It was a pretty crazy roller coaster of a final table for young JP Kelly. He started the heads up with roughly a 1:3 chip deficit, and had won and lost the chip lead already by the time the chips went in with almost even stacks.
Nevertheless Kelly never lost his cool, and ultimately came out on top of 608 runners to pick up his second bit of bling of the year after winning the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em title at this year's WSOP in Vegas. Not only that, he picks up the additional honour of being the first ever British winner of a WSOPE bracelet.
As the crowd disperses and suddenly becomes much more interested in the other tournament going on today, and the media lose interest in the winner and start taking photos of each other with the bracelet instead, a deservedly pleased Kelly heads for the bar. Well played, sir, well played.
Fabien Dunlop raised his button and JP Kelly called.
A flop:
Kelly bet out 45,000, and Dunlop insta-folded.
No, not really!
Dunlop announced all in to Kelly's bet, and a very swift call from Kelly ensued as he turned over for the nuts. Dunlop's was in pretty poor shape, and when redraws and the like failed to appear on the turn and river, Kelly doubled right back up.
Fabien Dunlop raised his button and JP Kelly flatted in the big blind.
Flop:
It was at this point that all hell broke loose.
Kelly checked, and Dunlop bet. Kelly now check-raised -- and Dunlop moved all in. Call.
Kelly: sneakiest of the sneaky
Dunlop: somewhat behind with
Turn: ...
...
...
There was a sigh from the rail.
River:
Dunlop regained his former massive chip lead with 1.3 million in chips. Kelly meanwhile remained thoroughly composed as he handed most of his stack over to Dunlop and dropped to around 500,000.
JP Kelly limped in on the button, and Fabien Dunlop checked his option.
A flop:
Dunlop bet out 25,000, and Kelly smooth-called. Interesting.
Turn:
Dunlop now made it 75,000 to go, and again, Kelly flatted. Curiouser and curiouser.
River:
Now Dunlop checked to Kelly, who after a few moments' contemplation bet 120,000. Dunlop quietly announced call -- actually he announced it twice because he was so quiet the first time that the dealer didn't hear him -- but then mucked when Kelly turned over a sneakily played pair of pocket queens.
Our heads-upsers saw an flop which Fabien Dunlop checked. JP Kelly bet a minimum 16,000 from the button, and Dunlop called.
Both players checked the turn and flop, after which Dunlop turned over for, er, nothing more than jack-high. Nevertheless, Kelly couldn't beat it and Dunlop picked up a few chips.
Fabien Dunlop raised his button to 31,000, and this time JP Kelly made it 90,000. Dunlop said his two favourite words ("all in", for the slower among our readers), and Kelly made the call.
Kelly:
Dunlop:
Flop:
"OOOHHHH!!!" said the crowd at the rail.
Turn:
River:
A full double up for Kelly means that the stacks are almost exactly even. Kelly is suddenly looking that little bit more likely to win a second bracelet to add to the one he picked up in Vegas this summer...