As we wrote in the intro for today, there are two new developments in WPT events that will have a very positive effect on the tournament. First off, when the number of players is reduced to 90 (10 tables of 9 players each), additional eliminations will be used to convert the tournament to an 8-handed affair.
During roughly the same period of time, the Action Clock will be added. With the Action Clock, each player will have 30 seconds for each action – the time will begin as soon as the action facing a player is confirmed by the dealer. The countdown begins automatically on a large screen in the position of the dealer’s tray, an a chime will sound when 10 seconds remains. Each player must complete their action within this 30 second window.
Each player will receive 4 time extension chips when the Action Clock comes into play, and a player that goes past the 30-second limit will automatically be given another 30 seconds – which they must “pay for” following the hand with one of their time chips. If a player has no time extension chips remaining, their hand is dead at the end of the 30 second countdown.
The Action Clock has been used extensively in WPT Main Tour events recently and the reaction has been almost universally positive. We’ll include some photos of the Action Clock, er, in action when it comes into play.