As we pointed out in our recent article, ESPN used 40 cameras to cover last year’s WSOP.
That’s more than what NBC used to cover Super Bowl XLIII. So unless you want to rely on ESPN, the only way to experience the full flavor of the WSOP is to head to Las Vegas and see it live and in person. Last year, when the Casino City team returned from Vegas we provided our list of the And in case those reasons get you motivated enough to make the trek to the Rio this summer, this week we present the 10 players you want to watch. So grab yourself a beer, find a table assignment sheet and walk the Rio floor with us as we tell you who you must see and why this summer at the WSOP. 10. Phil Laak Laak is as goofy as they come. He likes to chat with anybody who will listen and most of the time the subject matter has nothing to do with poker. He has a self-deprecating sense of humor and the fact that you have a chance for a Jennifer Tilly sighting if you follow Laak (the two are a longtime couple) makes him a no-brainer for this list. 9. Find a celebrity Speaking of celebs, there are always a great variety of big names in the WSOP field that are famous for something other than poker. You’ll find plenty of actors and athletes and more often than not they are worth sweating for a while. Not only is it fun to see celebrities in the flesh, but it’s especially entertaining to see them doing something that’s not their forte. If you’re in town just before the Main Event begins, the charity Up For Africa tournament is perfect for celebrity gawking. Ray Romano was one of the many celebs in the WSOP field last year. (photo by Vin Narayanan/Casino City) 8. Scotty Nguyen Part of the excitement of sweating the Prince of Poker is that you never know what you’re going to get. You could get the gregarious and personable Scotty or you might get the Either way, you know you’re going to see good poker and you’re going to be entertained. 6. He’s one of the greatest players in the history of the game and a true legend. So if you have a chance to see him do his thing in the flesh, you simply have to seek out Texas Dolly and watch a couple orbits. It’s the poker version of being able to tell your grandchildren that you saw Michael Jordan on the basketball court or Tiger Woods on the golf course. And besides, Doyle’s not getting any younger and we have no idea how many more WSOPs he has left in him.
5. Gus Hansen The Great Dane is one weird dude and one hell of a poker player. That combination makes him a show unto himself. The great thing about Hansen is that he very aggressive and you can never really tell what he’s holding. His facial expressions are priceless and he also usually attracts his fair share of eye-catching female fans on the , another prime reason to find out what table he’ll be at.