Scott Blumstein dominated the World Series of Poker’s Main Event in route to winning his first World Series of Poker Bracelet. Blumstein outlasted over 7,000 other players to become the 2017 champion. The 2017 tournament held the most players since 2010 and the third-most overall in the history of the tournament.
“I’m just in utter shock right now,” Blumstein said, “Two weeks ago, I was just a kid who loved to play poker, and somehow, here I am.”
Blumstein is the first first-time finalist since 2016 to win the event. Despite the other 9 players at the final table, Blumstein’s chip lead kept opposing players fighting at the bottom of the barrel to stay in the tournament. Of the final 9 players, only 2 had previously been to the finals of the main event. On the final day, Blumstein battled with fellow first-time finalist Dan Ott, and former main event finalist Benjamin Pollak.
On day one of the final table, Blumstein took the chip lead over John Hesp and never looked back. Blumstein entered day 2 with over 200 million chips in his stack, holding 64% of total chips in play. The last three winners of the World Series of Poker also held over 50% of chips in their possession going into day 2. Blumstein started off slow on day 2, while Dan Ott started heating up early. At one point, Blumstein’s lead was cut down to 80 million chips. He cooled down Ott after two big bluffs on the river that Ott didn’t call. The tournament was never that close again.
Pollak and Ott battled their chip counts until eventually Ott doubled his amount, eliminating Pollak, around hand 160. Blumstein had Ott and Pollak all-in multiple times, but the poker gods were not in his favor and he couldn’t eliminate his opponents sooner.
On the hand that eliminated Pollak, Blumstein raised Ott all-in after Ott called Pollack’s all-in bet. Ott clinched the win on the hand, raising his chip count from around $70 million to $128 million. If Blumstein had won the hand, it would have been the first time that a double elimination would have decided the World Series of Poker. Only one double elimination had previously happened in the final table.
Blumstein dominated Ott in heads up play. Although Ott won hands sporadically, Blumstein wore him down. Blumstein played into his massive chip lead to make it very expensive for Ott to get into any hand. However, Ott fought against the tide, taking the tournament into the early morning. Ott stuck to his game plan, as he didn’t make novice calls and continued to raise Blumstein, despite being short-stacked.
Blumstein re-raised Ott all-in with an Ace and a two off-suit. The board was in Ott’s favor until Blumstein hit a two on the river, clinching the win.
“I was just thinking about the past six or seven years, and all the events that led up to a moment like this,” Blumstein said.
Going into the river card, Ott had a 93% chance of winning the hand.
“I can’t complain about anything, I’ve been so fortunate,” Ott said about finishing the tournament in second. He addressed his family and his friends who watched him during his final table run. ‘The support has been amazing,’ he said, “I love them all.”
Blumstein takes home $8 million with his first bracelet. He also wins an endorsement with the World Series of Poker tour. Dan Ott takes home $4.7 million and third place Benjamin Pollak takes home $3.5 million.
