Meet the WSOP Main Event Bubble Boy – David Kelley

Howard Stutz

July 13, 2012 - 2:01 pm

David Kelley, a 24-year-old poker player from Mercer Island, Wash., is the 2012 World Series of Poker “Bubble Boy.”

Kelley finished in 667th place Friday in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event — one spot out of the money for the $10,000 buy-in Not Limit Hold’em World Championship.

But he isn’t walking away empty handed.

Kelley will get a free seat in the 2013 Main Event courtesy of Rocco’s Old School, one of the tournament’s sponsors.

Think of Kelley’s as the World Series of Poker’s version of “Mr. Irrelevant,” the nickname given the last player selected in the annual National Football League Draft.

Unlike the NFL’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” who is celebrated annually by a group in Southern California, Kelley will have to wait until next year to claim his prizes.

Soon after Kelley busted, the slew of players were sent to the rails. The difference? Places 595th through 666th earned $19,227.