The poker world is one playing day away from having its new World Champion. There are three players left to contend for that title and they will all do their best to capture it, which promises nothing else but quality poker action on the final day of the 2017 WSOP $10,000 Main Event.
Scott Blumstein, a New Jersey-based player, is leading the final three hopefuls with a huge chip lead. He bagged and tagged 226,450,000 in chips on Friday night after a dominating performance at the table. Thus, the player secured himself with 62.8% of all chips in play and a comfortable position to start Day 10 action.
France’s Benjamin Pollak and Dan Ott from the US are the other two players still in contention. Ott will enter Day 10 with 88,375,000 in chips and Pollak will begin as the short stack with 45,850,000.
Many would ask how Blumstein built such a solid stack. The player applied pressure where and when needed, had a series of good hands over the past two days of play, and last but not least, never lost composure. Blumstein himself told WSOP interviewers that poker is a mental game and that he is particularly happy with his mental state right now.
Day 9 of the Main Event was played on Friday, with seven players returning to the Brasilia poker room at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. There were short-stacked players and it looked like it would not be long before first eliminations occurred. However, with the $8.15 million top prize and the specially crafted World Champion bracelet waiting for their winner, players contended fiercely to survive.
Seven-handed play resumed from Hand #76 and it was not before Hand #102 that Argentina’s Damian Salas was eliminated in 7th place by Ott. The player took $1.435 million for his deep run. Bryan Piccioli was the next to go. The player left in 6th place after clashing against Ott on Hand #122. His share of the prize pool amounted to $1.675 million.
Former November Niner Antoine Saout left the tournament four hands later, scooping a payout of $2 million. The player finished 3rd in the 2009 WSOP Main Event and was hopeful to improve that achievement this year.
UK’s John Hesp, a recreational player whom everyone at the final table praised for his high spirits, was the last one to be eliminated on Day 9. He failed to survive an all-in confrontation against Pollak and went out in 4th place on Hand #135, cashing $2.6 million.
The three remaining finalists will return to the host venue today at 5:30 pm Las Vegas time to battle it out to a champion. Each of the three hopefuls is guaranteed a minimum payout of $3.5 million.
Commenting on his action plan for Day 10, Blumstein told WSOP interviewers that he would only play for the gold bracelet. The player explained that he had already locked a life-changing payout, so his mind would only be focused on capturing the precious WSOP jewelry piece.
