“Is consistency really the key to greatness, or should we reward the high points?”
This question became the heart of a heated debate following Phil Hellmuth’s recent Twitter rant, in which he controversially criticized Shaun Deeb’s 2025 WSOP Player of the Year (POY) title. Hellmuth’s outburst cast doubt on whether Deeb truly deserved the prestigious honor, suggesting that other players, such as Benny Glaser and Michael Mizrachi, were more deserving of the title. However, as the poker community reacted, it became clear that the issue wasn’t as black and white as Hellmuth would have us believe.
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The Critique: Hellmuth’s Objection to Deeb’s POY Title
Phil Hellmuth’s comments were direct and bold, claiming that Deeb’s single bracelet win in 2025 wasn’t sufficient to earn him the POY title. In Hellmuth’s eyes, players like Benny Glaser—who had three bracelet wins—and Michael Mizrachi, who clinched both the Main Event and the Poker Players Championship (PPC) titles, were far more deserving of the POY accolade. Hellmuth tweeted that the award should go to players who win big events, rather than those who exhibit consistent performance throughout the year.
Hellmuth’s viewpoint was clear: “It’s about champions, not just consistency,” he argued, implying that only dominant victories should be enough to win the title. He even went as far as suggesting that Deeb might have influenced the very scoring system that led to his win—a claim that would later spark a significant rebuttal from Deeb himself.
The Scoring System Controversy: A Key Turning Point
One of the most explosive elements of Hellmuth’s criticism was his suggestion that Deeb had a hand in the scoring system that ultimately helped him win POY. The new system, implemented in 2024, rewards the best 10 results from each player, instead of prioritizing overall volume. Under this system, Deeb—who had been a constant presence in tournaments all year—was well-positioned for the win.
Hellmuth’s insinuation that Deeb had somehow influenced the system led to an immediate backlash. Not only did Deeb strongly deny the accusation, but many in the poker community pointed out that the new scoring system actually worked against Deeb. By focusing on the best 10 results, it penalized players like Deeb, whose strength was found in consistently finishing in the top ranks of many events, rather than winning a handful of them.
Deeb’s Defense: Consistency Over Dominance
In response to Hellmuth’s criticism, Shaun Deeb wasted no time defending his win, making a strong case for the importance of consistency in the POY race. While Hellmuth focused on big wins, Deeb emphasized that the POY title isn’t just about the number of victories. It’s about maintaining a high level of performance over a wide variety of events.
Deeb’s 2025 results were a testament to this philosophy. Over the years, he secured one bracelet, but his true strength lay in his consistency: three second-place finishes, a third-place finish, and seven top-31 finishes. These results reflected a level of sustained excellence that’s difficult to replicate.
By comparison, Benny Glaser, while securing three bracelets, only had three other finishes in the top 57. Mizrachi, who won two bracelets, had one top-84 finish. In this context, Deeb’s consistent high finishes throughout 100 events were arguably more impressive than just a handful of wins.
A Historical Perspective: Mizrachi’s Achievements and Their Importance
While Hellmuth focused on Deeb’s POY victory, it’s important to also acknowledge the historic achievements of Michael Mizrachi, who won the Main Event and the PPC in 2025. These victories were undoubtedly impressive, and Mizrachi’s induction into the Poker Hall of Fame is a reflection of his exceptional legacy in the game.
However, the nature of the POY award is different from the recognition of a player’s overall career achievements. Mizrachi’s victories were certainly extraordinary, but they didn’t define the year in the same way Deeb’s consistent performances did. Both players deserve recognition, but Deeb’s triumph should not be overshadowed by the historic nature of Mizrachi’s success.
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Hellmuth’s Apology: A Rare Moment of Humility
After facing significant backlash on social media, Hellmuth issued an apology to Deeb. In a follow-up tweet, he acknowledged that his comments were harsh and offered a public apology: “I apologize to Shaun Deeb and the poker community. It was never my intention to discredit anyone’s hard work and achievements. Deeb played consistently and deserved his win.”
This was a rare moment of humility for the Poker Brat, whose public persona is often characterized by fiery rhetoric and bold claims. Despite the apology, however, many in the poker community remained divided on the issue, with some still questioning whether Deeb’s consistent finishes were enough to secure the POY title.
Was Deeb the Right Choice? The Verdict
In the end, the question remains: was Shaun Deeb the right choice for Player of the Year? While Hellmuth’s perspective—that dominance should be rewarded over consistency—reflects one way of viewing the title, the new scoring system is designed to reward a player’s sustained excellence across a large number of events. Deeb’s consistent results throughout the year, particularly in a variety of tournaments, made him the most deserving candidate.
Poker, as a game of skill, is not just about the occasional burst of brilliance but also about the ability to maintain a high level of play over time. Deeb’s performance throughout the 2025 WSOP should be viewed in this light, and it’s clear that the POY title was a well-earned recognition of his remarkable consistency and talent.
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FAQs:
1. Why did Phil Hellmuth criticize Shaun Deeb’s POY win?
Hellmuth felt that Deeb’s one bracelet win was insufficient for the POY title and believed that players like Benny Glaser and Michael Mizrachi, who had more wins, were more deserving.
2. Did Shaun Deeb influence the Player of the Year scoring system?
No, Deeb had no involvement in the creation of the scoring system. In fact, the new system actually worked against him, as it rewarded the best 10 results rather than the overall volume of events.
3. How did Deeb perform in the 2025 WSOP?
Deeb won one bracelet, with three second-place finishes, one third-place finish, and seven other top-31 finishes, showing exceptional consistency across a wide range of events.
4. How did Benny Glaser and Michael Mizrachi perform?
Glaser won three bracelets but only had three other finishes in the top 57. Mizrachi won two bracelets but had just one top-84 finish. In comparison, Deeb’s consistent high finishes gave him an edge.
5. Was Hellmuth’s criticism well-received?
No, Hellmuth’s comments were met with backlash, leading to an apology. Many in the poker community supported Deeb’s consistent performance as deserving of the POY title.
Source poker.org
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