Poker Writer
Phil Hellmuth certainly knows how to stir up drama. The all-time WSOP bracelet leader has built a successful career on the felt, not only through his results but also through his ability to draw attention to himself with various on-and off-table dramas.
One of these recent dramas came when the 2025 WSOP schedule was announced. Hellmuth brought all the attention to himself when he took to social media to proclaim that he would not be playing the 2025 WSOP Main Event.
He blamed the length of days as his reason for breaking his 37-year streak of playing the Main Event, saying that at his age, playing 12 hours or more a day was no longer feasible.
Even back when the announcement was made, there was a lot of speculation that his announcement was hasty and that he actually would play it when push came to shove. Nevertheless, he stuck to the story that he would not be playing the Main Event for months, which would mean the field would be without one of the best players of all time, knowing how to win at Texas Hold’em.
But a few days before the 2025 WSOP, the 1989 Main Event champ started to hint that he would play it after all.
I will let YOU guys decide if I play or boycott?
Should I play in the 2025 @WSOP Main Event? Or boycott hoping that they change the structure for next year: by giving us Day 6 off?
In my next tweet I will release a poll and honor whatever the results are#POSITIVITY pic.twitter.com/ex2hq5VBhs
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 27, 2025
Hellmuth left it up to his fans if he would play it or not, calling his decision to sit out a “boycott”.
But rather than prolonging the drama any further, he confirmed that he will indeed play the Main Event while at the $25K fantasy draft. In a video captured by PokerOrg, Hellmuth is seen entering the $25K draft as it’s happening.
Daniel Negreanu immediately questions him “Are you playing the Main Event?”, to which Hellmuth simply answers “Yes” to end all the speculation and drama. Which upped his fantasy value immensely.
