmuth has performed each important occasion since 1988, however says he gained’t be taking part in this yr and launched a video detailing why.
“It’s simply too robust,” he mentioned. “Folks at residence are like, ‘Phil, you’ll be able to play seven days in a row.’ Yeah, strive it. Attempt getting up and taking part in midday till midnight seven days in a row.”
A few of these days could embody taking part in till 2 or 3 a.m., Hellmuth famous, and that schedule will be exhausting.
“I believe that basically hurts the older gamers in a a lot larger proportion than the youthful gamers,” he mentioned. “And I’ll say this: extra nice gamers come and inform me that they blew the principle occasion as a result of they acquired too drained with 100 left, 50 left, with 30 left. It’s become an endurance check. I don’t assume that the World Collection of Poker important occasion is measuring talent.”
“It’s nonetheless my favourite occasion on the earth, don’t misunderstand me, I don’t wish to miss it. However I do know that I can’t do this. I’m 60 years previous. I don’t assume I may have carried out it at age 50.”
Hellmuth believes there ought to be scheduled days off throughout the principle occasion and that 80% of the gamers would agree with him. He mentioned the match shouldn’t be about “individuals getting drained and blowing up chips.”
“I hope that in 2026 there are some modifications made in order that we are able to restore extra talent and fewer endurance,” he added. “I actually hope they make these modifications.”
Hellmuth hasn’t made the cash in the principle occasion since 2009, when he completed 436th. He additionally narrowly missed out on cashing this yr within the WSOP Paradise important occasion, busting on the cash bubble.
I’m not taking part in the WSOP</a> Primary Occasion. It has turn into an “Endurance contest.” <br><br>I actually consider that 80% of the gamers need modifications made to the <a href=”https://twitter.com/WSOP?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>WSOP Primary Occasion. 12 hour days, or longer, for 6-7 days in row, is brutal and disproportionately impacts older gamers pic.twitter.com/7K4OcJOZ56
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025
A participant in his 60’s hasn’t gained the principle occasion since 61-year-old Noel Furlong took down the 1999 match. That occasion solely had 393 entries. The oldest important occasion winners in trendy historical past embody 55-year-old Hossein Ensan (2019) and 45-year-old Damian Salas (2020).
So far as contributors, 97-year-old Jack Ury nonetheless holds the document for being the oldest to play in the principle occasion.
12 months
Entries
Participant
Age
1970
7
Johnny Moss
62
1971
6
Johnny Moss
63
1972
8
Amarillo Slim Preston
43
1973
13
Puggy Pearson
44
1974
16
Johnny Moss
66
1975
21
Sailor Roberts
44
1976
22
Doyle Brunson
42
1977
34
Doyle Brunson
43
1978
42
Bobby Baldwin
28
1979
54
Hal Fowler
52
1980
73
Stu Ungar
26
1981
75
Stu Ungar
27
1982
104
Jack Straus
51
1983
108
Tom McEvoy
38
1984
132
Jack Keller
41
1985
140
Invoice Smith
51
1986
141
Berry Johnston
50
1987
152
Johnny Chan
30
1988
167
Johnny Chan
31
1989
178
Phil Hellmuth
24
1990
194
Mansour Matloubi
37
1991
215
Brad Daugherty
39
1992
201
Hamid Dastmalchi
39
1993
231
Jim Bechtel
41
1994
268
Russ Hamilton
46
1995
273
Dan Harrington
49
1996
295
Huck Seed
27
1997
312
Stu Ungar
43
1998
350
Scotty Nguyen
35
1999
393
Noel Furlong
61
2000
512
Chris Ferguson
37
2001
613
Carlos Mortensen
29
2002
631
Robert Varkonyi
40
2003
839
Chris Moneymaker
27
2004
2,576
Greg Raymer
39
2005
5,619
Joe Hachem
39
2006
8,773
Jamie Gold
36
2007
6,358
Jerry Yang
39
2008
6,844
Peter Eastgate
22
2009
6,494
Joe Cada
21
2010
7,319
Jonathan Duhamel
23
2011
6,865
Pius Heinz
22
2012
6,598
Greg Merson
24
2013
6,352
Ryan Riess
23
2014
6,683
Martin Jacobson
27
2015
6,420
Joe McKeehen
24
2016
6,737
Qui Nguyen
39
2017
7,221
Scott Blumstein
25
2018
7,874
John Cynn
33
2019
8,569
Hossein Ensan
55
2020
1,379
Damian Salas
45
2021
6,650
Koray Aldemir
31
2022
8,663
Espen Jorstad
34
2023
10,043
Daniel Weinman
35
2024
10,112
Jonathan Tamayo
38
*Ages from w50p.com
Gamers Divided
Some gamers responded in settlement, resembling on-line poker ambassador Jen Shahade who famous that the schedule will be robust on pregnant girls and people with disabilities. However others felt that including days off would prolong the match much more, making it much more troublesome for gamers touring into city to play.
.jpg "Hellmuth At PokerGO Tour Event")
“The principle occasion construction is nice,” 888poker ambassador Ian Simpson famous. “We would like them to cease rising the rake and normal bills concerned within the journey.”
A number of gamers doubted that Hellmuth would actually be capable to steer clear of the match in any respect, with Kevin Martin saying that it could be like Michael Jordan skipping the NBA finals.
