Because of a glitch in the tracking software, chip counts were not readily available at the start. The software has since been restored, and the screen is showing us the following chip counts right now:
Hand #5: Action folded around to John Hesp, who made it 1.6 million to go. It folded around to Bryan Piccioli in the big blind, and he talked with Hesp for a bit before releasing his hand, giving the pot to Hesp. Hesp showed .
Hand #6: Scott Blumstein made it 1.7 million in early position, and it folded around to Dan Ott in the big blind. He made the call, and the flop came down . Ott checked to Blumstein, who bet 1.8 million. Ott quickly folded, and Blumstein took it down.
Hand #7: Jack Sinclair made it 1.6 million to go from middle position, and John Hesp defended his big blind. The flop came down , and Hesp check-folded to a continuation bet of 1.8 million from Sinclair.
Hand #8: Action folded around to Hesp in the small blind, and he limped in. Blumstein checked his option, and the flop came . Hesp checked in the dark, and Blumstein fired a min bet of 800,000. Hesp called, and the hit the turn. Hesp checked again, and Blumstein checked as well. The completed the board, and Hesp checked a third time. A bet of 3 million from Blumstein was good enough to get Hesp off the hand, and the chip leader added to his stack.
Due to technical difficulties, exact chip counts are not immediately available at the moment.
Hand #4: Jack Sinclair raised to 1.6 million on the button and Ben Lamb jammed all in from the big blind. Sinclair quickly made the call and the cards were tabled. Lamb showed and Sinclair was in a dominating position with .
The flop came and Sinclair was still in the lead. The turn brought the giving Lamb some chop outs as well. The river landed the , giving no help to Lamb as he became the first elimination on the final table.
The remaining eight players are guaranteed at least $1,200,000 from here on out.
John Hesp cheers as he shows king-nine, the crowd cheers with him
Hand #1: John Hesp raised to 1.6 million from the cutoff and Antoine Saout three-bet to 4.6 million in the small blind. John Hesp called and the flop came . Saout led out for 3.2 million and Hesp min-raised to 6.4 million. Saout laid his hand down and Hesp took down the first pot, showing .
Hand #2: Dan Ott raised to 1,700,000 from middle position and John Hesp re-raised to 5 million from the hijack. The action folded back around to Ott who released his hand.
Hand #3: Hesp raised to 3.5 million but got no action. Hesp tabled to pick up the blinds and antes for his third pot in a row.
Cards are officially in the air for the 2017 Main Event final table! The button is starting with chip leader Scott Blumstein, with Antoine Saout and Benjamin Pollak in the blinds.
The 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event is down to a final table. Only nine players remain of a field of 7,221, all guaranteed $1,000,000 at this point. Instead of a months-long hiatus like in recent years, this time play continues after just two days off. The November Nine is no more; the summer survivors return to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino this evening to battle it out for $8,150,000 and the coveted WSOP Gold Bracelet.
The nine remaining players return to action today at 5:30 p.m. local time to commence the final table. When play gets under way, the clock will have 68 minutes and 30 seconds left in Level 37 (400,000/800,000 with a 100,000 ante). Play is scheduled to continue until six players remain, with Friday reserved for playing down from six to three. On Saturday, the three remaining players will play down to a winner.
PokerNews will be your primary source for live updates of all the action, so be sure to check back for your minute-by-minute poker fix. We'll have details of all the hands, live and without delay as play unfolds in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
ESPN will bring you live coverage of all three days of the final. The live World Series of Poker broadcast will begin on Thursday, July 20 at 9 p.m. ET on the ESPN and ESPN+. WatchESPN and ESPN Play will broadcast the final table via TV network simulcasts.
PokerCentral has announced that PokerGO will be broadcasting the World Series of Poker Main Event final table to non-ESPN markets for all three days of this week's tournament to areas that don't carry ESPN or networks affiliated with ESPN.
