WSOP stop clock changes for 2017
Changes to the stopwatch rules have been introduced for this year’s WSOP to counter act stalling and keep the game ticking.
This year’s World Series of Poker is just over two weeks away and this week announced it has introduced a rule change designed to speed up play.
From this year, players will be able to call the clock on their competitors much quicker than before, while a tournament floor person can also now put a clock on a player without warning, should they feel it's warranted.
Also, if a participant requests the clock, floor supervisors now have the right to disregard the challenge but, should they initiate it, they will also have the power to set the clock between 10 and 40 seconds, shorter than before but set to their own discretion.
The new measures remove the previous rule that players had to wait a reasonable amount of time - around two minutes - before challenging their opponents by calling for the clock. Even then, the game’s supervisor needed to check with the dealer first who, if in agreement, would set the stopwatch on its one minute countdown.
Industry trend
The move comes as part of an industry trend over the past couple of years to react against tanking and speed up games in general.
We have already seen the Action Clock introduced by the WPT for the Tournament of Champions, while the Super High Roller Bowl, part of the ARIA High Roller series, was an early forerunner when it installed timers and time extension chips. PokerStars tournaments of $10,000 plus, also regularly entertain Shot Clocks.
New Rule:
Calling-for-clock: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called, Floor People, in their sole discretion, may give the participant an additional 0 up to 30 seconds to make a decision. If action has not been taken when prompted by the Floor Person, there will be a 10-second countdown followed by a declaration or stopwatch alarm. If a participant has not acted before the declaration or alarm sounds, the hand will be dead. Rio, in its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right, at any time, to invoke a clock or speed up the amount of time allotted for a clock.
