This week’s news in poker starts with the World Series of Poker Main Event, which has come to a conclusion. The winner was crowned in an epic turn of the cards on the river, which brought euphoria to one and heartbreak to another. Here is a look at the main poker news of the week.
Blumstein Captures the 2017 WSOP Main Event
The World Series of Poker Main Event has ended with New Jersey’s Scott Blumstein taking home the grand prize of $8.1 million. It took 246 hands as Blumstein outlasted Daniel Ott of Pennsylvania, who was fifth in chips going into the final table. Ott will take home $4.7 million for finishing in second place, followed by France’s Benjamin Pollak, who won $3.5 million. In fourth place was John Hesp of the United Kingdom for $2.6 million with another Frenchman in fifth place, Antoine Saout, who won $2 million.
In the end, it was Blumstein who had 27% of the chips going into the final table. He plied his trade playing in online games in New Jersey, where it is legal. He plans to be somewhat cautious with his winnings, saying he isn’t going to blow all his money going into high-roller tournaments. However, the money will allow Blumstein to either go back to school or start up a business. Blumstein beat out 7,220 other players to win the massive grand prize.
Amateur Hesp the Talk of the WSOP Tournament
There was a lot of attention focused on Hesp, who is a 64-year-old amateur from Yorkshire in England. Hesp was known for his wild and colorful clothes and his sense of humor, which lightened up the mood at the 2017 World Series of Poker. While he was a great poker player for this tournament, Hesp never took it too seriously. His plans for the money include a caravan park in Yorkshire while going back to work.
Hesp has four children and nine grandchildren, and all he wanted to do was shed a little light and happiness on the game of poker. Hesp was the chip leader at one point at the final table and he’ll go down in the books as one of the great personalities of the World Series of Poker.
Ivey, Ulliott Inducted Into Poker Hall of Fame
It was announced on Friday’s ESPN telecast of the World Series of Poker that two more names were going into the Poker Hall of Fame. Phil Ivey and David “Devilfish” Ulliott will be going in out of 10 nominees.
Ivey is a 10-time bracelet winner in the World Series of Poker and has won more than $23 million in live tournaments. He became eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame after turning 40, and it is a well-deserved induction. Also going in is Ulliott, who passed away from cancer in April 2015. He had one bracelet from the World Series of Poker, but he is more known for increasing the popularity of the game in England. His family accepted his induction on his behalf.
There will now be 54 players in total inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.