Something was different today. The click-clack of chips was distant. The tables were empty and the expanse of green felt stood out under the overhead lights. Like the Penn and Teller show on Tuesday nights, the action was dark today as players recovered in advance of the main event.

That left little to do but welcome the more than 500 members of the media who have descended on the Rio. Many of us have been here for weeks. The rest have come to cover the Big One.

Late this afternoon, the media will fight in a WSOP contest of their own. Many of those folks have never played the game. So, PokerStars set up a Media 101 poker workshop so the writer, photographers, and broadcasters could learn the tricks from PokerStars pros. Here's a quick photo gallery of this afternoon's workshop.

PokerStars players (from left to right)Greg Raymer, Isabelle Mercier, Chris Bigler, Evelyn Ng, John Gale, Erin Ness, Rocco Mediate, and Wil Wheaton


PokerStars' Media 101 workshop in progress


Isabelle Mercier laughs it up with her tablemates


Greg Raymer poses with a member of the media


Pro golfer and PokerStars friend Rocco Mediate grants a TV interview


Wil Wheaton puts on his gameface


Chris Bigler: "Did you see that flush?"


Erin Ness and her stacks


The ladies of PokerStars, Isabelle Mercier, Evelyn Ng, and Erin Ness


Evelyn Ng teaches her tablemates how to do chip tricks


Evelyn Ng and Wil Wheaton discuss Ng's height advantage on the competition