Shot clock in the WSOP Main Event: why it was added after the 15‑minute blind

Loren Klein's 15‑minute blind

On Day 6 of the 2026 WSOP Main Event, Loren Klein, with a single chip, played a 15‑minute blind while waiting for a $20,000 jump payment.

Introduction of shot clocks

Following the incident, WSOP tournament officials added shot clocks starting Day 7: each player receives 20 seconds per action and six 30‑second time banks.

This is the first time such a mechanism has been used in WSOP history; it was previously employed on the PokerGO Tour, Triton Poker Series, and World Poker Tour.

Reaction of the poker community

Professionals such as Sean Dibb and Chris Bruyer criticized the decision, deeming it unfair to recreational players who have never used shot clocks.

Other experts noted that respect for the game could have been achieved by calling a floor earlier, without adding new rules.