Neil Blumenfield, Josh Beckley must chase down Joe McKeehen at WSOP

By Case Keefer (contact)

Monday, Nov. 9, 2015 | 10:55 p.m.

Neil Blumenfield held up three fingers on each hand and motioned for more noise to his cheering section. Josh Beckley greeted his friends and family one-by-one with high-fives.

Monday night at the Rio was a celebration for Blumenfield, a 61-year-old from San Francisco who previously worked in the software industry, and Beckley, a 25-year-old poker professional from New Jersey, after they reached the final three of poker’s world championship. Tuesday night will bring the challenge of trying to catch up with Joe McKeehen, a 24-year-old pro from Philadelphia.

“I’m a little behind the chip leader,” joked Blumenfield in between rejoicing.

McKeehen will return to a stack of 128.8 million chips when the final night of the World Series of Poker main event commences at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Penn & Teller Theater inside the Rio. ESPN coverage will begin on a delay at 6:30 p.m.

Add Blumenfield’s 40.1 million chips and Beckley’s 23.7 million chips together, and they’re still at more than a 2-to-1 disadvantage against McKeehen.

Everyone is guaranteed at least $3,398,298 for third-place, but the $7,683,346 grand prize is heavily favored to go to one player.

“My goal from early in the day yesterday was to try to get heads-up with Joe,” Blumenfield said. “If he has me out-chipped 4-to-1, so be it. I’m happy to be there.”

Blumenfield, sporting a fedora and circular eyeglasses at the table, has turned into a fan favorite over the 143 hands played since the nine finalists who emerged over the summer resumed action Sunday evening. He’s been one of the most active players while chasing history.

Blumenfield would become the oldest champion since Johnny Moss in 1974, and first amateur victor since Jerry Yang in 2007.

“I don’t know about the chip stacks right now but I know who has the most spirit,” said Zvi Stern, who finished in fifth. “(Blumenfield) just has it, and he wants it bad. He’s more unpredictable than you guys think ... I’ll be rooting for him.”

Blumenfield found Ace-King to oust Stern, whose short stack forced him to go all-in with Ace-Jack, about two hours into play Monday. Beckley had sent Stern tumbling down the leaderboard earlier when the two were pitted against each other in the blinds.

Beckley, armed with precious few chips, looked down to find pocket Aces as everyone at the table folded around to Stern, who was in position to apply pressure.

“I was like, ‘Please, go all-in, please go all-in,’” Beckley recalled. “It was very standard blind versus blind.”

Stern indeed announced all-in with a relatively meager 10-9 suited, leading to Beckley doubling his stack. Beckley is the most improbable member of the final three after starting the final table in seventh place.

McKeehen, who is not speaking to the media until after the tournament concludes, entered with the largest percentage of chips in the November Nine era. Blumenfield was in third.

But Beckley may have a semi-secret edge. He lives only an hour away from McKeehen, and the two started encountering each other years ago in card games at Parx Casino in Bensalem, Penn.

Beckley has a hard time believing those low-stakes showdowns foreshadowed a clash on poker’s biggest stage, but thinks the experience against his competition is invaluable.

“It’s very crazy,” Beckley said. “I hoped to be here. I worked hard to be here.”

Beckley attributes his success over the last two days to a unique preparation. Everyone at the final table may have studied poker during the four-month hiatus, but he put in extra work in other areas.

Beckley changed to a vegan diet and implemented a workout routine that saw him lose 20 pounds. Given McKeehen’s standing, he’s going to need every bit of an advantage.

“I prepped my body and my mind really well for this and that’s the only reason I’m here,” Beckley said. “I feel more calm and alert.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.