Canada
The Sports Network (TSN) will provide live coverage of the WSOP Main Event final table throughout Canada, with the exclusion of Quebec. TSN2 will join the progress of the final table on Thursday, July 20 at 9:30 PM ET, with complete coverage on Friday and Saturday. TSN GO will broadcast the final table via TV network simulcasts.
United Kingdom
BT Sports will provide live coverage of the WSOP Main Event final table throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. The live coverage will also stream on BT Sports’ internet and mobile service.
Australia
ESPN will broadcast the final table in Australia.
Balkans
Arena Sport HD will provide live coverage of the WSOP Main Event final table in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The live coverage will also stream on Arena Sport HD’s internet and mobile service.
Israel
One Sport HD will broadcast the WSOP Main Event final table in Israel. The live coverage will also stream on One Sport HD’s internet and mobile services.
Rest of World
PokerGO will provide live coverage of the WSOP Main Event final table throughout the rest of the world. Countries with access to PokerGO’s live stream include Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic and Japan.
Chip Count: 85,700 Hometown: Bridlington, England Age: 64 Seat: 1
The John Hesp Show has invaded the World Series of Poker. Taking the series by storm, his style, humor, personality, and unlikely run have made the 64-year-old from Bridlington, England, a fan favorite. His story emerged on Day 4 and his craftiness has carried him all the way to the final table where he now sits second in chips.
After making the final table, bagging chips, completing his ESPN interview, and taking some final photos, Hesp was astonished by his accomplishment.
"I've used every adjective in the book, it's crazy – it's spooky," he said.
Throughout the tournament, Hesp was talkative, showed his winning cards, and was generally jovial with his fellow pros. As he continued on, he began to see socializing as a way to add some fun and entertainment to the game – a common theme from many throughout the summer.
"I'm a people person, I like socializing, and talking to people," he said. "The whole week has been about interacting with players. Some of the professionals are normally very quiet and speak very little. Even they've been opening up and smiling and starting to laugh. And they're all coming up to me now and saying, 'Well done John.' If I have achieved anything I like to think I've managed to get some of them to lighten up and have fun while they're working."
While socializing is part of his personality, as a former salesman Hesp says he can get a read off some players from body language and their communication. And in an age when math plays so much of role in the game, Hesp says he plays more on feel and instinct.
"It all has a part to play in how I make my decision whether I raise, call, fold," he said. "I can't explain technically how I should play in this position. It's just the guts and the head combined and I just do what I think needs to be done at the moment. Through the combination of the gut and the mind, I make my decision based on that. But to put into scientific words, I don't think I can."
With the final table cranking up on Thursday, Hesp planned two days of rest. Energetic at the tables, he's only been getting three or four hours the last few nights.
"My adrenaline is just working overtime at the moment," he said. "The natural excitement is just keeping me electrified really."
Hesp's is an unlikely story. Right from the start, his poker attire, a sports jacket and shirts with differing hues and patterns of geometric shapes, flowers, and more accented with a Panama-style hat, set him apart from the rest of the field. The wardrobe became his lucky charm and made for some interesting viewing for poker fans.
"This shirt and this jacket and two other shirts … were loaned to me by a good friend who lives back home in Bridlington," he says. "I commented on how much I liked his shirts the last time we were here in Vegas and he offered to loan them to me for the trip this time. They so far have brought me very good luck."
A semi-retired businessman who owns a company that rents caravan vacation homes, he has a management team that looks after the company. The father of four and grandfather of seven has only $2,207 in tournament winnings with all his final table appearances (and his only recorded win) at Napoleon's Casino & Restaurant in Hull, U.K. A recreational poker player for 20 years, Hesp now plays about once a month – although he played a bit more in the months leading up the Main Event.
Hesp's everyman story resonated with fans. This is his first trip to the WSOP and he's never even played a large tournament. Playing in the Main Event has been a goal for years and this summer he decided it was time.
"I've never played a big competition like this, but it's one of the things I've had on my bucket list for a while now," he says. "I said to my wife about three months ago, 'Would you mind if I went and played?' and came with a pal of mine from Bridlington."
