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Seat 2: Jose Criado, 32, from Almeria, Spain, lives in Andorra – 15,775,000
Known simply as “JJ”, Jose Luis Criado was born in Granada but grew up in Almeria, which he calls his home. Criado now lives in Andorra with his wife, who is expecting their first child.
Criado only entered two tournaments at this festival – the PokerStars Open Main Event and the EPT Main Event – and returned to Andorra between them.
This will be Criado’s breakthrough result. He only started playing poker about four or five years ago, the first three as a recreational player. Now he studies hard and aspires to become a full-time pro.
The 32-year-old has a strong background as a sharp sports bettor, so his successful transition to poker is no coincidence. It also helps that he surrounds himself with players such as Gerard Carbo, who was eliminated at the final table in seventh place. They’re very good friends and often travel to live events together.
Criado still has a huge passion for sports. He travels to football matches all over Europe and his left forearm features a tattoo of his favorite team: Real Betis. Underneath that, there are three poker cards: two jacks and an ace, reflecting his nickname in betting circles.
Now he’s making waves in the poker world, hoping to become only the second Spanish player to win an EPT Main Event, after Adrian Mateos. Criado said as much when he bagged the chip lead at the end of Day 4. “I will become the next EPT champion,” he said at the time. It’s now getting close to a reality
Player bios courtesy of Jan Kores/Florence Mazet/PokerStars
Career statistics
The Hendon Mob Earnings: $169,197
EPT Main Event cashes: 0
Best result: n/a
Tournament progression
Day 1: 224,500 (8/193, 1A)
Day 2: 427,000 (38/205)
Day 3: 1,355,000 (10/67)
Day 4: 5,045,000 (1/28)
Day 5: 8,950,000 (2/13)
Day 6: 15,775,000 (2/6)
Key hands
Criado eliminated EPT champion Mark Teltscher with kings against queens on Day 4, setting him up to capture the chip lead at the end of the day.
On Day 6, Criado burst the bubble of the official final table. In a classic, but sizable, flip against Joris Ruijs, Criado's queens held against Ruijs' ace-king, sending Ruijs home in ninth place.