Dempsey bags second World Series of Poker bracelet for the UK

After the first nine events that were completed at this year’s WSOP the UK has collected an unprecedented two bracelets with Neil Channing also finishing second in a third event. First Praz Bansi took home the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event and now James Dempsey has won Event #9 the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em.

Dempsey won the title to retain the title in the UK after JP Kelly won the event last year. Dempsey was so confident going into the final table that he didn’t even turn up for the start of the day. This caused him no bother and he was able to wield his dominating chip stack to overpower the final table.

Greg Wilkerson was the first to be eliminated after his pocket aces were cracked by Chanthabouasy’s runner runner nut flush. After this early elimination play was very tight before Edward Brogdon and then Joseph Williams were sent to the rail in quick succession. Both were knocked out by Steve Chanthabouasy but even so Dempsey was still a huge chip leader at this stage having dominated during the quieter periods.

Armen Kara was next to go as his short stack was rivered by Babekov’s K6 suited. This was Kara’s fourth World Series of Poker cash and his first final table. Shortly after Scott Haraden was eliminated by Dempsey taking the Englishman’s stack to over 1.5 million. With play down to four Dempsey held half of the chips in play and was unable to put a foot wrong.

Babekov was next to go despite a double up from Dempsey. He ran headlong into Chanthabouasy’s pocket Kings which flopped a set and turned a boat. Dempsey was the one to knock out JJ Liu in third place. She had re-raised Dempsey’s opening raise before finding herself being put all in. She dutifully called with pocket eights and Dempsey caught up on the turn with his AK hitting top pair. An Ace on the turn changes little and when a brick fell on the river Dempsey was heads up with a huge lead.

Despite some early momentum swings Dempsey was able to close out the heads up confrontation in a little over two hours. His A10 holding up against the A7 of Chanthabouasy to ship the first prize of $121,963 and a first bracelet to James Dempsey.

The UK have already put in a strong stint at this year’s World Series with Neil Channing coming second in the six man shootout. With fellow pros James Akenhead, Chris Moorman and more all out to secure their own piece of WSOP history 2010 could be a great vintage for UK poker.

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