Tournament Rules

1. TOURNAMENT RULES & SCOPE

1.1. These Tournament Rules apply to all events organized under the World Poker Games (WPG) series.

1.2. These Rules adopt the official Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA) Rules. In the event of any conflict, these WPG Tournament Rules take priority, unless overridden by mandatory house rules of the host venue.

1.3. Players acknowledge and accept that WPG uses electronic tournament management systems (such as KHold’em) for official operations, including tournament timing, seating assignments, and chip counts.

2. PLAYER CONDUCT & SPORTSMANSHIP

To maintain a fair, professional, and respectful competitive environment, all players must follow proper conduct standards at every WPG event. Any form of taunting, targeted provocation, or disrespectful behavior toward other players is strictly prohibited.

2.1. Prohibited Behavior

Taunting refers to any intentional verbal or non-verbal action meant to mock, belittle, provoke, or emotionally disrupt another player. Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct personal insults, verbal attacks, or derogatory remarks.
  • Sarcastic applause, mocking celebrations, or excessive gloating directed at an opponent.
  • Intimidating actions such as standing over another player or making threatening gestures.
  • Repeated or targeted speech or actions intended to tilt, embarrass, or humiliate another player.

2.2. Acceptable Behavior

WPG encourages competitive energy and positive table interaction when done respectfully. Acceptable behavior includes:

  • Friendly banter and polite table conversation.
  • Genuine emotional reactions related to one’s own gameplay (including celebrations with personal supporters).
  • Competitive remarks that do not cross into personal attacks, ridicule, or intimidation.

2.3. Enforcement & Penalties

Tournament staff will enforce these rules consistently. Penalties may escalate depending on the severity and frequency of the violation:

  • Verbal Warning for minor or first-time offenses.
  • Penalty Orbit (Missed Hand Cycle) for continued or more serious misconduct.
  • Disqualification / Removal for severe, repeated, or extreme violations.

All decisions are made after reviewing the full context of the situation.
The Tournament Director has full and final authority in interpreting these rules and applying penalties.

3. SEATING, REGISTRATION & TABLE MANAGEMENT

3.1. Dealer Button Assignment

At the start of play and during any redraws, each player receives one card. The player with the highest card is assigned the dealer button.

3.2. Registration & Seating

  • Players seated at a table before the first hand must be dealt in immediately.
  • During the registration period, a new player may choose to wait for the button to pass if they would otherwise receive two (2) or fewer hands before posting the big blind.
  • Once registration is closed, all waiting players must be dealt in immediately.

3.3. Table Balancing

  • During registration: Tables may differ in size by more than one player.
  • After registration closes: When ten (10) or fewer tables remain, all tables must be balanced to within one player of each other.

3.4. Table Breaking & Final Table

  • Table breaking order is determined primarily by operational needs for upcoming events.
  • Unless otherwise announced, tables within a section are broken randomly, either from highest to lowest or lowest to highest.
  • This process continues until the Final Table is formed.
  • Seating redraws occur only at the Final Table.

4. TOURNAMENT FORMAT & ADVANCEMENT

Best Stack Forward Format

Players who advance to the next session with multiple stacks will continue play using only their largest stack. All other stacks are removed from play.
If a removed stack is already in the money, it will receive a minimum cash payout.

5. GAMEPLAY PROCEDURES & TIME MANAGEMENT

5.1. Action Clock & Time Banks

  • For turbo events:
    • Shot clock: 20 seconds
    • Time bank: 20 seconds
  • For all other tournaments:
    • All action: 30 seconds
  • When shot clocks are active from the start:
    • Players receive two (2) time banks upon entry.
    • One additional time bank is awarded at every scheduled break, including overnight breaks.
  • Players are responsible for properly bagging remaining time bank chips at the end of each day.
  • Tournament Director discretion applies if time banks are not correctly bagged.

5.2. Forward Motion Rule

Any chips moved forward across a player’s hole cards in a forward motion are considered a committed bet and must remain in the pot.

5.3. Hand-for-Hand Play

  • During hand-for-hand periods, all players must remain at their assigned tables.
  • In all-in situations, cards must remain tabled and concealed from other players until the Tournament Director gives further instruction.

5.4. Best Stack Forward (Operational Details)

  • Only the biggest qualifying stack will advance to the next day.
     All smaller stacks will be eliminated.
  • Any stack eliminated during the ITM stage will receive the minimum payout.
  • Prior to the close of registration, players may voluntarily forfeit an active stack to re-enter the event.

5.5. Satellite Seats

  • Seats awarded through WPG Satellite events are non-transferable and must be used by the original winning player.
  • Any seat exceeding the maximum permitted entries for the target event will be converted into its cash equivalent.

6. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION & DEAL POLICY

  • Deal discussions are allowed unless otherwise announced before the tournament begins.
  • Tournament staff may assist by providing official chip counts and ICM calculations upon request.
  • Staff members act as neutral facilitators and do not negotiate deal terms.
  • Only one formal deal discussion is allowed per event.
  • Any ICM-based deal must leave at least 10% of the remaining prize pool to be played for.
  • Optional Holdout:
    • If all remaining players agree, 100% of the prize pool may be distributed.
    • The event ends immediately.
    • The chip leader at the time of agreement is declared the Champion and receives the trophy.
  • No deal may award any player more than the posted first-place prize.
  • All deals must be documented on the official WPG deal form and signed by all involved players.
  • Pressuring or coercing another player into accepting a deal is strictly prohibited.
  • The tournament clock will only pause for deal discussions if all remaining players unanimously agree.

7. MIXED GAME & DEALER’S CHOICE RULES

7.1. Game Rotation

  • In mixed-game formats, the game changes after the dealer button completes a full orbit.
  • In Dealer’s Choice formats:
    • A separate Game Button is used.
    • The Game Button holder selects the next game when the dealer button completes its orbit.
    • The Game Button then moves clockwise to the next player.

7.2. Draw Game Procedures

If there are not enough cards to complete a draw:

  1. Shuffle the remaining stub together with burn cards.
  2. If still insufficient, shuffle the muck from all completed draw rounds of the current hand (excluding the current incomplete round).
  3. Cards discarded during the current draw street remain out of play until the draw is completed.
  4. Any exposed card during a draw is shuffled back into the deck after that draw round ends and before the next begins.

8. RULE AUTHORITY & INTERPRETATION

All WPG tournaments are governed by these Tournament Rules and the current Poker Tournament Directors Association (TDA) Rules.
TDA Rules apply to any procedural or technical situations not explicitly covered in this document.

9. ADMINISTRATION & DISCLAIMERS

  • Tournament schedules, structures, prize pools, and policies may change without prior notice.
  • WPG reserves the right to adjust rules due to venue requirements, legal obligations, operational needs, or unforeseen circumstances.
  • WPG, the venue, and tournament staff are not responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings.
  • Participation in any WPG event constitutes full acceptance of all Tournament Rules listed above.