Poker Brat Phil Hellmuth is pushing the World Collection of Poker to cut back the variety of gold bracelets awarded at its festivals.
The file holder of 17 prestigious bracelets isn’t identified for holding again in terms of voicing his opinions, and so normally we don’t learn an excessive amount of into all of it. This time, although, Hellmuth has acquired the poker neighborhood debating passionately.
Showing on the No Gamble, No Future livestream, Hellmuth publicly laid out his proposal, studying from his telephone:
“That is what we’re pondering…the World Collection of Poker…method too many bracelets on the market.”
He then turned his consideration to Shaun Deeb on the desk:
“Some man on the desk received his eighth bracelet with 38 gamers in Rozvadov. There have been mainly no nice gamers on this event.”
A bit harsh contemplating WSOP Participant of the Yr winner Deeb’s file and this occasion costing €25,000 to enter.
He continued:
“Daniel Negreanu agrees with me, though he’ll most likely scramble to tweet and say he doesn’t…. And I’vebeen speaking to Michael Kim (GGPoker boss) about this. We need to do 100 bracelets a yr. Not 10,000 bracelets a yr – 300 bracelets, no matter it’s.”
Hellmuth hammered dwelling the lack of worth he perceives in fashionable bracelet counts:
“We need to do 50 in Vegas, 10 in Paradise, 10 in Europe, 10 in Asia, and 20 on-line. We need to do 100 bracelets a yr. I believe it’s ridiculous that there are all these bracelets.”
He then goes on to mock gamers with as many as six bracelets, saying it’s solely due to the quantity which can be handed out every year. That’s a bit harsh.
“In case you hold giving out 300 bracelets a yr, you’re cheapening the bracelets horrendously.”
Pressed concerning the influence such a dramatic discount may have, Hellmuth didn’t mince phrases concerning the status at stake.
It’s clear to see the quantity of ardour Phil Hellmuth nonetheless has for poker, even in any case of those many years, and he simply doesn’t need to see his life’s work cheapened.
He stated he’s supporting this initiative to cut back bracelet occasions as by now plenty of gamers really feel the WSOP is just not value what it was, and if this continues then finally it will likely be value nothing.
Hellmuth’s stance has drawn each help and skepticism from the poker neighborhood.
.@Phil_Hellmuth has an announcement! Might we see a change in what number of WSOP bracelets are awarded every year? Hellmuth appears to assume so.
No Gamble, No Future introduced by @PokerStarsUSA is streaming now on https://t.co/2RQh5ROjQG. pic.twitter.com/442ju1oy56
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) November 14, 2025
The Response
WSOP Government Director Ty Stewart responded to the talk by acknowledging:
“I’m undecided there’s a magic quantity, however I acknowledge it’s getting fairly shut. We’ve tried to be very modest in development. Solely went up 1 this yr and a handful yr earlier than. It’s nonetheless statistically more durable to win a bracelet than it’s ever been.”
Shaun Deeb stated he hated the concept, even when the Participant of the Yr race grew to become extra necessary.
GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu was extra circumspect, agreeing {that a} reduce right down to round 150 bracelets per yr could be extra excellent. He additionally criticised the net occasions incomes bracelets, calling them embarrassing.
And the followers had their very own concepts. Giving on-line occasions a silver bracelet was one opinion which may work. Others instructed culling the occasions with sub $1,500 buy-ins.
In the meantime, the poker neighborhood wrestles with the broader implications. For Hellmuth, the bracelet is greater than only a trophy — it’s his legacy.
With 17 wins throughout 5 many years and a protracted historical past of outspoken protests, Hellmuth’s newest marketing campaign is a battle for the enduring status of poker’s biggest prize — a WSOP gold bracelet.
