This is a big weekend for European-centric sport. We have the Rugby World Cup (Like NFL but we don't need armour) and the European Cup Football Qualifiers (Like Ice Hockey, but we don't need the ice, the sticks or the armour). This is on the big screens all around the Empire Casino.
Andy Black interupted his own hand to ask me when the England match starts, then another player at his table asked me if I knew how Scotland were getting on in their match. As I was leaving another player spilt his drink reacting to the Rugby match on the big screen.
Right now someone is pointing out the finer points of Rugby to Doyle Brunson.
As I glanced over at Table Ben Roberts, I was shocked to see a certain green haired HORSE finalist (Gary 'The Choirboy' Jones) sat and the table at in the midst of the action!
Betting out 2,600 on a flop was enough to force neighbour Eli Elezra to fold, but it just shows how nuts for poker these fanatics are.
Apologies to our American viewers who may be bemused by that headline, but it is actually a pun on a Frank Bruno quote, the boxer's namesake and recent WSOP HORSE champion, Bruno Fitoussi, having just TKO-ed fellow finalist Barry Greenstein off a board with a 2.1k to 6k re-raise.
As beardy Barry mucked, Bruno was eager to reveal his for the second nut flush.
As a result, Greenstein is down to less than 2k, but still has his double chance in the bank.
Omaha specialist and cash game menace Ben Roberts is mulling over which country rules the roost at Omaha. Well, when I say mulling, I actually mean he's decided already.
"You know what," says Ben," there are a few Americans who didn't fancy this Omaha event because it's the European's game."
Eek, I think he momentarily forgot about the 10k Omaha event at the World Series event where our only European placing was Paul Jackson, who avoided the bubble by one.
Oh well, Ben is admittedly a cracking Omaha player, and although failing to progress in Level 1, is still in with 7k and his double chance disc to boot.
We do have young eyes to think about so we can only bring you the NetNanny version of the Doyle meets Catgirl photo. The smile on Doyles face never dissapeared and who knows, it could be the start of something beautiful.
Whilst all the players disperse for the twenty minute break, the cardroom is left with just one sole competitor in his seat, the ever-focused David Williams perched on the edge of his seat with his head bowed down on the felt.
Although I initially thought he was either (1) in the zone, (2) praying for divine assistance or (3) slightly insane, a closer inspection revealed that he was merely whiling away the minutes watching a video on the smallest of ipods.