The stage is set...

Curtains raised... Day 1a play starts soon

The ParadisePoker Tour has landed in Thessaloniki and the PP blog is settling into a comfy chair and mentally preparing for Day 1a, where the vast majority of online qualifiers will be competing for a seat in Saturday's Day 2.

The cardroom here at the Hyatt Regency Casino is in fact a theatre, so the view from the press area takes in 16  tables spread across the auditorium and the stage itself.

With dimmed lighting and background music building the atmosphere, we're readying ourselves for the usual mix of bad beat tales, hero calls and all out warfare at the baize! Let's hope Day 1a lives up to the pre-game hype.

Don't forget it's not too late for you to be part of this particular show, just login above to pick your three-man Fantasy Poker team from the My Team tab - then start praying to Lady Luck that this is their weekend!

All you need to know about Fantasy Poker is in the post below, so no excuses for not getting your team submitted before the 14.00 BST deadline. And remember if there's a name missing from the list you'd like to select, request it asap and we'll try and get it added. You can make unlimited changes up until the final deadline.

Then all you need do is sit back and read the blog as the four-day Main Event unfolds. Good luck blog readers!