This morning the last of the Q&A sessions took place in the player lounge at the PCA, the subject up for discussion being "Life on the road."
Initially Lex Veldhuis and Liv Boeree had volunteered their services for the audience of players and guests, before Vanessa Rousso agreed to join the panel, an addition that was welcomed by all except perhaps by the man responsible for finding, and then carrying a large third chair for the stage.
Vanessa Rousso, Liv Boeree and Lex Veldhuis take to the stage
The lifestyle of a poker player is sometimes what attracts a large number of players to the game, the opportunity to make money independent of a boss or a personnel department, with a permanent spirit of adventure to your day.
The reality of course is a lot different, but Boeree, Rousso and Veldhuis have each had the success that such a lifestyle requires. So while there were no stories about slumming it in Jungleland to save a couple of big blinds, just random capers from around the tournament globe.
While each agreed that they spent between 60 and 70 per cent of their year on the road, all had different experiences, which you will be able to hear in full yourself when the video of the session is made available later this week, but a few highlights stood out.
For Veldhuis it was waking up in a dark hotel room to find a man standing over his bed looking at him. Not sure whether this man was real or not he turned to his roommate to ask for confirmation. As Veldhuis explained "my friend doesn't handle situations like this very well", and evidently his screams served as all the confirmation Lex needed.
Lex Veldhuis
Boeree highlighted the horrors of a certain budget airline, including having to wear nearly all of her clothes in order to avoid excess baggage fees. But her story about waking up in the middle of the night in Red Rocks, Nevada, while also having a broken leg, is certainly worth looking a listen.
Liv Boeree
Rousso's Twinkie story will probably put you off those sugary treats for the rest of your life, or will at least guarantee that you turn the lights on before taking a bite. It seems the bugs of South Africa also like a Twinkie, especially one that's been left open for a couple of hours. Returning to her hut in the darkness, Rousso wound up biting off more than she could chew, looking down to find the Twinkie where she left it, and the remains of half a giant bug, with bite marks down its back, running for its life across the floor.
Vanessa Rousso
It's not exactly what people sign up for when they turn pro, but between lavish parties, luxury hotels, high stakes poker tournament and the odd club sandwich, it's not exactly a bad life.
As we said, you'll be able to hear for yourself the adventures of three Team PokerStars Pros when the highlights are put together. Then you can judge for yourself whether or not the life of a travelling poker player is exactly what you had in mind.
Stephen Bartley is a PokerStars Blog reporter