The friend who joined him to play in the WSOP busted on Day 3 and headed back home. However, since his story broke he hasn't been going it alone. Fans have cheered him on in the Rio, and he's heard from players all over the world. Fans on social media have expressed their love for his game.
"It's unbelievable, it's indescribable," he said on Day 6. "I tried to get some sleep last night and my phone's going ping-ping-ping as I get messages coming from all over the world – China, Russia, South America. I'm thinking, 'Who are these people wanting to get connected with me from all over the world.' Something's happened ... it just looks as though I've become an international poker celebrity in the span of 48 hours. How did that happen? I'm just a simple guy that's come to achieve my wish on my bucket list and I'm here."
He's more than just here – Hesp has become one of the stars in this play. A family man, his wife Mandy was on standby to jump on a plane and make the trip to Sin City should he make Friday's action. His family has been watching the PokerGO stream back in England, which is on a 30-minute delay.
"I guess it's probably about now they'll be raising the roof and finding out what's going on," he said after bagging his chips. "Clearly, it was totally unexpected not only by myself, but my whole family, friends, and circle back home. I think it's just been a whole amazing experience from Day 1 to now."
No doubt Mrs. Hesp has packed her bags to be on the rail cheering him on. For John Hesp, having her at his side seems like a fitting way to end this amazing poker story.
HOW HE GOT HERE
Day
End-of-Day Chip Count
Rank
1
62,600
2,487/5,519
2
312,100
152/2,572
3
613,000
166/1,084
4
1,394,000
106/297
5
4,060,000
40/85
6
20,880,000
6/27
7
85,700,000
2/9
KEY HAND
One hand stands out that shows some of the instincts Hesp has displayed throughout the tournament. On Level 24 in Day 5 with blinds at 20,000-40,000 with a 5,000 ante, there was 700,000 in the pot and a board of . Hesp moved out a 300,000 from the big blind. In middle position Wen Zhou raised to 900,000. Contemplating his decision for a few minutes, Hesp made the call.
Zhou showed and Hesp tables . Hesp shouted "Yes!" and pumped his fists after making a great call for significant pot.
"I guess I picked the wrong time to bluff," Zhou said.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
While he has been playing poker for 20 years, Hesp has never played a big tournament. He'd never played at the WSOP, and only plays once a month in micro buy-in tournaments at his local casino. While he hasn't faced competition at this level, the big stage hasn't phased him and he's had no problem mixing it up with opponents – raising and re-raising.
Throughout the tournament, Hesp's unorthodox style and unexpected moves have confounded opponents and his instincts have also been good. When he senses he has the best hand, Hesp is not afraid to fearlessly make a move, but also makes nice laydowns when necessary. His game is under control and he has a knack for getting paid off with the best of it. Throughout the tournament, Hesp would often show his hands on a win. Does he plan to continue the practice?
"I don't know," he said. "It depends on how I feel. But really I've just got to keep calm and stay with it."
As the Hesp legend grew on later days, Hesp took the bright lights and cameras in stride, unconcerned about the pressure of the situation. While many have said poker at this stage is a young man's game, Hesp has defied that notion. He is spry and talkative at the table, ready for action and loving playing against younger pros with tons of skill.
Throughout the tournament, his multi-colored, multi-patterned outfits have caught players' eyes, but so has his fun attitude. His social game is working and a big run at the final table would truly prove the notion that anyone can get on a run and play with the best in poker.
Scott Blumstein, an East Coast tournament grinder, had a plan for this summer: Come to Las Vegas for the first time, enter the World Series of Poker Main Event for the first time, and win it.
Chris Horter, one of Blumstein's very vocal friends on the rail, confirmed that this was Blumstein's plan. "He said, I'm going to skip all of the WSOP, and I'm just going to win the Main."
Things seem to be going according to plan so far. Blumstein will enter the Main Event final table with the chip lead. And while his experience in many small buy-in tournament will certainly provide some help, this is the Main Event, and he has some serious competition standing between him and gold.
Blumstein has been playing poker professionally for about four years and was able to enter the Main thanks to a first-place finish in a $560 no-limit hold'em tournament at the Borgata for $199,854, which accounts for two-thirds of his live tournament winnings.
