Air Time

Other than the early Gold/Mortensen collision, most of today's returning champions seem to content to enjoy the moment. The ESPN crews are busy and the railbirds have surprisingly good access to the stars, with the secondary feature area -- a new set this year, built as a squared-off mini amphitheater with a row of reserved seats ringing the inside for friends, family and poker dignitaries.

As a result, the action itself has been slow. Huck Seed and Joe Hachem have chipped up to about 12,000 each at Table 146, with 1991 Brad Daugherty the likely victim, down to about 6,200.