2009 World Series of Poker notebook

Poker stars everywhere
It was a busy day on the rail at the World Series of Poker Tuesday. While most fans made there way over to the featured table to watch the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, many poker pros stopped by to sweat friends who had reached final tables. Vanessa Rousso stopped by briefly to cheer on fiancé Chad Brown, who had reached the final table of the $1,500 Seven Card Stud 8 event. Mike Sexton stopped by the same event to root on Matt Savage and Richard Sklar.

Michael Carroll wearing Kobe Bryant's old number 8 jersey in the 2008 WSOP Main Event. (Photo by Vin Narayanan, Casino City)

Michael Carroll, who finished 27th in last year's Main Event, swung by to watch fellow L.A. pro Ben Gilbert in the Triple Chance No-Limit Hold'em tournament (Event #52). Carroll, who was not dressed in his usual Lakers gear, told Casino City he would be wearing a "purple two-four" Monday when his Main Event begins. For the uninitiated, 24 is Kobe Bryan's current jersey number. Last year, Carroll wore a Lakers jersey with Bryant's old number 8.

Overheard on the rail: "It's like watching paint dry," a friend told Ben Gilbert after spending some time watching Gilbert play at the final table of Event #52.