Whatever your opinion of the main event’s three-month hiatus, the decision to hold the business end of the tournament at the Rio’s Penn and Teller Theatre, was a masterstroke. By the time all 800 seats had been filled, even Phil Hellmuth – a man usually so disinterested by anything not directly involving him – was craning his neck like the rest of us. ‘I’m excited to see hundreds of people queuing. It’s an exciting time for poker.’ In the far right corner, banners screamed their support for Craig Marquis.

In front of them a swathe of Ylon Schwartz fans filled the space.