- Phil Hellmuth wants to cut the number of WSOP bracelets to 100 a year, saying too many are being handed out and it’s hurting their value.
- The poker community is divided, with some supporting smaller cuts and others warning that it would remove popular events and change the WSOP experience.
LAS VEGAS — Phil Hellmuth has stirred up a serious argument after saying the World Series of Poker hands out far too many bracelets.
Hellmuth thinks the WSOP should drop the total to 100 each year instead of the 234 planned for 2025, and he believes the value of a bracelet has slipped because there are simply too many. Since he owns a record 17 bracelets, a lot of people immediately questioned whether he is speaking from passion or trying to protect his place in history.
He explained his whole plan on the No Gamble, No Future livestream. His idea calls for 50 bracelets in Las Vegas, 10 at WSOP Paradise, 10 in Europe, 10 in Asia, and 20 online. Cutting the schedule that much would completely change the WSOP.
It also raised eyebrows because Benny Glaser, Shaun Deeb, and Michael Mizrachi each have eight bracelets and are still climbing in states with poker, which made some feel like the timing wasn’t exactly accidental.
Hellmuth argued that bracelets have lost meaning after more than 300 were given out in recent years. He also said Daniel Negreanu and GGPoker owner Michael Kim agreed that the numbers were out of control.
Negreanu later confirmed he does want cuts, although he prefers about 150 bracelets instead of 100. He also admitted he was frustrated that Hellmuth shared private conversations and said many online bracelet events feel a little embarrassing compared to live tournaments.
Reactions From Players and the Community
The reaction across the poker community was all over the place. Shaun Deeb didn’t like the idea at all, while Jennifer Tilly pointed out that the WSOP would never agree to such a huge reduction since bracelet events bring in massive revenue and help draw in recreational players chasing a dream.
Ty Stewart, Executive Director of the WSOP, acknowledged that the number may be rising, but he emphasized that bracelets are still difficult to win due to the size of modern games.
Many believe that online bracelets belong in their own category because they have increased the fastest, from just nine in 2015 to 115 in 2024. The Nevada poker fans have especially noticed this growth.
Cutting the Las Vegas summer series from 100 events down to 50 would mean losing a lot of the smaller mixed-game tournaments that longtime players love, including some of Hellmuth’s favorites.
The discussion isn’t going away anytime soon, and the WSOP still has to figure out how to keep its traditions, make money, and maintain the reputation of the brand.