Blumstein might be well known on the East Coast circuit, but not much is known about him here in the desert. He started playing professional poker four years ago after graduating from Temple University with a degree in accounting.
“I never really had a 'real' job. I started watching and playing poker when Moneymaker won. I was just a kid. I know that sounds a bit cliché. Being here now and playing under the lights is so surreal. Day 7 was the first day I was on a feature table. I had to get used to the lights and cameras, but I settled in quickly and just tried to focus on the poker. A tournament is just a tournament and at the end of the day, it’s all poker.”
It’s hard to compare playing the Main Event when playing on the East Coast. Blumstein makes a point of letting people know he feels comfortable here.
“A tournament is still a tournament, and tournaments are tough. But this is the Main Event, so that makes it special. I just felt like I was ready to play the Main Event this year. It’s still sort of surreal to be here.”
Blumstein has the chips everyone will be coming after once the final table returns to action. There are only a few days to prepare, and a tournament grinder, no matter where they hail from is sure to have a plan to maximize on the time off.
“It's crazy with only a few days break. It'll be quite different than the last few years, I didn't really plan what I was going to do. You can't really plan for something like this. I feel amazing, I can't believe it's real. I have a great group of guys and we're going to get to work and prepare for Thursday. This is one of the biggest moments of my life. And I'm super excited.”
HOW HE GOT HERE
Day
End-of-Day Chip Count
Rank
1
86,200
1402/5.519
2
375,100
62/2,572
3
1,340,000
8/1,084
4
2,016,000
44/297
5
6,845,000
14/85
6
18,125,000
8/27
7
97,250,000
1/9
KEY HAND
Every player has a hand during a tournament that shifted momentum in their favor. For Blumstein, it was a big hand against Valentin Messina on Day 6. He recounted it for us:
“I raised under the gun and Messina called. The flop came jack-four-deuce. I flopped a set and bet. Messina called. The turn was a six and I checked. Messina bet over a million and of course, I called. The river was a three. I was taking a chance by checking, but I was pretty sure he would bet and he did. He bet almost 3 million and then I check-raised him to 7.2 million. I felt like he took forever to call. But he did.”
Here's the hand, as reported by the PokerNews Live Reporting team:
Scott Blumstein raised to 650,000 from under the gun and Valentin Messina called from the cutoff. The flop fell and Blumstein bet 500,000. Messina called and the turn brought the . Blumstein checked, Messina bet 1,200,000, and Blumstein called. The river was the and Blumstein checked. Messina bet 2,800,000 and Blumstein check-raised to 7,200,000, sending Messina into the tank. He eventually called and Blumstein tabled for a flopped set. Messina mucked and Blumstein took the pot.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Blumstein nearly gave his tournament away after the dinner break on Day 7. He five-bet shoved preflop with king-jack jack against Dan Ott, who had him dominated with ace-king. Suddenly, Blumstein was left with only 17 million in chips and danger of missing the final table.
It was a rare slip-up for Blumstein, who had been focused for most of the tournament up to that point.
“I made a pretty big mistake after playing really well for seven days. I have no excuses. I made a misstep, but the good news is sometimes you get a second chance. A couple of hands later I got kings and was able to double up and I was right back in it."
Thankfully for Blumstein, he was able to recover after getting a pep talk from his huge supporting cast on the rail. He will have a few days to rest up and prepare for the finale, but it will be interesting to see if he "goes for the gusto" again with so much on the line.
Antoine Saout’s Main Event story really started back in 2009 when a little-known French player made the final table of the WSOP Main Event. With three players left, Saout had the chip lead. He was the first French player to make the WSOP Main Event final table and it looked like he might become the first French Main Event champion. He had the eventual champion Joe Cada in a bad spot holding pocket queens against Cada’s pocket twos. Cada hit a set to double and would later knock out Saout and go on to win.
“Nobody knew me the first time. It was my first $10,000 tournament. I played great, I was chip leader and I was unlucky at the end. I almost won it.”
