Jon Bryan

OK, the second day of the World Series of Poker Main Event ($10,000 buy-in) and I am starting to get worried. The first day we went down there was just huge – and I have heard that Dan Harrington, the 1995 winner whose consecutive final table appearances in 2003 and 2004 were a huge achievement, got knocked out on day one on Friday. Will need to play my best poker just to get through to the second day.

We went down about 5.30p.m. on Saturday hoping to see some people and some poker and hopefully avoiding some of the crowds (this is 1.30a.m. Sunday UK time).

We still had to queue, but when we got in, Kay immediately said she had found Jesus. She has not turned religious, but had spotted the 2000 WSOP Champion Chris “Jesus” Ferguson. All that poker I make her watch was paying off. He was a bit far away, but a guy with a press-pass offered to go right up to his table and get some pics. We were definitely getting star-struck now.

We had already seen 2004 Champion Greg “Fossilman” Raymer doing an interview and snapped him, and now we were inside the main hall we looked for where cameras or people were and someone we would recognise would surely not be far away.

Andy Black – who everyone thought would win last year, but who eventually came 5th – walked past us as we were looking at Jesus. Thought about saying something, but what do you say? “Can’t believe you made that huge raise on the final table last year” was all I could think of, so I just let him wander on past as I thought that it might be rude.

Then we watched Annie Duke for a bit. “She’s the one who wears those double-layered tops like me” said Kay. She was right once again, and she’s also a WSOP bracelet winner, considered to be probably the finest female poker player in the world, and she won $2 million when she won the WSOP Champions event in 2004 – beating Phil Helmuth heads up having previously knocked out her brother – Howard Lederer.

Annie watched the whole table, didn’t play a hand while I was there, but just looked the part and looked to mean business.

A bit of a commotion at a table nearby, and it was a tall bloke who we all recognised. Then we placed him. He’s from “Everybody Loves Raymond” – the brother – Robert – the tall one who’s the cop. He was getting a 10 minute penalty for swearing so he was off looking for food. Velma Kay was very excited! He returned with some sweets which he offered around the table. Next minute, two guys all in. Pocket Kings held up against Queens with nothing on the board helping either player.

Saw Doyle Brunson playing, but he was surrounded by people and cameras and we were too far away. No flash photography doesn't help either!

Saw Phil Helmuth as we went into get some "Ultimate Bet" t-shirts, but only for a second or two. Don't think he was playing.

Others I saw include the first woman ever to make it to a final table back in 1995 - Barbara Enright, and as you might see from the above, I plucked up the courage to get a photo of me with Cyndy Violette. She was dead nice and I have to admit to being a bit nervous. She has been having a great WSOP this year with 4 cash finishes and one final table appearance making 3rd place and over $100,000. Like me, she starts on Monday and when we found out we weren't sharing a table, we wished each other good luck :-D

Having been star struck, there was a fake thunderstorm with rain, thunder and lightning while we had our supper.

All of this can only happen in Vegas! :-)