Day 2 Begins with High Stakes and Tight Stacks

As Day 2 of No Gamble No Future’s Cash of the Titans II kicked off, Sean Perry led the pack with the biggest stack after a dominant performance on Day 1. The action resumed at the PokerGO Studio, where blinds escalated to $200/$400, creating an intense atmosphere as stacks grew shorter and players eyed the $100,000 add-on to stay in the game. Shawn Madden and Justin Young were the only competitors yet to use their add-ons, leaving room for some last-minute drama.

A Brief Break for Some Off-Table Chat

In the midst of the serious poker action, Perry lightened the mood, sharing his frustrations about finding the right woman. He even mentioned an upcoming barre class as a potential way to meet someone. His story was interrupted when Stanley Choi raised to $1,500, sparking a reaction from Andrew Robl. Distracted by the lighthearted conversation, Robl raised the pot to $9,000, humorously declaring, “Too much talking, let’s play some big pots.”

A Set of Eights Leads to Unusual Play

Choi, holding pocket eights, was the only caller, and the flop rewarded him with quads. Unfazed, Robl continued his aggressive play, betting $5,000 on the paired board. To everyone’s surprise, Choi made a min-raise to $10,000, catching the attention of commentator Brent Hanks, who exclaimed, “No one does this—who does this?”

The Turn Brings Drama, the River Brings Pain

The turn introduced Robl’s no-good straight draw, but Choi cleverly checked back, building suspense for what would become a brutal finish. The river then completed Robl’s runner-runner straight, prompting him to bet big with $35,000 into a $39,000 pot. Choi responded by raising to $90,000, leaving Robl to ponder the brutal possibility that he was beaten.

A Painful Decision and a Cooler of a Runout

After burning through multiple time banks, Robl eventually folded, unable to ignore the suspicion that Choi’s unorthodox play signaled an unbeatable hand. To add salt to the wound, it was revealed that Mike Volfson had folded pocket jacks preflop, adding another layer of irony to Robl’s ill-fated runout.

Final Thoughts: Poker’s Unique Pain of Near Misses

In poker, the sting of going runner-runner in a situation where you’re drawing dead is a familiar yet brutal feeling. For Robl, this hand was a lesson in timing, fate, and the unpredictability that makes poker a game of endless highs and lows.