After busting out of the Main Event, Phil Hellmuth’s 2014 WSOP is over with. And while it might not have been his most profitable one, the Poker Brat did cash seven times and make two final tables. Still, most people aren’t thinking much about Hellmuth’s performance, but rather asking why he didn’t play in the 2014 Big One for One Drop.
The reason why is because the 49-year-old is only two years removed from a banner campaign where he won two gold bracelets and finished fourth in the 2012 Big One ($2,645,333). So it’s not like he’s lacking for money or reputation among backers.
While speaking to PokerListings, Hellmuth explained that “it was silly” that he didn’t play in the 2014 Big One. Leading up to the event, he had raised the money by asking friends like Charles Barkley and Matt Kenseth for backing. Hellmuth ultimately raised the $1 million buy-in that he needed and went to the Rio to play.
However, he discovered that the “one guy he didn’t know” hadn’t sent the remaining $130k that was needed for the buy-in. Rather than picking up the phone and calling one of his other friends, he chose not to take action and thus stay out of the tournament.
Looking back on it, Hellmuth seems to feel like it was a mistake not to play. And he felt like he would’ve played really well in the event too. As Hellmuth bragged, “I have this amazing knack or ability to get down there in these events. A lot of this stuff makes sense to me, I know how to fold tens and jacks and queens and hands like that.”
The 13-time bracelet winner concluded that he “made a mistake” by not playing and he never wants to let this happen again.
