New Jersey’s Scott Blumstein is the 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event champion after dominating the final table to claim the US$8.15 million top prize on Sunday.
Blumstein, playing in his first ever WSOP Main Event, turned his US$10,000 entry fee into a life-changing pay day, leading almost wire-to-wire during the three-day final table before besting fellow WSOP rookie Daniel Ott heads-up. Ott collected US$4.7 million for his efforts.
“Two weeks ago I was just a New Jersey online grinder and nothing’s really changed,” Blumstein said. “This is just one poker tournament. It takes variance and luck and playing your best. And all those things came together. I’m happy to be the winner.”
Ironically, having managed to get all-in on three occasions while ahead only to see both Ott and third-place finisher Benjamin Pollak out-draw him to survive, it was a river card suck-out that sealed victory for the 25-year-old – hitting a miracle 2 holding A2 against Ott’s A8.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “That river was the best card you could have asked for. A normally inconsequential deuce just changed my life.”
This year’s WSOP Main Event attracted 7,221 entries, making it the third-largest Main Event in the history of the WSOP and the biggest field since 2010.
Final table placings:
1: Scott Blumstein – $8.15 million
2: Daniel Ott – $4.7 million
3: Benjamin Pollak – $3.5 million
4: John Hesp – $2.6 million
5: Antoine Saout – $2 million
6: Bryan Piccioli – $1.675 million
7: Damian Salas – $1.425 million
8: Jack Sinclair – $1.2 million
9: Ben Lamb – $1 million
