All-time bracelet chief Phil Hellmuth shocked the poker world Tuesday when he introduced he is not going to be taking part in within the 2025 World Collection of Poker (WSOP) Important Occasion as a result of its demanding construction.
“It’s became an endurance check,” Hellmuth, who has performed in each Important Occasion since 1988, stated in a video posted late Monday night time on X. “I don’t suppose the WSOP Important Occasion is measuring ability. For those who go on the market and ballot the gamers on whether or not or not they need to have days off within the Important Occasion, 80% are going to say sure.”
The G.O.A.T. of the World Collection of Poker and 1989 world champion is not any spring rooster anymore. He’ll flip 61 years previous on the ultimate day of the 2025 WSOP Important Occasion, a event that requires its winner to grind by way of 10 grueling days. There’s just one off-day scheduled after Day 2, and that’s July 14 previous to the beginning of the ultimate desk.
Such a grind, within the “Poker Brat’s” thoughts, leaves the older poker gamers at an obstacle. He is not the one one who shares that viewpoint. However poker legends resembling Scott Seiver and Daniel Negreanu have contrasting opinions.
Negreanu and Seiver Share Ideas
Seiver, 39, did not argue in opposition to Hellmuth’s declare that youthful gamers have a bonus within the Important Occasion. Slightly, he stated such a bonus was pure and ought to be anticipated within the aggressive recreation.
“Clearly the occasion supposedly exhibiting the perfect ought to have a bonus for youthful folks,” Seiver wrote on X. “We become old we worsen, that is life all of us have to just accept that.”
Negreanu, who ended an 11-year bracelet drought final summer time, sides with Seiver, not Hellmuth.
Nadya Magnus, nevertheless, is one in every of a handful of high-profile execs who agree extra with Hellmuth than Seiver and Negreanu. She tweeted out her two cents and a few recommendation for the WSOP.
“Take into accout lengthy days aren’t solely effecting completely different age teams but additionally folks w/medical circumstances. Poker gamers PAY to play in contrast to professional athletes that GET PAID to play. Prize swimming pools will shrink as soon as gamers’ pool will get older. We don’t need that. I’d prefer to see ME age stats,” Magnus wrote.
These debating the difficulty principally argue that Hellmuth is correct, or like Seiver acknowledged, getting older is simply a part of life. In sports activities, most athletes start to say no by age 33, and retire a couple of years later. Poker is a recreation the place some play till the day they die, however many minimize down on taking part in tournaments as they become old because of the grueling periods.
Hellmuth Calls Time on WSOP Important Occasion
Poker Legend’s Agent Says Hellmuth is not Bluffing
There is a second a part of this story in play, and that’s whether or not or not Hellmuth is simply bluffing and both already plans to compete within the 2025 WSOP Important Occasion, or if he’ll change his thoughts come July as a result of FOMO. Plenty of poker followers on Twitter appear to be satisfied the BetRivers On line casino ambassador will find yourself registering for the world championship occasion. However Hellmuth’s longtime agent, Brian Balsbaugh, says he is not bluffing.
“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,” Balsbaugh tweeted.
Balsbaugh represents Hellmuth and Negreanu, and was a longtime good friend and agent for the late Doyle Brunson. He went on to share that Doyle “couldn’t deal with the lengthy, consecutive days” of the Important Occasion in his later years.
Brunson, a two-time world champion, prevented competing within the Important Occasion throughout his late 70s and early 80s. However he did return to the celebrated event in 2021 and even confirmed the poker world he may nonetheless compete at a excessive stage. “Texas Dolly” reached Day 3 earlier than bowing out in need of the cash. His final money within the Important Occasion, a event he gained in 1976 and 1977, got here in 2013 (409th place).
The one factor that’s sure is that if Hellmuth sticks to his phrase and does not enter the 2025 WSOP Important Occasion, his presence can be missed by many poker followers.
Connor Richards
Editor & Dwell Reporter U.S.
