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WSOP Removes Shot Clock Ahead of 2026 Main Event Final Table
- WSOP 2026 Main Event final table won't use a shot clock.
- Mixed reactions in poker community: praised and criticized.
- Lucas Jumalon leads 9 finalists, all vying for the $10M prize.
Image by WSOP
WSOP officials removed the shot clock for the 2026 Main Event final table. The final nine players, led by chip leader Lucas Jumalon, return to Horseshoe Las Vegas from August 3-5, each guaranteed $1,000,000 while pursuing the $10,000,000 first prize.
World Series of Poker (WSOP) officials have clarified the rules governing the upcoming 2026 WSOP Main Event final table, confirming that the shot clock, also known as the Action Clock, will not be in effect.
The initial implementation of the shot clock occurred after Day 6 of the tournament, marking the first time in the 57-year history of the WSOP that such a decision was made.
Officials introduced the clock following a controversial hand on Day 6 in which Loren Klein tanked for 15 minutes in an effort to make a pay jump.
Despite facing substantial criticism from participants and observers, tournament organizers pressed forward with shot clocks through Days 7 and 8.
Following a two-week hiatus after the field was whittled down to a single table, lingering questions remained regarding whether the time restrictions would continue into the final stage.
The official confirmation that the shot clock has been removed gives players and fans a clear answer heading into the finale.
Player and Community Reactions
The decision to drop the shot clock for the 2026 WSOP Main Event final table has drawn varied responses across the poker community.
Many players expressed approval of the movement back to traditional tournament formatting. Poker professional Barny Boatman offered praise for the change, stating, "Congratulations on a very good decision."
Similarly, the Ragzy X account supported the move, commenting: "This is the right thing to do. Shouldn't have changed the rules in the first place. Issue was floor staff didn’t do their job monitoring or they would have caught the 1 person with the excessive stall and there wouldn't have been any problems."
Conversely, the rule adjustment received pushback from critics concerned with regulatory consistency. Harry Gandia voiced skepticism over the mid-tournament policy shifts, stating, "So just changing the goalposts as we go along? Not a good look for one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world."
Final Table Schedule and Player Line-up
The final nine players in poker's largest event were officially established in mid-July. After their three-week break, the contenders will return to Horseshoe Las Vegas to play from August 3-5 until a champion is crowned.
leading the remaining field is 22-year-old Lucas Jumalon, who holds the chip lead with 194,000,000 chips. Rounding out the top three stacks are Rami Hammoud and Jamie Shaevel.
The final table line-up also features experienced champion depth, highlighted by Canada's Greg Mueller, who holds three WSOP bracelets, and America's Michael Gagliano, who possesses four bracelets.
Every remaining participant has secured a payout of at least $1,000,000. However, the ultimate focus remains on the $10,000,000 first-place prize awaiting the eventual winner.
With the shot clock officially removed, the 2026 WSOP Main Event final table will proceed under standard play conditions.
As the final nine players prepare to return to Horseshoe Las Vegas from August 3-5, all attention turns to who will navigate the unclocked action to claim the $10,000,000 top prize.
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