Popular US poker pro Robert Gray has sadly died this week, the 56-year old succumbing to Covid19 after a short battle with the viral disease.
Robert Gray’s fight against the Coronavirus
Gray’s death was relayed in a Facebook post by Robert Goldfarb, his friend revealing an up and down fight with coronavirus symptoms.
Goldfarb wrote: “I never thought it was a hoax but I also hadn’t yet been personally touched by Covid-19 until a few hours ago when I learned that my friend Robert Gray had been infected.
“A week ago Sunday he said he wasn’t feeling well and had developed a cough. Monday he said he was coughing less but still feeling sick with chills and body aches. Tuesday he texted that he was craving a Subway sandwich. Wednesday he was feeling better still but it was difficult to sleep and his appetite wasn’t back to full-grown.
Gray had still to be tested for his symptoms, and his condition worsened over the next few days: “This past Sunday when I asked for my daily update his reply was simply “no good.” Monday he replied, “still sucks.” Yesterday he complained that he was able to breathe fine but that deep breaths were difficult.”
According to Goldfarb, at the beginning of last week, “He was finally able to get a test and would have the results in 3 or 4 days. Hopefully, it wouldn’t matter and that it would have come and gone by then. Today he didn’t reply.
That was to be devastatingly sad news. “It turned out the results don’t matter but not because of why we had hoped. Sometime between that conversation Tuesday night and 8 PM last night he passed away.”
Goldfarb added of his friend Robert Gray: “I have many stories I hope I can share and I’d love to hear any story you might have of him but I don’t have time for that now.
“I write this so that maybe a tiny bit of good can come from his death and that anyone reading this realizes the most important thing you can do to avoid dying from Covid-19 is to avoid getting this disease.”
Tributes poured in from Gray’s friends and colleagues in the poker community.
Allen Kessler posted: “He was always upbeat despite any setbacks that would arise. That was just him.
Kessler added: “Rob didn’t care about the prize money. He just enjoyed playing and chatting it up with the players.”
Actor and poker aficionado James Woods posted on Twitter: “Robert was an incredibly nice fellow. I’m so saddened by his passing.
He added: “The last time we played together, he knocked me out near the bubble in Stud8 at the WSOP. I cheered him on to the final table.”
Gray, who went by the nickname A-Game Rob, had a healthy tournament record stretching back almost two decades, split between Maryland, and latterly Las Vegas.
His Hendon Mob listing indicates winnings of $440,122, including a career-best $88,254 from last year’s WSOP. If you are interested in the latest WSOP news and updates, make sure to check our WSOP 2020 info page.
That was the result of an excellent showing in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better bracelet event mentioned by Woods above.
Gray eventually lost out heads-up to Michael ‘The Grinder’ Mizrachi who thereby claimed his fifth WSOP gold.
The finale to that can be seen below and shows just how much Gray enjoyed the game, win or lose.
https://www.facebook.com/CBSSports/videos/2291090981129368/
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