Some controversy hit the World Series of Poker this week after a participant was in a position to name a hand regardless of a ground individual initially ruling that his hand was lifeless.
The state of affairs performed out close to the bubble within the $2,500 no-limit maintain’em occasion. Patrick Leonard was heads-up in opposition to an opponent who nonetheless stays nameless and shoved all in on the river. According to Leonard, the shove despatched his opponent into the tan for six minutes.
Another participant known as the clock and a floorman came visiting and started a 30-second countdown. If the participant didn’t determine on an motion throughout the allotted timeframe, his hand could be lifeless. The ground counted down the time and introduced that the hand was lifeless.
That ought to’ve been the top of it. But it wasn’t.
“I’m relieved, and then he says ‘call’ and it counts,” Leonard wrote on X/Twitter. “Called another floor and he ruled in their favour. Other player at the table said it was 5 seconds after ‘dead,’ less [in my opinion], closer to 3.”
Video of the hand certainly reveals the decision coming a minimum of a pair seconds after the hand had been dominated lifeless. Leonard may even be seen laughing after the decision got here after the lifeless ruling. However, the ground dominated in opposition to Leonard and the bracelet winner misplaced the pot.
Watch the hand under.
Here’s the video. People are even speculating what I’ve! I’m laughing he says name so lengthy after.
What the fuck man https://t.co/ZyuAdAAmW8 pic.twitter.com/nEzgZlJD47
— Patrick Leonard 🫡 (@padspoker) June 24, 2026
Here’s remainder of the video btw, ground says he stated name simply as he stated lifeless then supplier corrects ground and stated he heard him say lifeless first.
Dealer was nice btw, informed the ground they have been incorrect and got here as much as me 2x afterwards apologising saying it was incorrect. Forgot to provide him… pic.twitter.com/zB6hsf2HvP
— Patrick Leonard 🫡 (@padspoker) June 24, 2026
Players Criticize Floor Personnel
Reaction was fast and demanding of the ruling. Four-time bracelet winner David Baker puzzled what the floorman was really pondering.
“This is ridiculous,” he stated. “Were they even paying attention? I had an issue with a floor today as well. So many really good ones but the ones that have attitude and don’t listen are really bad.”
John Monnette was particularly vital of ground administration total: “It’s been exceptionally bad this year. Every time I talk to one of the lead floors they just say ‘you can always call me over’ but that’s the exact problem there are only a handful of people in the whole place that get things right.”
The five-time bracelet winner added that his response wouldn’t have been fairly if he had been in the same scenario.
“Wtf, I would have caused a scene so big security would have to take me out,” he replied to Leonard’s publish with video of the hand.
Scott Seiver, a current nominee for the Poker Hall of Fame, had the same response and stated he would have continued to attraction for an accurate ruling.
Truly with no offense to you, however there isn’t any world the place I don’t cease the event till the proper ruling is made. Security would should be known as to take away me from my seat
— Scott Seiver (@scott_seiver) June 24, 2026
Leonard added that the supplier and different gamers on the desk informed him the ruling was incorrect and the decision got here after the hand was dominated lifeless.
The gamers did do that btw, one participant informed the ground it was 5 seconds later (I really stated I assumed he was incorrect and it was much less) the opposite was attempting to provide the ground the video, the supplier stated the ground was incorrect when he was there. They have been very affordable / good
— Patrick Leonard 🫡 (@padspoker) June 24, 2026
Leonard Doesn’t Blame Opponent
Despite his frustration, Leonard took issues in stride and doesn’t consider the opposite participant was attempting to angle shoot.
“I have no problem with the guy at all,” he stated. “I by no means needed to out him and he felt unhealthy after the hand instantly when he had 5x+ my stack, he instantly supplied to do an enormous swap as a result of he realized. I’ve by no means seen any person really feel so unhealthy about one thing on the desk. He was genuinely sorry if one thing unhealthy had occurred and I’m not one of the best dwell poker participant on the planet however he appeared a superb child.
“I’m fully at peace with him and don’t blame him. Next time he’s going to act faster and this wasn’t premeditated at all.”
The complete ordeal adopted one other controversy wherein a supplier unintentionally gave the primary card to the participant on the button throughout the event’s first and solely hand of heads-up play.
