Washington lawyers and power players aren’t just watching the World Series of Poker on television—some are living it.

Russell Rosenblum, the Bethesda lawyer who finished sixth in the 2002 World Series, has closed up shop in Washington for June and July and bought a condo in Las Vegas to prepare for the event, which begins this month. The American University law grad, who just turned 37, has won $714,882 in sanctioned poker tournaments.

Also playing will be two finalists in recent years from Maryland, accountant Steve Dannenmann of Severn and Rockville’s Rhett Butler, an insurance agent, who has won more than $3 million playing poker. Rosenblum also could run into Dickstein Shapiro partner Kenneth Adams, whose listed career earnings are more than $100,000, some of which he has shared with partners who helped bankroll him.

Also scheduled to take part is well-known local business leader Lyles Carr, a former Washingtonian of the Year, who is senior vice president of the McCormick Group, an executive-search firm. He won his $10,000 entry fee at a three-table satellite game.