The opening level and everything is fresh - the players, the drinks, the reporters. The view from media row out across the tournament room always looks similar, but it's never quite the same. And it's always worth taking a couple of minutes to survey the landscape.
So what's out there among the 350 registered starters today?
Baseball caps, embroidered poker-themed shirts and the sparkle Ed Hardy.
After a quarter of an hour some players are already feeling the strain. Three massage therapists work the shoulders of three players at the same table.
Katja Thater is distinguishable by her white hat, the type made popular on the tour by Frenchman Nicolas Levi.
The dancers of earlier now parade the tournament room dressed in little more than glittery top hats and tails.
Ramzi Jelassi lines up opposite his pal Jonas Molander again. Sitting between the Swedes are Davidi Kitai and Peter Eastgate.
The ever popular Marcel Luske shares a table with the ever popular Luca Pagano, and Warsaw's runner-up Nico Behling.
Last year's winner Mike McDonald is also here. Funny to think that just 12 months ago this 19-year-old kid in braces was just an 18-year-old kid in braces.
Finally, Peter Hedlund patrols the outer reaches of the tournament room, watching over his horses, armed with a beer and an afternoon off. It wouldn't be an EPT without him.
