Poker legend Phil Hellmuth did not hold back his thoughts on Shaun Deeb’s recent 2025 WSOP Player of the Year (POY) victory. In a series of pointed comments, Hellmuth questioned whether Deeb’s performance truly deserved the prestigious title.
Hellmuth, a 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, emphasized consistency and major event wins as the true measure of excellence. He claimed that Deeb focused too much on volume rather than quality.
“Grinding every event doesn’t always mean you’re the best,” Hellmuth said in a recent interview. “The Player of the Year award should reflect greatness, not just endurance.”
Deeb secured the title with five final tables and one bracelet during the 2025 World Series of Poker. He edged out other top performers thanks to his high event participation and deep runs. However, Hellmuth pointed out that many of those events had smaller fields and lower buy-ins.
This isn’t the first time Hellmuth has taken issue with the WSOP’s POY scoring system. He has long advocated for a formula that rewards high-stakes victories more heavily. “Winning premier events should matter more than min-cashing in 15 smaller tournaments,” Hellmuth said.
Shaun Deeb Responds to Hellmuth’s Criticism
Meanwhile, Deeb fired back on social media. He defended his grind-heavy approach and reminded critics that he played within the rules. “I earned this,” Deeb posted. “Nobody gets handed Player of the Year. I outplayed and outlasted. Simple as that.”
The debate has sparked renewed conversation within the poker community about how the award is calculated. Some players agree with Hellmuth, while others support Deeb’s relentless pursuit of points.
Poker fans on the best poker sites have joined the discussion, weighing in on the fairness of the current system. Many believe the WSOP should consider changes before the 2026 series begins.
For now, Deeb holds the title, but Hellmuth’s words have added fuel to a growing controversy. As always, poker’s biggest personalities keep the game as dramatic as the cards themselves.