Phil Hellmuth had everyone convinced he would sit out of the 2025 World Series of Poker main event. But things have taken a turn. After some back and forth, the 17-time bracelet winner has confirmed he will join the tournament after all. His decision followed a Twitter poll and some behind-the-scenes nudging.
Good to know
- Phil Hellmuth will enter the WSOP main event despite earlier plans to skip it.
- A Twitter poll swayed his decision, although Hellmuth believes part of it was manipulated.
- He plans a themed entrance and will give away a Ford Mustang with BetRivers.
Initially, Hellmuth said he would miss the WSOP main event, claiming it had turned into more of an “endurance contest” that favored younger players. He voiced concerns about the changing nature of the tournament and hinted at wanting changes from WSOP organizers.
But a Twitter/X poll suggested otherwise. With 73% of respondents voting in favor of him playing, Hellmuth started to reconsider. According to him, the idea to run the poll came from his agent, Brian Balsbaugh. After reviewing the results, he decided to give WSOP time to adjust and said skipping the event might not be necessary after all.
“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 explained in a video posted online.
Not everything about the poll went smoothly. Hellmuth claimed that around 3,000 negative votes came in suddenly, and he suspected manipulation. Despite the late influx of “no” votes, he said the general sentiment in the comments remained supportive.
“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
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Advising Against Betting
Hellmuth addressed critics who accused him of misleading bettors. He said he never encouraged anyone to bet on whether he would join the main event. In fact, he said he discouraged it.
“I told every single person, do not bet on this,” he said. “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.”
Another Costume, Another Entrance
Now that he is officially back in, Hellmuth will continue his tradition of making a theatrical entrance. Over the years, he has entered the WSOP in costumes ranging from Gandalf and Darth Vader to Julius Caesar and a racecar driver.
This year, he will show up as a 1980s rockstar with the theme “Highway to Hellmuth.” As part of his BetRivers deal, he also plans to give away a Ford Mustang. There is also a chance that Dan “Jungelman” Cates will join the entrance, and possibly his son, Phillip Hellmuth III, who has recently taken more interest in poker.
Already in the Game
Just before making the announcement, Hellmuth played his first WSOP event this year. He joined the second day of the $5,000 eight-handed no-limit hold’em tournament.
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