In the late stages of the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event, WSOP officials took an unusual step. With the money bubble popped, many players still insisted on lengthy tanks, in appearance to consider their action but in reality to try to level up on the money board. This brought the “doom switch” for live tournament poker and the 2026 WSOP Main Event – a shot clock was instituted, with equal parts chagrin and approval from the poker community.
Fair? Or Foul?
For the first time in the tournament’s 57-year history, WSOP officials took a strong stance against one of the banes of tournament poker. For Day Seven in the 2026 WSOP Main Event, there would be a 20-second “shot clock” instituted for all decisions at the table. Players were given six “time chips” that would offer a 30-second extension for contemplation. If a player either let the timer expire or ran out of time chips, then when the clock hit zero, the player’s hand would be declared dead.
This decision was made due to lengthy tanks during Day Six of the tournament. In one instance, there was a fifteen-minute tank by professional player Loren Klein, during which a pay jump occurred while he was deep in thought. The WSOP viewed this as a manipulation of the play of the tournament and, as is within the rights of the casino operating the tournament, they enacted something that will prevent such a situation from happening again.
Naturally, players among the 62 remaining in the tournament were unhappy with the situation. Another player who stepped up to offer his opinion was David Williams, who is serving as an analyst for the WSOP broadcasts on ESPN when he isn’t playing in some of the events.
The Evolution of Poker?
Regardless of when the clock was instituted, poker has been working towards the “shot clock” (or Action Clock, as the World Poker Tour calls it) for several years.
It was originally done on the PokerGO Tour to push action at its tournament tables. In an effort to make their tournaments more “television-friendly,” the PGT put these clocks into action to make players decide quickly as to their action. For several years now, these clocks have been part of the PGT, without discernible concerns from the “high rollers” who populate their tournaments.
The European Poker Tour and the WPT took a bit longer before they put it into action. On the WPT, the clock is introduced one table before the money bubble and is in effect for the remainder of the event. Once again, there has been little to no commentary from players against these actions. It seems the public’s consternation is that the “shot clock” was put in DURING the run of the WSOP. There has been plenty of commentary that, if it had been put in place at the start of the tournament, or even the start of the summer schedule, there would not have been an issue. While people have a viable point, the WSOP saw an abuse of the rules and quickly looked to squelch it.
Whether the “shot clock” will be around in August for the WSOP Main Event final table remains to be seen. The final 21 players will play down to the final table on Monday, then take a break until August when the next World Champion will be determined.
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