Bob the Bubble Boy and the World Series of Poker Main Event (Part III)

He saw the city the second day as the second flight played in an attempt to eliminate enough players for one field. This time, he carefully chose the foods he consumed and paid close attention to his beverage. He wasn't about to have the same disastrous results when he played again. He even bought and took Beano.

Bob returned to the table with no worries of gas and he returned to his same predictable tight play. Everywhere people were confused in this sudden change in the player. He was no longer the tight-aggressive player he had been that first day and watched his stack slowly dwindle on his second day of play. Even the commentators noticed the difference in Bob. They came prepared to cover this newfound genius of poker but found instead a good, but not great player.

One commentator hit the nail on the head when he said, "It seems Bob has run out of gas." Little did he know how very true that statement was.

As more of the players hit elimination and the field narrowed each day, Bob became more concerned. Somehow, his previous reputation as the bubble boy in live games surfaced. Everyone now had their eye on him as he cautiously played each hand. He had to do something and he knew just what it was. He folded his way to the money but was no longer a leader. In fact, he had less than the chip average and left that night as the short stack at his table.

Gas made him great and he knew it. If that's what it took to win, Bob was more than willing to use it. That night he stuffed his face with White Castle burgers, hard-boiled eggs, cheap beer, sauerkraut, sautéed onions and beans. He was determined to make the money even if it meant discomfort and bloat. They'll be no Beano for him tonight.

The field was still crowded the next day and Bob was gassed up and ready to take them all on. Again, his style of play became erratic and players began to fold marginal hands if they knew Bob followed their play. With three dramatic all in plays, he rose above the average chip count.

However, this time, he couldn't hold back the gas as he had originally. Players at his table found their eyes watering but were unable to identify the source of the odor. Some called over the officials who understood the problem when entering the green cloud of fumes that loomed above the table. There was nowhere in the rulebook that disallowed a gaseous outburst and even if there was, there was no way to identify the source.

Players at Bob's table and the tables close by it, began to make erratic and stupid moves just to get away from the odor. Camera men adjusted their lenses to take the shots from as far back as possible. Bob acted as though he were offended, but in reality, felt almost proud of his strong and manly scent that made people flee from the tables. As the field narrowed and the officials combined tables, Bob had to fight harder to contain the gas or risk the potential of discovery. He had become the latest sensation, even surpassing Darvin Moon and he definitely didn't want his secret weapon revealed.

There were 12 left and Bob was in comfortable position. However, he had huge gurgling noises rising from his colon. He normally wouldn't have gotten involved with three-hand play when there was an all in, but the gas dictated it. In one crazy move backed by a large bubble of gas, he followed two others all in call with a pair of 3's. He severely crippled one and knocked out the other when two three's flopped giving him quads. It was only three hands later that decided the November 9. Bob had made it to the final table.