Removing the timer will have a negligible impact on the WSOP Main Event final table in 2026.

The removal of the timer at the 2026 WSOP Main Event final table did not significantly impact the pace of the game. Lucas Jumalon maintained a chip lead throughout, with players acting quickly and rarely taking long deliberations.

The decision to remove the timer sparked heated debate ahead of the WSOP Main Event final table on Monday night. But so far, the decision has had little impact on the competition.

At 9 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN2's live broadcast officially began, with Lucas Jumalon entering the final table with a huge chip lead, as all nine players chased the $10,000,000 first-place prize. The 22-year-old chip leader aggressively attacked from the start, encountering almost no resistance. He smoothly navigated the first hour of the tournament, his chip stack slightly larger than the 129 big blinds he had packed at the end of Day 8 in July.

The short-stacked players never had a strong enough hand to fight back against Jumalon. But Michael Gagliano, one of the most experienced players at the final table, won a big pot from the chip leader in one hand with Ace-high – Jumalon was bluffing but didn't have the courage to fire the final shot on the river.

Who needs a timer?

Due to his age and chip stack, all eyes were on Jumalon. However, the WSOP made a significant decision—removing the timer implemented before day seven. This timer required players to act within 20 seconds pre-flop and 30 seconds post-flop, or else use time to extend their stack. This decision sparked debate among poker fans, with some arguing that it should have been made before the tournament even began.

However, the WSOP announced that the final table will not use a timer—the final table will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN from August 3rd to 5th. This rule change appears to have had little impact on the competition. Even without a timer, long deliberations have been extremely rare. At least so far, players have acted very quickly both pre-flop and post-flop, which may be a refreshing experience for television viewers.

As of press time, Jumalon still maintains a significant chip lead. However, he missed several opportunities to win pots on unfavorable hands, while another hot player, Greg "FBT" Mueller, has only played a few hands.

Short-stacked players Evagoras Evagorou and Han Feng also remained silent. Neither of them found a suitable hand to take action, and with the huge prize jump approaching, they were forced to adopt a passive play.

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