It's been an odd day here at the World Series of Poker. Despite the constant throngs of people, the constant action, the dual six of spades in one deck in the seven-card stud tournament, and the realization that the main event is just nine days away, there is a certain peace in the air tonight. The media room is oddly quiet with just a few clicks of laptop keyboards breaking the silence. The tournament room is remarkably light on the number railbirds on the velvet ropes. The satellite area is lined up a mile deep, but, even there, things seem quiet. It's all just a little bit spooky.

It likely has something to do with it being midweek here. The revelers from last week caught flights home Monday and Tuesday. This weekend's crazies won't arrive until tomorrow night. At the WSOP, Wednesday is slump day. What's more, tomorrow's $5,000 shorthanded event is not the kind of event that is going to draw a huge field.

Nonetheless, action continues here around the Amazon ballroom. Just under a hundred players remain in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em event. Among them are PokerStars' 2005 WSOP champion Joe Hachem, WPT Championship seventh place finisher Vanessa Rousso, recent WPT final tablist Spiro "55lucky55" Mitrokostas, and Tuan Le.

Vannessa Rousso staying in action


Joe Hachem going deep again


Spiro "55lucky55" Mitrokostas, looking to go deep again

Earlier in the day, I watched as the more-heated action killed off players like Isabelle Mercier, Steve Paul-Ambrose, and ElkY, who wandered to the PokerStars suite less than an hour after the start of play. His simple explanation: "Ace-king versus nines." Funny thing about ElkY. I've been watching him play live for more than a year now and I've never seen him without sunglasses on. I'm not entirely sure he has eyes.

Speaking of eyes, there's a good chance there will be a lot of heavy ones tonight. With a tournament that started at 2pm, chances are this one won't end until Thursday's early morning hours. It's a marthon night in the middle of a marthon tournament series. It is still another 22 days until this room goes dark.

So, we might as well enjoy the peace while it is here.

Today's reading:

Event #29 Photo Gallery
Event #27: PokerStars players cash in
2006 WCOOP Schedule released
Event #29: $2,500 PL Hold'em begins
2006 WSOP Primer