Event #78: The Big One for One Drop - $1,000,000 No-Limit Hold'em

Daniel Negreanu tweeted that it was time for him to stop hanging onto the top spot on the all-time money list. That torch has been passed as Justin Bonomo ascended to the throne with a $10 million win in Event #78: $1 Million Big One for One Drop.

Bonomo now has just under $43 million in cashes, leaving Negreanu ($39,656,197) and Erik Seidel ($34,575,437) in his dust.

Bonomo called it "awesome" to be the top all-time tournament money winner but said the accolade doesn't hold as much meaning to him as his assessment of his own play. And while results in poker can lie, the incredible $25 million — and two bracelets — that Bonomo has acquired in 2018 alone reflect what Bonomo feels has been some of the best play of his decorated career.

"At the end of the day, I feel like for the past year I've played absolutely fantastic poker," he said. "I'm not going to say I'm the best player in the world but I'm very confident that I'm up there."

Official Final Table Results

Coming into the event, Bonomo said friends had asked him how excited he was to play One Drop, the high roller of high rollers that sees hundreds of thousands of dollars go toward access to clean water for those in need. Bonomo admitted he was anything but, though.

"It's a great privilege but I see it as a great responsibility," he said. "It's more money than I've ever played for in my life."

Befitting that, Bonomo prepared harder and with more focus than he has for any other event. He studied for hours, including the entire day before the tournament started. He studied some more on breaks. He meditated daily.

Coming into the final day, the bubble loomed with six players left but it wouldn't last long despite the monster $2 million difference between going home empty-handed and cashing. Wealthy investor David Einhorn doesn't need to sweat such a bubble like most of the other One Drop participants, so he got his chips in early on when Bonomo check-raised him after flopping top pair of sevens and bricked the turn and river with overcards.

Given that Einhorn donates all of his winnings to charity, Bonomo said he couldn't help feel but a little conflicted when the river card confirming his win came down.

"To be totally honest, I almost feel guilty for knocking David Einhorn," he said. "I will give a lot to charity but I'm not as well off as him to give it all to charity. It's an honor to be part of the money that's donated to One Drop."

Right after that, a huge pot developed when Byron Kaverman shoved for 8 million at 300,000/600,000/600,000. Fedor Holz called, and Rick Salomon reshoved for 26.9 million. Holz found the call button with tens — after Salomon's ace was exposed — and found himself in a good spot against ace-king of hearts held by Salomon and ace-five of clubs shown by Kaverman. The flop brought top two for Salomon but the turn gave Holz a gutter and Kaverman a flush draw. A ten of diamonds river meant a double knockout.

Three-handed poker for millions of dollars commenced between a fitting final three: Bonomo, Holz and fellow high roller Dan Smith.

Holz had surged into the lead and took control of about two-thirds of the total chips. Bonomo, after coming in with a sizable lead, was reduced to the short stack and about 20 big blinds. However, he'd climb back up and bust Smith with king-ten against queen-ten suited in the blinds.

A bit of a rivalry has developed between the two combatants left heads up. Holz, of course, put together arguably the greatest run in the history of tournament poker in 2016 when he won $16 million, the measuring stick by which all recent streaks have been compared and found wanting until Bonomo's binge. Furthermore, Bonomo busted Holz in a much-discussed Super High Roller Bowl hand that contributed greatly to the former's eventual $5 million victory.

"I enjoyed seeing the tweets," Bonomo said with a laugh. "They wanted to see the true heat test: who is the luckier player, myself or Fedor?

"Almost everyone out there respects the game of both myself and Fedor. I certainly respect his game a great deal. It definitely felt like a storybook ending playing against Fedor with him starting with the chip lead and having to grind my way back."

After Bonomo won a flip to find some footing heads up, the key pot developed as Bonomo three-bet the eight-four of diamonds and turned two pair. He checked after betting the flop and Holz barreled off with a king-high airball, with Bonomo snap-calling the river to double into a big lead.

Holz got it in behind twice and scored lucky doubles, but third time was the charm for Bonomo when ace-jack was superior to Holz's ace-four.

Bonomo said he felt a combination of disbelief and happiness after the final card hit the felt. The latter is understandable but given the phenomenal run he's put together, he may be the only one on earth who felt the former.

He doesn't plan to give his opponents any reprieve, either. After some much-needed time off after what he called a "grueling" grind in recent months, Bonomo plans to get right back to business as usual.

"I don't feel that I have anything left to prove to anyone," he said. "I'm going to continue what I'm doing: playing tournaments to the best of my ability and studying and getting even better. I'll never be complacent with my poker game."

For now, he can put away the emotion-less gaze he wears at the felt and enjoy $10 million and the title of winningest player in poker tournament history.

He dedicated the win and promised the bracelet to his father after years of giving all of his trophies to his mother, and he's ready to relax and enjoy a night out with the dozens of people who cheered him to victory.

"I'm so looking forward to partying with all of these people that I love so much tonight," he said.

Big One for One Drop Winners

Hand #153: Fedor Holz limped in and Justin Bonomo checked. The     flop went check, check, and the   appeared on the turn. Bonomo bet 2.4 million and Holz called to see the   on the river. Bonomo's bet of 6 million was called and he rolled over the    for top pair, Holz had the equally strong    and they chopped it up.

Hand #154: Bonomo limped and Holz checked, the flop came    . Holz checked over to Bonomo, who checked behind, and the   followed on the turn. Holz bet 5 million and Bonomo released his cards.

