Steven Kelly Wins WSOP Gold Bracelet in Event 39
NEWS FLASH:    Steven Kelly Wins WSOP Gold Bracelet in Event 39

Kelly Guns Down Record Field in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout

Steven Kelly was the winner of the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout championship at the 2010 World Series of Poker.  This marked his first career WSOP gold bracelet victory, following one lone previous in-the-money here in Las Vegas.  That was a relatively pedestrian 54th-place showing in the Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em competition two weeks ago.  Kelly, from Camarillo, CA earned a huge breakthrough victory and collected $382,725 in prize money.

Kelly turned 21 just two months ago.  He has been playing online poker since the age of 18 and has accumulated huge winnings in online play – concentrating mainly on cash games.  However, he has just recently started playing in live events (due to age restrictions) and now appears well on his way to becoming recognized within the poker world.

The runner up was Jeffrey King, from Colchester, CT.  He won the WSOP Circuit championship at Harrah’s Atlantic City back in 2006.  The second place consolation prize in this tournament amounted to a very respectable $237,327.

There were 140 finishers who collected prize money.  Former WSOP gold bracelet finishers who cashed in this event included – Justin Scott, Annette Obrestad, J.C. Tran, Steve Hohn, Chau Giang, Randy Holland, and Robert Mizrachi.

The tournament was played over three consecutive days, from June 22-24, 2010.  The tournament attracted 1,397 entries.  The total prize pool amounted to $1,885,950.

A shootout tournament means players advance based on winning a series of table matches.  The shootout format is single elimination.  The number of matches depends on the number of tournament entries.  In this event, the winner was required to win three consecutive matches.

Each match was played like a single-table satellite, with only one winner from each table.

Day One began with 1,397 players.  There were 140 matches played – with an average of ten players starting at each table (three tables had nine players).  At the end of Day One, 140 players (all the winners) advanced to Day Two.

Day Two resumed with 140 players.  There were 14 matches played with 10 players starting at each table.  At the end of Day Two, 14 players (all the winners) advanced to Day Three.

Day Three began with the 14 players playing down to a final table of ten.  Kelly dominated play at the final table and won his first career victory of what he hopes will be many more to come.  

A full report of this event will be posted shortly.

For official tournament results and additional details, please CLICK HERE.