Above: The welcome sign outside the WSOP poker room.

Left: Before...and after. The WSOP's vast poker room at the
Rio ~ before action began, and in full swing.

Below: The view of the strip from my hotel room at the Rio.
Left:  The Australian contingent. I bumped into Joe Hachem
(far left) early in the first open event, along with Gary Benson
and Mel Judah (pictured) and Mark Vos.
Right:  I managed to make 44th place in Event #3, the
Pot Limit Holdem, which was a nice start. As well as
pocketing a modest prize, I got to play with some great
players, including top pro Mimi Tran (pictured - photo by
Melissa Hayden courtesy of Cardplayer).

Below: I played Event #5, 6-handed No Limit Holdem, at
a table with no less than 3 WSOP bracelet winners ~
Meng La, Willie Tann and Johnny Chan (pictured).

Below right: A rather crazed looking Andy Black, who I
bumped into at dinner one night.
Right:
Carlos
Mortenson
builds a
monster
chip stack
in Event
#6, the
$2,000
No LImit
Holdem.
Left: Happy with my
progress on day 1 of
Event 13, $2500 NLH.

Right: Celebrating my
12th place finish the
next day, with friends
Neil Channing, Chris
Newton & Rory Liffey.
Photos courtesy of
Chris Newton.