Only two months removed from his 21st birthday, Steven Kelly has earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet. With a total prize pool of $1,885,950 on the line, the young pro outlasted a field of 1,397 to take home the crown.
It’s a big victory in the early career of Kelly, who began playing with online play money at age 15. He became so successful that, by the time he turned 18, he’d already achieved a remarkable grasp on the game. After winning a $5 buy-in tournament only a short time after entering adulthood, Kelly saw an additional $6,000 enter his bankroll.
Not your average poker tournament, Event #29 was a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em shootout. It’s a format with which the youngster is relatively unfamiliar. Since turning 18, Kelly has spent much of his time at playing cash games online. He’s managed to accumulate an impressive winning record. After crossing Vegas’ age barrier, he took home $382,725 for his efforts. It’s a great win for Kelly, and may serve as a springboard for a successful poker career.
Finishing in second place was Jeffery King, who many may remember for his 2006 WSOP Circuit championship at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. Though he may not have walked away with the bracelet, he did manage to pocket $237,327.
Event #39 paid its top 140 finishers. Among those turning a profit were Justin Scott, Annette Oberstad, J.C. Tran, Steven Hohn, Chau Giang, Rand Holland, and Robert Mizrachi. The event stretched over three days, running from June 22-24.
Here’s how the final table ended up:
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Steven Kelly ($382,725)
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Jeffery King ($237,327)
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Derric Haynie ($161,463)
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Dustin Dirksen ($112,455)
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Reagan Leman ($78,530)
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Brett Shaffer ($56,568)
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Paul Varano ($40,975)
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Michael Cooper ($30,183)
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Justin Scott ($22,623)