Beats and Back Rubs

With the World Series of Poker's big buy-in events attracting poker's elite to play under one roof, two of the game's now ubiquitous symbols have taken over the Brasilia Room.

The Beats by Dre high-end headphones preferred by so many regular circuit grinders are being worn by at least a third of the field, with the players forgoing table talk in favor of tunes.

There are also a dozen massage therapy specialists plying their trade throughout the tournament floor, with women clad in white T-shirts applying some targeted pressure to the backs, shoulders, legs, and necks of several poker pros.

With the $5,000 buy-in limiting this event to those with heavy bankrolls, it's only understandable that the players here today are in search of some much needed relaxation, as they compete against their highly skilled peers from the pro ranks.