“My granny taught me cards”

Scott Blumstein, 25, told The Post on Monday that he used to play Crazy Eights with his late grandmother as a kid. A week ago, he pocketed a cool $8.1 million winning the poker tournament’s main event. The Morristown, NJ, native said his mind has been racing since Sunday morning, thinking of every person who helped him along the way to his win. Sadly, his mother’s mom, who gave him his love of cards, passed away several years ago, but Blumstein said he’s been reaching out to as many other friends and loved ones as possible. “I’ve been thanking all the people who have had a presence in my life and had an effect on me — teachers, family, friends — they all had a big impact on me,” Blumstein said by phone from Las Vegas. “Right now I’m just winding down and trying to thank everyone who has reached out to me.” The poker player said there were times his school-teacher mom and dad, who is in advertising, were understandably concerned about his unorthodox career choice. “They’ve been walking that fine line of supporting what I do and wishing I was doing something else,” Blumstein said. He deadpanned: “I believe I can now tell them, now, that I made the right decision.” The 2010 Morristown HS and 2014 Temple University grad lives in Brigantine, NJ, and plays most of his cards in Atlantic City, Philadelphia and online. His biggest win before July 23 was a $199,854 firstplace payout at a tournament at the Borgata last year. That huge score gave Blumstein the confidence — and bankroll — to shell out $10,000 for this month’s WSOP main event.

“Playing in the main event a dream of mine since I was 11,” he said. “I remember watching [2003 champion] Chris Moneymaker and just falling in love with the game. The main event was a big part of that.”

Blumstein won the final hand with a mere pair of twos. “I haven’t had a chance to think about [the future],” said Blumstein who played 85 hours of poker in 10 days in Vegas. “I know poker will be a part of it, for the rest of my life, no matter what. My passion and love is for this game.” A few of Blumstein’s friends that helped spot his $10,000 entry fee into the tournament are now also huge beneficiaries of his success. (nypost)