He's the backer. It wasn't a hustle. Hustlers don't play for three hours to come out even. Most hustlers won't play tournaments because they take so long and stakes are low. Easier to make big money off a sucker in a few easy games.
Hustlers are utterly without conscience.
They show no compassion when they have a player down to his last dollar. When Tim leaves, Gene fesses up to his backer. I was shaky, man. It's cold in here. For a hundred bucks, race to eight.