We're just one day away from the start of the 2024 World Series of Poker, and we're getting excited. Come back daily for the biggest and best coverage of what looks like being the biggest WSOP ever.
Phil Hellmuth has won a record 17 WSOP bracelets, including the 1989 WSOP Main Event and the 2012 WSOP Europe Main Event. He was inducted into the WSOP Poker Hall of Fame in 2007 and will go down in history as one of the game’s best. He has career cashes totaling more than $30,000,000. You can follow Phil on X and Instagram.
How do you recommend players prepare for the WSOP summer grind?
The one thing at the very top of my list is sleep. Most people don't sleep well in Vegas. My friends don't sleep well in Vegas. But the pros sleep well in Vegas because we're there for long periods.
Next would be staying hydrated. That’s massive. I've been drinking 140 ounces of water a day now. I also drink some coffee and coconut water. If you don't hydrate well enough, it's easy to crash.
Why do you show up late for tournaments?
I don’t show up late to try to be cool. It’s hurt me in the past because they put your chips down on time. But for me, I get tired. I'm trying to avoid that.
Do you have a particular diet during the series to maintain your energy?
No diet. I eat a lot of sugar. I’ve made that very public.
I do watch my overall energy during the series. I'll take probably 13 to 14 days off here and there. When you play for a few long days and you make a final table, it’s very intense and tiring. When that event is over, I usually take two full days off.
A few years ago, I won a bracelet on a Sunday and decided to play the following Tuesday at the last minute. I made a nice run and by Wednesday had a massive chip lead down to three-handed. But then, around 2am, I just fell apart. It seemed like all my adrenaline was gone. I was heads-up for a bracelet in mixed games with Adam Friedman. He’s a great player, but I had a big chip lead on him and I ended up second.
I've been given the gift of being able to play all these games at a world-class level. But fatigue is one of the things that I battle on these long days.
What's your favorite event in the series?
I like the deuce to seven events.
Shaun Deeb had some predictions for the WSOP. What are your thoughts?
Shaun is one of the best players in the world, but let’s look at the WSOP results over the last three years. He's played twice as many tournaments as me, but I still think I have as many final tables.
Of course, he has many more cashes than me because he sometimes plays three times a day. Maybe we both won a bracelet or two in the last three years; it's pretty close, though.
We’re talking about the modern area of poker now. The last three years are very relevant because we want to know who today's great players are.
But if you look back since 1989, I have the best record. Looking back since 2000, I have the best record. It’s the same since 2010. Any way you want to slice it up, my record speaks for itself.
Shaun and I are right up there year after year. There are a few other players who are right there, too. But Shaun and I seem to be consistently getting great results. Guys like Brian Rast are killing it, as is John Hennigan. There's a bunch of great players in the mix this year. We'll see what happens.
I’m looking forward to a great year.
Check out the full schedule for the 2024 WSOP and plan which events you're going to target this summer. If you're looking at the lower end of the buy-ins, check out The Rec's guide to the WSOP. If you're looking for action with a bigger budget, follow what Jennifer Tilly is doing.
