The Muck: Should There Have Been a Day Off in 2018 WSOP Main Event?

July 16, 2018 Chad Holloway

The 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event was the second-largest in the series’ 49-year history with 7,784 players. With three starting flights and nine other days of play, the tournament proved to be a marathon affair. The final table alone last 442 hands and heads-up play 199 hands over a 10-hour period, making it the longest heads-up contest in WSOP Main Event history.

Last year, the WSOP did away with the November Nine, which previously gave the final nine players a three-month break to prepare. Instead, they were given a couple days off to regroup before playing it out. This year, they didn’t even get a day off before powering through. Stamina and exhaustion are factors in poker, but never more so this year given the massive field, kind structure, and huge pay jumps.

It led some to question whether there should’ve been a break at some point, specifically when the final table was set. On Sunday, 2017 WSOP Main Event champ Scott Blumstein fueled the fire when he sent out the following tweet:

It’s an absolute travesty that this tournament went from a 3 month break, to a 2 day break, to no break at all. If… https://t.co/ToEUQ4x4UB — Scott Blumstein (@SBlum2711)

Jennifer Shahade echoed those sentiments: “I 100% agree. It’s particularly absurd for media/viewers to pick on the habits or conduct (which was excellent) of the players after being under so much pressure. I went deep a couple years ago when pregnant and I’m pretty sure I would’ve skipped it this year if preggo because too much lost value in fatigue if I went deep. The extreme intensity of the schedule reduces the cool story potential in many ways.”

Gavin Smith: "Tournaments should not have day long breaks before the final table.”

Another player in support of a break is @frankingenral: “A 2-3 day break is really ideal. The players need it to mentally recharge, & while all seemed to have good rails, it's easier & nicer for the players if they have a day or two to get some friends & fam there & relish the moment (not that it matters, I'll never be in that spot).”

Of course, not everyone was sympathetic to players competing for seven-figure paydays.

“He had to play poker for 5 levels. My hart breaks for him,” poker player and former Survivor contestant Garrett Adelstein.

Gavin Smith was also on Team No-Break: “I am 49 years old and have no problem playing as long as it takes, tournaments should not have day long breaks before the final table.”

James Allan offered his two cents: “This is a millennial reply at its finest. Everybody knew the schedule in advance and put up the 10k. I doubt any of the other 8,000 entrants next year will miss you. An ‘absolute travesty’ would be someone being denied their right to vote, or a convicted murder released on a technicality, not playing poker tired.”

@JR_Billions also offered up a defense, saying the current format is kind to recreational players.

“How about all the rec players that only have two week’s vacation and this format works out perfect for them?”

Finally, @Soco_Rob offered an idea to help cut down the marathon:

“IMO, they should accelerate the structure heads up,” he tweeted. “Shorten the levels significantly. It would take multiple coolers to get a winner when 2 players are playing so deep. There's little chance of a winner until they get shallower anyway and no one wants to watch or play that long.”

Indeed, both the World Poker Tour and MSPT switch to 30-minute levels when heads-up, so it’s an idea worth considering.

What are your thoughts on the WSOP Main Event playing straight through?