Scott Blumstein's Friends Each Turned $60 Stake Into $40K

(Photo: Usatoday.com)

Before the start of the 2017 WSOP Main Event, Scott Blumstein posted a tweet in search of backers to help defray the cost of the $10,000 entry fee.

His proposal didn't get much of a response from big time stakers, which wasn't surprising considering Blumstein's experience in WSOP tournaments was limited to three cashes in WSOP Circuit events in Atlantic City. Four of Blumstein's best buddies did take him up on his offer, however, digging into their pockets and each coming up with $60 to grab a piece of his action.

Small Piece, Big Payoff

Granted, that's not much of a piece in a $10K event - a mere .006 percent at no markup. But it was enough for Blumstein's pals,  John Scuteri, Aldo Boscia, Peter Gerolamo and Nick Muldrow, to have a rooting interest and to sweat the action along with their friend.

"He wanted us to sweat it out with him," Boscia said.

And sweat they did, all the way to the Main Event championship where Blumstein won $8.15 million and cemented his place in WSOP history. For that $60 investment, Blumstein's buddies will each receive a hefty $40,750 before the taxman gets his cut, ESPN reported.

Prior to the start of the Main Event, the four pals forked over the $240 to Blumstein as a show of support more so than an opportunity to collect a bundle of cash. That support intensified as Blumstein navigated his way through the 7,221-player field.

Cheering Section

When his final table appearance was secured, those four friends and more made their way to Las Vegas to continue supporting Blumstein from the rail. Faith and support paid off handsomely for his backing friends, for which Blumstein will likely forever be grateful.

Blumstein's biggest score prior to the WSOP Main Event championship came last year when he won the $560 Borgata Summer Poker Open $1 Million Deepstack Kick Off in Atlantic City for $199,854. A New Jersey native, Blumstein often plays online in that state's regulated i-poker scheme.