Phil Hellmuth was Kung Fu Fighting in WSOP Main Event Grand Entrance

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Kung Fu Fighting
Thoughts on Hellmuth’s Main Event Entrances?

As is tradition, Phil Hellmuth showed up for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event fashionably late on Day 1c, and in full costume.

The “Poker Brat’s” grand entrance took place after the second break, just before 5 p.m. PT. He wore a black karate gi and was flocked by a team of karate apprentices that included Scotty Nguyen, Joe Stapleton, Jeff Gross, American Pie star Shannon Elizabeth and upcoming Life Outside Poker guest Dan “Jungleman” Cates, who also made a memorable — and feral — entrance with Hellmuth last year.

In the past, Hellmuth has shown up dressed as Julius Caesar, Darth Vader, a NASCAR driver, and many other characters.

Kung Fu Fighting

Phil Hellmuth grand entrance.
The Horseshoe hallways were crowded leading up to Hellmuth’s grand entrance, with some players grumbling and verbalizing their indifference of the spectacle.

“Oh, it’s this guy’s thing,” commented one player.

“I don’t care about your videos!” said another.

Hellmuth Karate Kicks Way into MAIN EVENT! | WSOP 2024

After prepping in a side room ahead of the second break of Day 1c of the Main Event, Hellmuth, his entourage and a swarm of poker media members trekked down the hallway and into the Horseshoe Event Center as they were greeted by the sounds of Carl Douglas’ “Kung Fu Fighting.”

As the music dropped, Hellmuth jumped in the air and did a 360-degree spin before strutting toward the Thunderdome to take his seat at the main feature table. Before doing so, Cates took a fake kick from Elizabeth and and pretended to drop to the floor before hitting Hellmuth with an artificial cheap shot.

The music and light applause faded and Hellmuth shared a hug with fellow Poker Hall of Famer and Main Event champion Nguyen before taking his seat and getting dealt the first hand of his 2024 Main Event.
Phil Hellmuth Entrance 2024 Main Event

Thoughts on Hellmuth’s Main Event Entrances?

Phil Hellmuth as Darth Vader in 2022.
Not everyone in the poker world is in love with Hellmuth’s grand entrances to the WSOP Main Event each year. In 2022, he was met with a chorus of boos inside the Horseshoe when he arrived in a Darth Vader outfit.

Every year following his arrival to poker’s world championship event, there are some within the poker community who bash the spectacle on social media. But others enjoy the act and feel it is good for the game.