Last year, Saout made it to day seven of the Main Event. He was now a professional poker player with tons of experience and looking to improve on his previous Main Event run. Unfortunately, he was eliminated early in the day, finishing 25th. He three-bet shoved pocket sevens and got action from queens and aces. On the turn, he actually took the lead, but was eliminated when the river was an ace.
This year, Saout was a little worried coming into Day 7 with 9 million chips. He went down to about 4 million and doubled through Richard Gryko with pocket nines. From that point on, Saout wasn’t at risk again and he will start the final table with 21,750,000.
Despite accruing more than $6.5 million in live tournament winnings, he has only won a single live tournament. In 2011, he won a daily tournament in France for $15,968.
“I feel good. Last year I finished early in the day. I don’t have any big live wins; if I can win this one for my first live tournament that would be great.”
HOW HE GOT HERE
Day
End-of-Day Chip Count
Rank
1
91,900
752/5,519
2
341,400
107/2,572
3
1,529,000
3/1,084
4
2,318,000
30/297
5
8,260,000
8/85
6
9,945,000
15/27
7
21,750,000
7/9
KEY HAND
Saout said that the Main Event has a great structure and was very confident, saying he had played a great tournament. He also understands that you need a little luck and, probably, his biggest break came on Day 3. He got all in against Scott Seiver with pocket kings against Seiver’s pocket aces. He hit a king on the river and then rode that wave all the way to the final table. He is happy to be joined there by countrymen and friend Benjamin Pollak, but wants to be the first French Main Event champion.
“I really want to be the first (French Main Event Champion). I was the first to final table. It’s not like an EPT. This is the biggest tournament. I really want this.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Unlike his last Main Event final table appearance, Saout is a seasoned professional player now. He speaks very openly about his ability and is confident in his play. He mentioned several times that he played great and acknowledged the fact that he got lucky during the tournament. He also mentioned he is used to playing long hours and, based on his success in the tournament, it seems like the Main Event is well suited to his style.
The days might end up being shorter the rest of the way, and he will enter the table seventh in chips behind two big chip leaders. He plans on using the two days off to review the footage of the other players and said he doesn’t care about the size of the break. He did said he prefers the shorter break between Day 7 of the Main and the final table.
"I prefer this because there are some players with less experience. It is better for me because I am more experienced."
Saout definitely has a chance to win the Main Event. Both he and Ben Lamb have been in this spot before and that will perhaps make them more prepared for what comes next. A lot of people felt Saout probably should have won the first time he was at the Main Event final table, and now he has a chance to perhaps make up for the mistakes and/or poor luck that saw him fall in third place in 2009.
.
. Ott checked to Blumstein, who bet 1.8 million. Ott quickly folded, and Blumstein took it down.
, and Hesp check-folded to a continuation bet of 1.8 million from Sinclair.
. Hesp checked in the dark, and Blumstein fired a min bet of 800,000. Hesp called, and the 
completed the board, and Hesp checked a third time. A bet of 3 million from Blumstein was good enough to get Hesp off the hand, and the chip leader added to his stack. 
. 
and Sinclair was still in the lead. The turn brought the 
giving Lamb some chop outs as well. The river landed the 
. Saout led out for 3.2 million and Hesp min-raised to 6.4 million. Saout laid his hand down and Hesp took down the first pot, showing 
. 
to pick up the blinds and antes for his third pot in a row.
. Hesp moved out a 300,000 from the big blind. In middle position Wen Zhou raised to 900,000. Contemplating his decision for a few minutes, Hesp made the call.
. Hesp shouted "Yes!" and pumped his fists after making a great call for significant pot.
and Blumstein bet 500,000. Messina called and the turn brought the 
. Blumstein checked, Messina bet 1,200,000, and Blumstein called. The river was the 
and Blumstein checked. Messina bet 2,800,000 and Blumstein check-raised to 7,200,000, sending Messina into the tank. He eventually called and Blumstein tabled 
for a flopped set. Messina mucked and Blumstein took the pot.
