Rail Call
With such a high-profile final table, we're a bit surprised at the sparsity of the rail right now. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that nobody's allowed even a bottle of water here in the arena. As a result, there are a few dozen people lined up along the ropes outside the table, choosing a longer sight line and a cocktail over a seat in the stands.
A few souls have braved the no food or drink rule to come rail their pals or significant others. Most notably, Maria "Maridu" Mayrinck is here in the front row, and she looks infinitely more nervous than her beau David Baker. Maridu is joined in the row by Thayer Rasmussen, Carter King, and Melissa Hayden. We also saw Eugene Katchalov kicking around that section a while ago.
Chino Rheem is here on the rail too; he finished in 14th place last night. We also spotted Jean-Robert Bellande duck in and out a while back, and we spy Neil Channing and Keith "The Camel" Hawkins up in the nosebleeds keeping an eye on Richard Ashby.
The bleachers are less than half full, but we'd expect to see those empty seats fill in as Phil Hellmuth continues to march toward his twelfth bracelet.