November Nine Player Focus: Kelly Kim

When Dean Hamrick burst the most expensive bubble in poker history, Kelly Kim must have let out a huge sigh of relief.

The 31 year-old had been the short stack since 13 players remained but still managed to duck and dive his way into the November Nine, albeit with a massive chip disadvantage.

But Kim, a professional from Whittier, California, is one of the most experienced players remaining and it is hard to rule him out just yet.

He started playing mixed game poker back in 1995 before switching to tournaments in 2003, since which he has played every World Series Main Event. With live tournament winnings of $315,491, he is clearly no slouch either.

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His biggest cash came in an NLH L.A. Poker Classic Event in 2006, where he finished 3rd for $62,201. He also has 2 WSOP cashes from 2007, in the $2,500 NLH (28th for $12,348) & the $1,000 NLH re-buys (57th for $8,067). His poker resume also includes money finishes in a WPT Event (2006 L.A. Poker Classic; 17th for $46,502) and the Caesar’s Palace World Series circuit event in April this year (29th for $6,440).

In an interview with Poker Listings, the Korean born former business analyst explained his tournament strategy: “I was praying that people would play hands and go all-in and they did. My whole objective of the tournament changed. It went from winning it with 18 players left to making the final nine with 13 players left. So in that sense I've won my tournament that I created for myself and now I'm playing a second tournament where I'm a huge underdog.”

Kim will resume with around 10 big blinds left on 2,620,000 chips, almost 8 million behind 8th place Craig Marquis. But, as the man himself says: “Obviously I'm in critical condition but if I double or triple early then it's on.” Punters backing him at 50/1 will second that.