There are two former World Series of Poker Main Event champions in today's field. Greg Raymer, who has become one of the greatest ambassadors for poker since winning the Main Event in 2004, is seated at a table in the far corner of the tournament area. A few tables away is a player who accomplished the same feat as Raymer but more than 20 years earlier -- Tom McEvoy, who won the Main Event in 1983. Some of today's poker young guns weren't even born in 1983. As for the bling, McEvoy is wearing his bracelet. Raymer is not.
Last year's EPT San Remo champion, Jason Mercier is also playing today. Mercier pocketed €869,000 for taking down the inaugural San Remo tournament. We expect that this year's winner will take home even more.
The field is continuing to thin, albeit slowly. As we were making our way back to the media room, a dealer's voice cried out, "Seat open! Table 21."