7:15 Las Vegas Time: Just broke for dinner, then back for four more hours. Starting chips are 30,000. I am up to a total of 37,675. Slowly but surely...

Norman Chad the ESPN commentator passed by my table, and I asked ifI could take his picture. He says, "Give somebody the camera and we'll both be in it." A little while later he passed by again. I said that the photo came out blurry; we'll have to take another one at the final table. He said, "Why don't you get a Goddam sketch artist, that will make us both look better!" I said, "Yup, that's the ONLY thing that'll make you and me look better."

This tournament is more gruelling than I had expected, but I' settling into the rhythm.