Sorry, that’s not his real nickname, but it ran nicely off the tongue. Think it’ll catch on? Perhaps not…Anyhow, on Sunday night, local wonderkid JP ‘How on earth does he keep doing it?’ Kelly once again took Luton by storm when he claimed his first Main Event title of the year with an impressive display of ruthless aggression.
JP dominated right from the off with his chips moving in and out like the Hokey Cokey, and by the end of Day 1 he was up amongst the chip leaders with a very healthy stack of 64,800.
It must be said that early help was lent when his Nines cracked Mike Magee's Jacks (I think those were the hands, but you get the idea) and gave him some early chips. I reckon those actual physical chips recycled through other players' stacks before ending up back in his - but back they came and observers and other finalists alike gave him credit for dominating the late stages of play.
Heading into Day 2, few doubted that the local hero would be there at the nitty-gritty stage, and his fans weren’t wrong. After playing some top class poker and pulling all the moves out of his seemingly neverending bag, JP soon leapt into a comfortable chip lead.
In fact, with several players still remaining, JP had more chips in front of him than the whole table combined, an enviable position indeed, and one to which he was unlikely to squander.
Heading into Day 2, few doubted that the local hero would be there at the nitty-gritty stage, and his fans weren’t wrong. After playing some top class poker and pulling all the moves out of his seemingly neverending bag, JP soon leapt into a comfortable chip lead.In fact, with several players still remaining, JP had more chips in front of him than the whole table combined, an enviable position indeed, and one to which he was unlikely to squander.
He was pondering afterwards what his chip accumulation graph during play might look like, and settled for 'erratic,' but it was at the final table that he showed just how strong a player he is - relentlessly raising until he was threeway with Ben 'Milkybarkid' Grundy and Luke Patten with about four fifths of the total chips in play neatly stacked in front of him.
After demolishing the majority of the final table with an intriguing array of hands, he finally found himself playing heads up with the stubborn Luke Patten who refused to lie down.
He made a deal with Luke (pictured right) whereby they took £37,500 each and played for the rest (£7,500) and later said he found the heads up 'challenging - I never knew what he had...' Nevertheless, after one of the fastest final tables we updaters have ever had the pleasure to report on, he came out on top.
He made a deal with Luke (pictured right) whereby they took £37,500 each and played for the rest (£7,500) and later said he found the heads up 'challenging - I never knew what he had...' Nevertheless, after one of the fastest final tables we updaters have ever had the pleasure to report on, he came out on top. With the chip lead changing on numerous occasions, the runner-up’s swan song eventually strummed its harmonic tune when Luke called JP’s A-2 all-in with the domineering holding of A-J. However, to the elder’s chagrin, the first card out was the deuce and with no help on the board, JP was crowned king of Luton and The SpringFest Champion for 2006.
JP reminds me a bit of Doogie Howser, M.D. - remember the 16 year old doctor on TV? Not old enough for Vegas this time round, the Americans should be watching their backs for next year. Ever calm and, more importantly, looking like he's having a fine old time playing the game, his pragmatic attitude is summed up by his buying straight in to the event, as 'I couldn't win a satellite. I did try.'
In what turned out to be a terrifically well organised Main Event, JP Kelly, and the many young guns that made it through to Day 2, once again showed the 1st generation heroes that the rising stars in the game are here in full force. With JP heading the way, this comment can rarely be challenged.
Tournament report to follow...
