What a Difference a Day Makes

Championship Event

$3300 + $200 NL

Two players hit hard times Monday, but 24 hours later, both are feeling pretty good.

Prayer of St. Stradley

Bill Stradley

Bill Stradley (Boothwyn, PA) was down to 5k early during Day 1B, but got an inspirational email from his mother. A Hail Mary and some encouraging words did the trick as divine intervention helps him go on a heater to close Monday with 55k.

"If you believe in God and believe in yourself, you'll be fine," says the Borgata regular. "Anything can happen."

And that's the case Tuesday when Stradley raises with 2-4 from the button because he's titling. His opponent hits a flush on the turn, but Stradley takes down the 50k pot when he fills up on the river.

Stradley now has 160k.

Gerber's Healthy Stack

Adam Gerber (Moorestown, NJ) didn't think he'd be playing on Day 2 because he was violently ill Monday night after playing in Sundays Day 1A.

"I felt like I was dying, literally," says Gerber. "I was supposed to work Monday, but I stayed in the hotel all day." Fortunately Gerber has a doctor friend who came to Borgata and hooked him up with a B12 injection and some antibiotics.

"I still didn't think I was going to play when I woke up this morning, it was that bad," he says, "But now I'm feeling much better."

Gerber began the day 9th in chips with 104k and is now approaching 300k after taking down a pot against Keith Crowder. On a board of A♥ 2♥ 3♠ 10♥ J♥, Keith Crowder bets 16,200 and Gerber makes the call. Neither player has a heart and Gerber's two pairs, aces and jacks, is good against A 7.

"One of these times, you're going to pay me off," says Crowder. "You have to get there first," says Gerber with a quick response.

Level 12 (600/1,200/100 ante) continues.