Rivalry Heats Up at 2025 WSOP: Paint-Based Dispute Ignites Debate
In the heart of the 2025 WSOP $600 NLH/PLO Deepstack tournament, a floor official requested Tyler Brown to exchange his 25K chips, amassing a staggering 3 million. Brown balked at the request, offering just 2 million instead. The ensuing ruckus earned Brown a one-round penalty and the threat of disqualification. Remarkably, Brown emerged victorious in the tournament.
Before the final table began, Brown detailed his version of events in a series of posts on X.
Rule 106 in the 2025 WSOP rules states that floor personnel are authorized to control the number and denomination of chips in play, and may color up stacks at their discretion.
The Necessity of Simplification
First off, let me say I've become notorious for rapidly coloring up players during a tournament. Many players dislike this due to various reasons, including live streamers, televised event personnel, and photographers considering it visually appealing. I wholeheartedly agree - it does look cool to have massive chip piles. However, there's a significant downside to this chip extravaganza.
I've attended tournaments where the dealers couldn’t even count a bet. Now you're asking them to quantify stacks with four racks of chips. It's chaotic, right?
I've always believed in the philosophy, "Less is more." I want dealers and fellow players to easily count chips in front of a player without any confusion. The game adds enough delay as it is, and large chip piles only make it slower.
A Worn-Out Script
Similar circumstances have transpired with me, albeit not on the colossal scale of the WSOP incident.
I've had disagreements with players, such as David Baker, who isn't a fan of chip coloring. In no-limit events, in particular, it's crucial to monitor each player's stack for fair play. But in a limit event, you have to keep a close eye on the action regardless.
I always made sure to apply the same chip handling standards for everyone. I never imposed penalties because I always threatened to color up everyone's chips.
I explained the reasons for my actions, and most players understood. However, I've had verbal spats with Matt Clark and Donnie Peters. They argued that massive chip piles look better on TV and would generate more interest in the game.
I disagree with that assessment. Having numerous chips on the table doesn't attract more viewers; it merely slows down the game unnecessarily. I've had ongoing disagreements with many players over this.
The Porn of Poker Chips
I recall way back when Carlos Mortenson would create elaborate chip displays.
I frequently discussed this with Carlos during color-up sessions, contributing to the creation of the rule limiting chip stacks to 20 at the table. This rule makes it easier for an opponent to focus on the chips, and for dealers to quickly verify whether all stacks match.
The game is now trending towards action clocks and speeding up play. It's better for everyone – dealers and players alike – to have a clear count of someone's chips.
So, what do you think? Shout out your thoughts in the comments below. And send me your anecdotes and encounters on X. They might just feature in the next Savage Rules!
Matt Savage is the WPT Executive Tour Director, founder of the Tournament Directors Association, and a respected authority in poker. He's a five-time GPI award winner and an eight-time nominee for the Poker Hall of Fame.
You can follow Matt on X. For further details, visit PokerTDA.com and WPT.com
Insights
- In the 2025 WSOP tournament, players must comply with chip color-up requests to maintain efficient game flow and rule compliance.
- Tournament staff and experienced directors, like Matt Savage, have the authority to enforce color-up requests and adjudicate player disputes.
- The 2025 tournament rules emphasize enhanced freedom for the WSOP to enforce penalties, ban devices, and restrict table talk to secure fair gameplay and reduce disputes.
Sources:[1] 2025 WSOP Tournament Rules (Official WSOP Tournament Rules PDF)[2] PokerTDA.com[3] WPT.com[4] Savage Rules on X (Blog Posts and Q&As)[5] InsidePokerData.com (Analysis, Poker Strategy, and Advanced Data Tools)
- Regarding the 2025 WSOP tournament, Rule 106 authorizes floor personnel to control the number and denomination of chips in play, and they may color up stacks at their discretion.
- In the case of Tyler Brown's dispute during the 2025 WSOP $600 NLH/PLO Deepstack tournament, Matt Savage, the WPT Executive Tour Director, applied the same chip handling standards for everyone to maintain fair gameplay and efficient game flow.
