Seat 8: JP Kelly (242,000)
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This final table is all about JP Kelly. Why you might ask? Well, Kelly is the defending champion of this event for one. Successfully defending his title would make him the first to do in a gold bracelet event in the game of No-Limit Hold’em since Johnny Chan won the 1987 and 1988 Main Events. Phil Hellmuth won the same Hold’em title in 1992 and 1993 as well. Those are the last two players to become victorious in their title defense in Hold’em variations and Kelly could join that elite group if he wins today.
Last year, Kelly bested a field of 608 players to take home first place in this event. It’s his only cash ever in the WSOP Europe, but it was a win worth ￡136,803. Kelly also became the first British player with a WSOP Europe bracelet and the second player behind Jesper Hougaard to win a WSOP and a WSOP Europe bracelet in the same year. Earlier that year, he won the $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em event out in Las Vegas.
As if that’s not even history to be chasing, Kelly would become the youngest ever three-time bracelet winner. Right now, oh, only Phil Ivey holds that record. Kelly would smash that record by over a year and he’s well aware of it.
Prior to this cash and final table, Kelly had nine WSOP cashes and two final tables. He has quite the record when he makes the final table though; winning the events both times he has been there. If Kelly wins this, he’d be a perfect 3/3 when he makes a WSOP final table.
Outside of the WSOP, Kelly has numerous other accolades. He’s cashes in five EPT events with three of those being cashes in the Main Event at each stop. He’s also cashed three times down in Australia during the Aussie Millions tournaments series. He cashed once in the Main Event down there in 2009 and then again the following year, including a finish in the money in a side event. On top of that, Kelly’s won numerous events around England.
Kelly comes into the day with 242,000 in chips, firmly in third place on the leader board. He has position on the two stacks larger than him and that may serve a great advantage for Kelly. Position can be everything in poker. With the way Kelly is playing right now, it’s hard to bet against him as he moves towards gold bracelet number three and a successful defense of his title.