Jennifer Newell

At least I think I am!

I'm here in Vegas as a tournament reporter for PokerPages.com during the entirety of the WSOP. I've been here since Sunday for meetings and other preparations, and with the days off, I've been enjoying Vegas - seeing friends, lounging at the pool, enjoying some good food, etc.

PokerPages put us up in some great digs just south of the Strip. It's a luxurious condo - two bedrooms, two baths, nice balcony, furnishings, even a washer and dryer in the condo. And the gated community has a gym, basketball and tennis courts, and two pools. I'm so impressed that the powers-that-be chose such nice accommodations for the reporters!

The WSOP starts tomorrow. Though I've definitely enjoyed my down time, I'm looking forward to getting to work tomorrow. There may be a few kinks to work out through the first few days of coverage, but there has been ample planning to make sure things run smoothly. A great team of people have been assembled to handle every aspect of our coverage, and they've done a phenomenal job thus far.

What should we expect from the WSOP?

There will probably be a lower turnout than last year but no less enthusiasm from the players who will be there. Throngs of people will march into the tournament room tomorrow at noon with bright eyes and lofty goals. Fewer amateurs may be the result of the UIGEA, but the WSOP bracelet hasn't lost one ounce of its prestige. Excitement will be flowing, as already evidenced by conversations in poker rooms all over Vegas. It's the talk of the town, and it's only 24 hours away.

I think there will be some previous bracelet winners who step up to the plate and grab another, but I don't predict that any one player will swoop down and create a Madsen-like stir. The fields will still be strong, and it will be extremely difficult for any one player to win more than two bracelets.

There will certainly be less partying than last year. Without the online sites sponsoring parties at the local clubs, everyone will be on their own to plan and attend various events. I think most players will take the opportunity to concentrate on poker, though there will still be a party now and then. It will definitely be a different vibe from last year.

The biggest change for me is that instead of floating around the Rio doing interviews and limiting my Vegas visits to 4 or 5 days at a time, I'l be behind media lines with my laptop this year for nearly all of the 45 days, seeing all of the action and describing it to readers as I see it. I' quite anxious to hear that first "Shuffle up and deal!"

I'll be posting blogs here at Wise Hand Poker about my experiences. If any readers are in town for the WSOP, I hope you get the chance to come by and say hi.

Good luck to all of the players (and members of the media)!