Bubbled
Bubbled means eliminated just short of the money in a tournament.
The simple explanation
Bubbled means eliminated just short of the money in a tournament. A player who finishes in the first position that does not pay has bubbled the tournament. It is one of the most disappointing places to finish, because the player outlasts almost everyone and still wins nothing.
A closer look
The word describes a result, but it carries a lot of emotion in tournament talk. The player in that position often faced decisions in which survival was more valuable than chips. Some events soften the blow by giving a small prize to the bubble finisher, but the usual rule is no prize. Being on the bubble is a sign of a good run that ended just before the reward.
A practical example
A player is eliminated in 10th place of a 9-place payout. He says he bubbled the tournament.
Full explanation
Bubbled means eliminated just short of the money in a tournament.
Bubbled means that a player is eliminated just one spot away from a paying position in a poker tournament. A player who finishes 101st in a tournament that pays 100 has bubbled it.
It is considered a painful result. The player has survived most of the field but receives no prize.
The term is closely related to the bubble itself, the stage of the tournament at which this can happen.
Players talk about bubbling when they discuss bad beats and tough outcomes.