Phil Hellmuth Criticizes WSOP 2021 Player of the Year Scoring System

Phil Hellmuth, the 16-time WSOP champion, has voiced his frustration with the 2021 WSOP Player of the Year scoring system. In a series of tweets, Hellmuth argued that the system should focus more on final tables and wins rather than minor cashes. He stated, "POY has never been about 'Cashes and min-cashes,' this is absurd! It’s about final tables and wins." Hellmuth's dissatisfaction stems from the fact that Shaun Deeb won the 2018 WSOP Player of the Year title with only two final tables, while Hellmuth himself has four final tables but sits in third place in the 2021 standings.

Daniel Negreanu, a two-time WSOP Player of the Year, suggested that the top 12 finishes should count for the title, with the rest discarded. This idea was supported by Hellmuth, who tweeted, "Another player has one Final Table (3rd in online tourn) and 2,000 pts! Who cares about 10th- and 14th- and 300th place?!? Who wrote @WSOP POY 2021 rules? It’s not right."

Shaun Deeb, who has 13 cashes so far in 2021, disagrees with Hellmuth's perspective. Deeb tweeted, "Phil poy should always be about the overall grind." The debate over the scoring system continues, with players and fans alike weighing in on the best way to determine the WSOP Player of the Year.