Phil Hellmuth Says He Is Not Playing the 2025 WSOP Main Event Because It Is Too Grueling

This is definitely not the video I expected to see on my timeline.

The Poker Brat Phil Hellmuth announced he is bowing out of the 2025 WSOP Main Event because it is too much of an endurance contest.

While some might say Phil looks soft here, I agree with his take. 

The Main Event takes LITERALLY forever. The first Day 1 is on July 2nd and the final table is not until July 16th! Two weeks for a poker tournament is batshit crazy!

The reason for this is the absurdly long 2 hour levels in the WSOP Main Event. No other tourney in the poker world has levels this long.

Phil is now 60 years old. That's a tough age to play 12 hours for 10 straight days to say the least.

What should be done about this issue? The answer is actually pretty simple.

The WSOP just needs to change the levels from 2 hours to 90 minutes. BOOM problem solved.

By knocking off 30 minutes per level, the tourney would be over in 10-11 days instead of 14. And 90 minute levels with a great structure is more than enough play for the main event.

Hell, if the Masters in golf is only 4 days how can the WSOP Main Event be 14?!?!?

Most poker players tend to agree with Hellmuth here. Hopefully the powers that be will listen and some changes can be made in the future to shorten the Main Event.