WSOP Main Event: Just like old times

If you have some tear gas, an electric cattle prod, and my mother-in-law, you just might be able to work your way through the crowd surrounding Table 102. Four deep with lookie-loos and surrounded by ESPN staff, the table might just be the toughest in the Amazon Room. The table pits big-stacked...

If you have some tear gas, an electric cattle prod, and my mother-in-law, you just might be able to work your way through the crowd surrounding Table 102. Four deep with lookie-loos and surrounded by ESPN staff, the table might just be the toughest in the Amazon Room.

The table pits big-stacked Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier up against similarly-stacked Phil Ivey. The men are two of the most feared tournament players in the world and they are both sitting on more than 400,000 chips. Both players like to own their tables, so it's going to be interesting to see if they cancel each other out or starting pushing each other around.

This development has just perfectly spoiled a very happy reunion going on between ElkY and Ricky Fohrenbach. It's been about a year and half since the two men were last seated together. That time, the Team PokerStars Pro and the young man from Milford, Connecticut were sitting at the final table of the 2008 PCA.

You almost certainly remember that ElKy went on to win that big event. What you might not recall is that the Team Pro was the one to send Fohrenbach packing. At the time, Fohrenbach made the tragic mistake of using his One Time Chip early on in the final table. When he really needed it with jacks versus ElkY's ace-king, he couldn't hold.

Now, the two men have met again and it would be a happy and laid back reunion if it weren't for that pesky Ivey on the other end of the table. In fact, as we type these very words, there is news from the table that Ivey has not only interrupted the reunion, he has spoiled it completely. Fohrenbach's kine-nine couldn't catch up to Ivey's K-Q, thus ending what could've been a very good story.

Stay tuned, because in the next hour, Howard Swains is going to reprise his "A Round With..." featuring Table 102.

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PUZZLE BOOK OF THE HOUR

"Mensa Kakuro" -- being played between hands by Bryan Colin.

BEING JOHN MALCOVICH MOMENT OF THE HOUR

Dennis Phillips spent some of last year's winnings buying in a number of his friends into this year's tournament. They are all wearing his trademark white shirt and autographed St Louis Cardinals cap. Today, one of them has found his way to seat six of Phillips' table, meaning the Phillips clone and the real Phillips, in seat nine, are staring at one another.

QUOTE OF THE HOUR

"Seriously, I'm not this good. I'm just getting incredible cards."

T-SHIRT OF THE HOUR

(Fans of HBO's "The Wire" special)

"Carcetti for Mayor!"

JOE GIRON PHOTO HOUR

VIDEO OF THE HOUR