That didn’t take long. After announcing in February that he’d be skipping this year’s World Series of Poker main event, Phil Hellmuth has had second thoughts and plans on being in the field after all.
The 17-time bracelet winner planned on skipping the tournament that he won in 1989 for $755,000 at just age 24 because he said the event had become an “endurance contest” that favors younger players. He now says he’d play after conducting a poll on Twitter/X that saw 73% of voters in favor.
The BetRivers online poker ambassador said the idea for the poll came from his agent, Brian Balsbaugh, and not boycotting the event gives the WSOP some time to make changes he’d like to see made.
“We want to effect change, but we want to give the World Series of Poker a fair chance, a little extra time to make those changes,” he noted in a video on Twitter.
Poll Voting Controversy
Hellmuth’s poll didn’t come without some controversy. Late in the voting and with about 70% supporting the Poker Hall of Famer playing the event, he said another 3,000 negative votes came in over a short period of time. He felt the poll was being manipulated, especially after seeing so many positive comments.
“We kind of knew what happened and I’m like, ‘I’m not going to let some guy living in his basement or whatever, who somehow has a bot farm to control my decision-making process,’” he said.
I am 100% playing in the @WSOP Main Event!
I’ll be coming in themed as “Highway To Hellmuth.” Might dress up like an 80’s rock star. Can’t wait to share the artwork we have for this Grand Main Event Entrance@BetRivers might give away a Ford Mustang#POSITIVITY #PHNiceLife pic.twitter.com/x4XLYLG3El
— phil_hellmuth (@phil_hellmuth) May 29, 2025
Phil Hellmuth Defends Move
In defense of the reversal, Hellmuth reiterated he never advised anyone should wager on whether he would play the event or not.
“I told every single person, do not bet on this,” he added. “I have a lot of texts where I said, ‘Don’t bet because I’m not 100% sure.’ The reason that I said don’t bet is because I don’t want them to come and whine later. I was 90 percent convinced that I wasn’t going to play, but it’s not fair. Not a single person out there did I tell to bet.”
New Entrance Costume Planned
Hellmuth took down the poll and is not only playing, but has a new entrance costume planned. In past main events, Hellmuth has entered the tournament area as a racecar driver, army general, Julius Caesar, a mixed martial arts fighter, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, and Darth Vader from Star Wars.
This year, the poker pro plans on coming in as “Highway to Hellmuth,” a 1980s rockstar and plans on giving away a Ford Mustang in conjunction with his BetRivers sponsorship. Dan “Jungeman” Cates may be part of the entrance, he said, and possibly his son Phillip Helmuth III, who has been playing more poker recently.
Hellmuth also announced that was playing in his first tournament at the WSOP on Thursday, jumping in the second day of the $5,000 eight-handed no-limit hold’em.
But the WSOP bracelet king wasn’t even the first Hellmuth to play in the 2025 WSOP. His son already entered the $1,000 mystery millions.
Here comes another familiar face!
Son of 17-time WSOP Gold Bracelet winner @phil_hellmuth aka Phil Hellmuth III has taken his seat in Event 1: $1,000 NL Hold’em Mystery Millions!
Will this start his path to follow dad and take home the gold? We will find out!
Follow live… pic.twitter.com/BMLzYh6Log
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) May 28, 2025