This may additionally get rid of his customary important occasion entrances which have seen him gown as a racecar driver, Roman emperor, battle normal, circus ring chief, Gandalf, Poseidon, and even Darth Vader.
“No likelihood that you simply skip the principle, your fomo (worry of lacking out) will kick in by day 2 when you’ll be able to nonetheless reg and you’ll [still] play three ranges,” tv author, producer, and poker participant Matt Salsberg famous. “After which when you survive one and a half extra days, you’re within the cash and adrenaline kicks in, plus you’ll be able to nap on dinners and get massages. Man up!”
Three-time bracelet winner David Baker agreed. “I miss the 72-hour periods at Commerce after we would make enjoyable of individuals quitting after solely two days straight. Now when you don’t get your health club, tan, mani/pedi and 12 hours of magnificence relaxation every day you’ll be able to’t play.”
Maybe if the Hellmuth doesn’t play, his son Phillip will. The 2 lately took on some excessive curler occasions on the PokerGO studio and Phil says his son is turning into a reasonably good participant.
The elder Hellmuth additionally lately made information by signing a web-based poker ambassador take care of Rush Road Interactive.
The principle occasion is ideal. It ought to be mentally taxing to try to win a 10000 particular person area. Rushing up the construction is a horrible selection and when you add days off then lots of leisure individuals wouldn’t be capable to come bc they only can’t take that a lot time without work away work…
— Ben Lamb (@BenbaLamb) February 18, 2025
That is like Micheal Jordan skipping the nba finals.
Don’t do that to us Phil
— KMart (@KevinRobMartin) February 18, 2025
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025
I do assume it’s superb for Phil to make use of his voice to a minimum of begin the dialog of why it must be 12 hour days straight for probably the most prestigious match on the earth. Like why not lower it down only a wee bit?
— Rania Nasreddine (@raniatalk) February 18, 2025
Yeah I agree that that is not the reply. The times are already too lengthy. If it had been as much as me I believe I might do 90min ranges, 6 ranges per day. Every day is 1 hour shorter than how it’s now, and by day 5 you have shaved off a full day of play
— Seth Davies (@Sdavies22) February 18, 2025
I’m 58, play each single day through the WSOP. I like it. It isn’t an issue. Make the principle occasion 12 days, 12 hours a day for me.
— Jon Shoreman (@JonShoreman) February 18, 2025
I’m not taking part in the WSOP</a> Primary Occasion. It has turn into an “Endurance contest.” <br><br>I actually consider that 80% of the gamers need modifications made to the <a href=”https://twitter.com/WSOP?ref_src=twsrcpercent5Etfw”>WSOP Primary Occasion. 12 hour days, or longer, for 6-7 days in row, is brutal and disproportionately impacts older gamers pic.twitter.com/7K4OcJOZ56
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) February 18, 2025
I miss the 72 hour periods at Commerce after we would make enjoyable of individuals quitting after solely 2 days straight. Now when you don’t get your health club, tan, mani/pedi and 12 hours of magnificence relaxation every day you’ll be able to’t play.
— David Baker (@audavidb) February 18, 2025
A) the world collection is 45 days 12 hour days the principle is not or shorter a day than another day of play.B) clearly the occasion supposedly displaying the perfect ought to have a bonus for youthful individuals. We become old we worsen, that is life all of us have to simply accept that. https://t.co/dIQ3T0dWgD
— Scott Seiver (@scott_seiver) February 18, 2025
Simply wish to level out that within the final two years: I consider the newest we have now ended a Primary Occasion day has been within the 12:30am-1am vary. (Phil says some nights you need to play till 2-3am, that simply would not occur anymore)
The addition of sooner or later to the match was key to… https://t.co/6fFEy76GMm
— Jeff Platt (@jeffplatt) February 18, 2025
I can positively attest to this. I am in the perfect form of my life and ready extensively for the 2023 Primary.
I used to be working 60+ minutes per session, and lifting/biking/swimming 6 days per week. I ate clear, fasted, meditated, and so on.
I used to be cruising for six days, however on Day 7, I hit a…
— Alec Torelli (Poker Participant) (@AlecTorelli) February 18, 2025
I agree 100% with what @phil_hellmuth says right here.
Ever since my severe again points from my herniated disks began a few years in the past, I’ve realized how brutal these 2AM+ finishes and quick turnarounds are and have decreased my play quantity because of it—not only for… https://t.co/Ca8Y10nb7F
— Faraz Jaka (@FarazJaka) February 18, 2025
Extra importantly, there ought to be 12 hour flip round in any/all wsop occasions between finish of day and begin of play subsequent day. https://t.co/qbYzfzDgli
— Ari Engel (@AriEngelPoker) February 18, 2025
FWIW, he’s not bluffing. He’s not grandstanding. He’s unhappy about it. It’s genuine. No one loves it extra. The person has devoted his life to the pursuit of gold bracelets. https://t.co/zspSPvcWOH
— Brian Balsbaugh (@Balsbaugh) February 18, 2025
Does this appear like the face of somebody skipping the principle occasion? https://t.co/m9RkefQ6C4 pic.twitter.com/VX7rDWblI1
— Matt Kiefer (@2littlemice) February 18, 2025
