July 18, 2017
Source/WSOP.com
Temple University graduate and Brigantine native Scott Blumstein makes Main Event in 2017 World Series of Poker.
Philadelphia has been well represented in the 2017 World Series of Poker, whose field of 7,221 players has been whittled down to just nine ahead of Thursday night's main event final table.
One of the last men standing is Scott Blumstein, a Temple University graduate whose trip to Las Vegas marks his first time competing in the WSOP. He happens to be in the lead, holding 27 percent of the chip count, or 97,250,000, heading into Thursday's event.
Others from the Philadelphia area, including fellow Temple grad Patrick Lavecchia, Philly native Aaron Overton and Bensalem's Joe Palma, all fare pretty well during the course of the competition at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
Blumstein, a native of Brigantine, New Jersey, told Poker Central he owes his fortune in Vegas to the poker environment that shaped him.
“There is no tougher place to play than on the East Coast," Blumstein said. "I definitely feel like I’m in this position because I’m from New Jersey. I mean, look who won Colossus, Tom Cannuli, the list goes on and on. It’s no coincidence. I think I’m here because I got pushed here, it’s just Darwinism, survival of the fittest.”
Every one of the final nine players in contention is now guaranteed at least a million dollars. Blumstein could take home as much as $8,150,000 if he comes out on top.
I have no words. The support from everyone means the world to me. 3 days of much needed rest and then back to work. #simchanged
— Scott Blumstein (@SBlum2711) July 18, 2017
The Main Event will air live on ESPN/ESPN2 starting Thursday at 8:30 p.m. EST and will run through Saturday, when the final three competitors will face off to crown a winner.
