In an unexpected turn of events, WSOP Online Event #7—a $250 Mystery Bounty tournament—was abruptly paused and ultimately canceled during Day 2 due to a severe technical issue. The glitch left hundreds of players frozen in place mid-hand, sparking immediate concern and frustration within the online poker community.
Hosted on the WSOP’s regulated U.S. platform, the incident has raised questions about server stability and tournament contingency plans, especially during high-traffic periods.
What Happened During Event #7?
The tournament began smoothly with a robust turnout of players chasing bounties and a WSOP bracelet. Day 1 concluded without major issues, but as Day 2 resumed on June 9, 2025, the platform began experiencing irregular lags, disconnections, and unresponsive gameplay.
Within the first hour of Day 2, numerous reports surfaced from players being unable to act on their hands or even access the tournament lobby. The game was temporarily paused by the platform operators, but the technical difficulties persisted. Eventually, the event was canceled outright.
Player Reactions and Frustration
Players took to social media and poker forums to express confusion, disappointment, and concern over the integrity of the event. Many were deep in the money and chasing substantial bounties when the event was stopped. Several grinders voiced frustration over the lack of clear communication from the platform in the critical minutes following the breakdown.
While many acknowledged that tech issues are an occasional reality of online poker, the lack of a streamlined response protocol for a bracelet event drew heavy criticism.
Official WSOP Statement
Later that evening, the WSOP issued an official statement confirming the cancellation of Event #7 due to a “critical backend malfunction” on the platform’s servers. According to the release, all players still in the tournament at the time of cancellation would receive compensation.
The WSOP also noted that the specific bracelet for Event #7 will not be awarded, and a replacement event may be added later in the series calendar. Details on refund structures and prize pool redistribution are expected soon.
What This Means for Upcoming Events
The incident has prompted a reevaluation of platform infrastructure ahead of remaining WSOP Online events. While the series has successfully hosted dozens of online bracelet tournaments in the past, this disruption could influence player turnout and trust in upcoming online-only events.
Organizers are expected to implement additional safeguards and server stress testing before the launch of future online bracelet games, especially those with large fields and bounty formats.
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