There was heavy chatter about the WSOP’s decision to remove the shot clock prior to the start of the Main Event final table, which kicked off Monday evening. But, to this point, the decision hasn’t impacted play.
Action kicked off on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET with Lucas Jumalon holding a massive chip lead as nine players are all chasing the $10 million first-place prize. The 22-year-old chip leader came out firing without much resistance in the early goings. He made it through the first hour of play with a bit more than the 129 big blinds he bagged after Day 8 back in July.
The small stacks haven’t picked up the hands necessary to fight back against Jumalon. But Michael Gagliano, one of the most experienced players at the final table, would win a big pot against the chip leader with ace-high after Jumalon, who was bluffing, couldn’t find it in him to fire one last barrel.
Who Needs a Shot Clock?
All eyes were on Jumalon entering the final table due to his age and chip stack. But the WSOP made a major decision by removing the shot clock that was implemented prior to Day 7. That shot clock, which required players to act within 20 seconds preflop and 30 seconds postflop, or to use a time extension chip, sparked a debate among poker fans, some arguing the decision should have been made prior to the start of the tournament.
But the WSOP announced there wouldn’t be a shot clock at the final table, which is airing on ESPN2 and ESPN from Aug. 3-5. That rule change hasn’t appeared to have much, if any, impact on the play. There has been minimal tanking even without the shot clock. Players are acting fast, at least to this point, both pre and postflop, which is likely a breath of fresh air to the teleivision audience.
Jumalon, at the time of publishing, still held a big chip lead. But he’s missed a few opportunities to take down pots on boards that missed his opponents, while one of the favorites, Greg “FBT” Mueller, has only played a couple of hands.
The short stacks, Evagoras Evagorou and Han Feng, have also been quiet. Neither player has found a hand to make a move, and with massive pay jumps coming, they’ve been forced to play passive.
Reversing Course: Shot Clock Removed for 2026 WSOP Main Event Final Table
