Scenes From The 2011 WSOP

When Allen Cunningham is standing, John Juanda is sitting - when Allen Cunningham is sitting, John Juanda is standing - always a see-saw at the $10,000 HORSE. Meanwhile the WSOP dog, Blue, sleeps through everything.

Jason Mercier Wins A Bracelet

The insanely talented Jason Mercier won his second career bracelet in the $5000 Pot-Limit Omaha,6-handed. Who says the big players don't tip?

Everything Must Go At The Sahara

By everything I mean everything - not just blackjack tables, but toilet paper holders. The high roller suite got cleaned out except for the lone couch and people were making a mad dash for the rickety old dresser in the hallway.

Sahara Sale

The Sahara has just started selling off everything - line around the block. Probably a few interesting items, but my goodness, don't people have enough junk already?

ElkY Wins A Bracelet

ElkY Grospellier, the French superstar of poker finally gets a bracelet in the $10,000 7-card stud. Just a few yards over,  Jason Somerville (in the hat in the center)  took the $1500 NL championship.

Naked City: Stay And Eat

Naked City is the northern part of Las Vegas Boulevard, between the Stratosphere and Downtown - quite a different feel to the Strip. The arepas stand is new - delicious food at affordable prices and Albo's has excellent pizza.

Bracelet Winners Present And Past

Matt Perrins, $1500 NL 2-7 Draw Lowball

Andrew Badecker, $1500 Hold'em Shootout

$10,000 NL 2-7 Lowball

I wouldn't want to be at a table with Grospellier, Huck Seed, Johnny Chan, Phil Helmuth and John Juanda - nobody's got the edge here.

The Mob Experience At The Tropicana

The Mob Experience is an interactive exhibit - you get to pick your mobster (I went with Steve Schirripa - Bobby from the Sopranos) that will show you around. Then you join the mob, or not, and evade the police and at the end you have a shadowy meeting on the waterfront - I got made, but getting whacked is a lot more exciting.

Chris Giunchigliani Gracious As Ever

Still optimistic on live TV

Congratulating Carolyn Goodman with husband at her side

Consoling her youngest supporters

Vegas will just have to wait for its next mayor, Chris G - in the meantime, how graciously she accepts the outcome.

More photos

WSOP Heads-Up Championship

Gus Hansen ran deep, seated next to eventual champion Jake Cody

Timoshenko was the runner up

Gus Hansen arriving with entourage

Gus Hansen is the new Phil Helmuth, arriving bare chested and pompous - just won his first bracelet at the European WSOP.

WSOP 2011 Begins With A New Set

Chris Moneymaker and Sam Farha (if you can see them)

Million dollar babies - contestants in next year's million dollar buy-in tournament

Kara Scott and Phil Helmuth

The WSOP has a new set - gaudy is an understatement - like some giant game show - well, it is a giant game show. It kicked off with a series of grudge matches, recreating past battles to see who would win them now.

They announced a million dollar buy-in tournament for next year to aid Guy La Liberte's (founder of Le Cirque) charity "One Drop" to bring water to the third world and contestants are already lining up.

My Neighborhood: Old Las Vegas

My neighborhood doesn't have a name so I call it Old Las Vegas - very pretty 60's style ranch houses with beautiful front yards... and one really hideous house covered in faux marble.

*****

Over Memorial Day weekend my computer got hit with a nasty virus - when I switched it on, a notice appeared that I can't proceed unless I pay up. Jeez, it's like the highwaymen of old. Everything was closed on Monday, but luckily the Laptop Exchange fixed it same day for a very reasonable rate, so I'm back in business.