button in SafariShot Clocks Implemented Deep in WSOP Main Event for First Time
If you've tuned into the livestream yet for Day 7 of the WSOP Main Event, you've certainly noticed a major change that is already impacting the game.
For the first time ever in the 57-year history of poker's World Championship tournament, a shot clock has been implemented. The shot clock, or "Action Clock," isn't new to tournament poker. PGT and World Poker Tour (WPT) have been using it to speed up play and eliminate tanking for years.
But it's a drastic change deep in the biggest event of the year, which should benefit viewers on the ESPN+ livestream who are bothered by tanking, an issue that has come up many times in previous Main Event broadcasts. Others, however, don't like the shot clock implementation, including WSOP commentator and 2004 WSOP Main Event runner-up David Williams.
"This is a bad idea. The floor should just use their discretion in spots where someone is being egregious like Loren and numerous others yesterday," Williams tweeted.
Williams is referring to Loren Klein tanking for 15 minutes on Day 6 with just one chip behind, looking to ladder up, hoping another player would bust in case he was eliminated. Klein, who busted in 72nd place for $105,000, was heavily criticized for the tank on social media.
Good or Bad for the WSOP Main Event?
Day 7 kicked off at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, with livestream and PokerNews live reporting coverage beginning about an hour later. Right off the bat, the shot clock was implemented. Players will have 20 seconds to act or be forced to check or have their hand ruled dead when facing a bet, unless they use a time extension chip.
A time extension chip gives the player an extra 30 seconds to act, and each player started the day with six chips. Once they run out of time extension chips, they'll be forced to act within the 20-second limits.
Chris Brewer, a high-stakes pro who is accustomed to using time extension chips in the high rollers, called the rule change a "completely awful decision" and "insanely unfair" to recreational players.
The impact of the shot clocks will be noticeable for the duration of the tournament to those watching the livestream. Some poker players, including bracelet winner Galen Hall, support the shot clock. Others, such as Brewer and Andrew Lichtenberger, aren't on board.
There were 62 players remaining when Day 7 began, and the Main Event will play down to a final table of nine — the August Nine — on Monday, with the final table to run Aug. 3-5 at Paris Las Vegas. Final table action will be livestreamed on ESPN2 (Aug. 3-4) and ESPN (Aug. 5) instead of the subscription-based app.
