wsop
WATCH: WSOP Floor Makes Horrendous Clock Ruling
A controversial ruling at the World Series of Poker saw a player's hand declared dead only for a subsequent call to be permitted, sparking debate among poker professionals.
TL;DR
During a $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event at the WSOP, a floor supervisor's ruling allowed a player to call a shove several seconds after their hand had been declared dead following a clock expiration. This decision, which went against Patrick Leonard, ignited significant criticism from the poker community regarding floor management.
Controversy emerged at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) following a floor ruling in a $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em event. The incident involved bracelet winner Patrick Leonard and an unnamed opponent, near the tournament bubble. After Leonard's all-in shove on the river, his opponent entered a six-minute tank, prompting another player to call for a clock. A floorman initiated a 30-second countdown, and upon its expiration, declared the opponent's hand dead.
However, moments after the declaration, the opponent verbalized a "call." Despite the initial ruling, the floor supervisor allowed the call to stand, a decision Leonard contested. Video evidence and accounts from other players at the table, including the dealer, suggested the call occurred noticeably after the hand was pronounced dead. Leonard stated on X/Twitter, "I’m relieved, and then he says ‘call’ and it counts.” He added that another floor supervisor, consulted subsequently, upheld the contentious ruling.
The ruling drew immediate and strong reactions from the poker community. Four-time bracelet winner David Baker questioned the floor's attentiveness, while five-time bracelet winner John Monnette criticized the overall quality of floor management at this year's WSOP, describing it as "exceptionally bad." Scott Seiver, a recent Poker Hall of Fame nominee, echoed the sentiment, expressing that he would have escalated the situation until a correct ruling was enforced.
Despite the unfavorable outcome, Leonard did not attribute malicious intent to his opponent. He noted the opponent's remorse and immediate offer to conduct a swap, indicating that the player felt genuinely bad about the situation. Leonard clarified, "I have no problem with the guy at all... I’m fully at peace with him and don’t blame him."
This incident adds to a series of contentious moments at the current WSOP, following another controversy where a dealer error mistakenly awarded the first card to the button player during the final heads-up hand of a separate tournament.
