The 53rd World Series of Poker is underway! The world’s biggest poker festival is back in full force in Las Vegas this year with no restrictions, and it will attract thousands of players from the US and all over the world.

As many of you know, the Series has moved out of Caesar’s, and it will take place at Paris and Bally’s this year, two venues located right on the strip. A more attractive location and more floor space mean that the WSOP can accommodate even more players than before, so we could be looking at a record-breaking series.

And it seems we are not the only ones to think so, as one of the game’s GOATs has been spotted waiting for the $100,000 high-roller event to kick off. Yes, Phil Ivey is in Las Vegas for the Series kickoff and, perhaps, he will stick around for a while and look to improve his bracelet count.

Over the last few years, Ivey has played in barely any WSOP events, so it is surprising to see him in the mix for the opening event. It is certainly a good kind of a surprise, though, as I am certain most poker fans will agree.

Of course, quite a few big names are in there as well, including Daniel Negreanu, Chance Kornuth, Shaun Deeb, and even Chino Rheem, promising another exciting and interesting poker summer ahead!

When it comes to the World Series of Poker, Phil Hellmuth is the most accomplished player by many standards. He holds the record for the most WSOP bracelets, with 16 pieces of coveted gold bling to his name — a number he’ll certainly be looking to increase during the Series ahead.

Despite his myriad accomplishments, there is one title that has been eluding The Poker Brat for years — that of the WSOP Player of the Year. Phil came close to bagging it several times, including at last year’s Series when he finished second to Josh Arieh.

Hellmuth had a very strong start to the 2021 WSOP, and he was in serious contention for the prestigious title, but it slipped out of his grasp just before the finish line.

With the 2022 World Series kicking off tomorrow, Phil now has another shot at glory — will this be the year it finally happens?

Hellmuth stands out as one of the most serious contenders in the field, as he is not afraid of the grind. At the same time, his reluctance to play in high roller events could hinder his chances as there are quite a few of them on this year’s schedule.

If he starts on a strong note, though, Phil might be more motivated to get in the mix and forgo his traditionally conservative bankroll management. After all, with POY being the one accolade missing from his otherwise impressive WSOP resume, it might finally be the time for Phil to throw caution to the wind and go for it!