Hand #155: Holz opened the action with a raise to 3.1 million and Bonomo called. The flop was the     and they checked it over to the   turn. Bonomo bet 5.5 million and Holz called, the   river completed the board. Bonomo now made it 11 million to go and Holz folded to drop back to 20 big blinds.

Justin Bonomo	110,200,000	6,800,000
Fedor Holz	24,800,000	-6,800,000

Hand #146: Justin Bonomo limped in and folded to a jam by Fedor Holz.

Hand #147: Holz shoved for 16.4 million and Bonomo quickly called.

Fedor Holz:   
Justin Bonomo:   

Holz improved to a pair of jacks on the     flop, and the   turn and   river runout let Holz double to remain in contention.

Justin Bonomo	101,000,000	-12,200,000
Fedor Holz	34,000,000	12,200,000

Hand #145: Holz raised to 2.8 million and Bonomo moved all in to force a fold.

Players are now on break for 10 minutes.

Hand #136: Justin Bonomo limped in and Fedor Holz moved all in for 23.6 million out of the big blind. Bonomo asked for a count and tossed his cards into the muck.

Hand #137: Holz raised to 2.6 million and Bonomo folded.

Hand #138: Bonomo limped once more and Holz's raise to 5 million forced a fold from Bonomo.

Hand #139: Another raise to 2.6 million by Holz was called by Bonomo. The flop came     and went check, check. On the   turn, no betting action took place and that brought the   river. Bonomo bet 7 million and Holz called, then mucked as soon as Bonomo had turned over the    for a pair of jacks as winning hand.

Justin Bonomo	116,000,000	5,600,000
Fedor Holz	19,000,000	-5,600,000

Hand #126: Justin Bonomo raised to 2.5 million on the button and Fedor Holz folded his big blind.

Hand #127: Holz limped in on the button and Bonomo bumped it up to 5.5 million. Holz sent his cards to the muck and Bonomo took down another pot.

Hand #128: Bonomo just called on the button and Holz made it 5 million this time. Bonomo folded and Holz earned the pot.

Hand #129: Holz raised it up to 2.8 million and Bonomo made the call. The flop fell     and Bonomo checked to Holz who continued for 4.6 million. Bonomo called and the   landed on the turn. Bonomo checked again and Holz fired another 11.5 million. Bonomo instantly folded and the pot was pushed towards Holz.

Hand #130: Bonomo opened to 2.5 million and Holz called to see a flop of    . Holz checked and Bonomo tossed in a bet of 2 million. Holz check-raised to 10.5 million only to have Bonomo shove all in for 49.2 million. Holz quickly threw his cards away and Bonomo evened up the match.

Fedor Holz	69,300,000	-7,600,000
Justin Bonomo	65,700,000	7,600,000

Hand #116: Justin Bonomo opened for 2.5 million and Fedor Holz called. Holz check-folded on the     flop.

Hand #117: Holz opened for 2.8 million and took it down.

Hand #118: Bonomo made it 2.5 million and Holz called, bringing a     flop. Two checks later, a   hit. They checked again and the   hit. Holz bet 8.5 million and Bonomo released.

Hand #119: Holz raised to 2.8 million and Bonomo called. They checked the flop and turn for a board of      . Bonomo checked, Holz bet 8.5 million and Bonomo mucked.

Hand #120: Bonomo completed and Holz checked. Holz check-called 1 million on    . They checked the   and the   hit. Holz checked a final time and Bonomo checked as well. The    of Holz took it down.

Fedor Holz	88,400,000	6,800,000
Justin Bonomo	46,600,000	-6,800,000

Hand #111: Justin Bonomo moved all in from the small blind and Dan Smith called for 12.5 million out of the big blind.

Dan Smith:   
Justin Bonomo:   

The flop fell     and Smith failed to pick up additional outs just yet. That changed on the   turn. It wasn't meant to be for Smith, however, as the   river improved Bonomo to the nut straight and sent Smith to the rail in third place for $4 million.

Fedor Holz will enter heads-up play with a solid lead over Bonomo and both players are heading into a short break before the action gets back underway to determine the Big One for One Drop champion.

Fedor Holz	84,300,000	0
Justin Bonomo	50,700,000	13,300,000
Dan Smith	0	-13,300,000

Hand #104: Fedor Holz limped in from the small blind and Justin Bonomo checked the big blind. They saw a flop of     and Holz led out for 1.4 million. Bonomo called and the   landed on the turn.

Holz checked this time and Bonomo slid in a bet of 1.5 million. Holz called and the   hit the river. Holz checked again and Bonomo unleashed the cannon with a bet of 11 million. Holz made the call and Bonomo flipped over    for two pair. Holz couldn't beat it and Bonomo dragged in a crucial pot.

Hand #105: Holz opened to 1.7 million on the button and Bonomo called from the small blind. The flop came     and both players checked to the   on the turn and the   on the river. Bonomo led out for 6 million and Holz quickly disposed of his cards.

Hand #106: Bonomo raised to 1.6 million from the button and Fedor Holz three-bet to 6 million in the big blind. Bonomo instantly folded and Holz collected the pot.

Hand #107: Holz just called from the small blind and Bonomo checked his option. The flop fell     and Holz tossed in a bet of 1.3 million. Bonomo called and the   rolled off on the turn. Holz fired another 3.5 million but Bonomo still called to see the   on the river.

Holz reached back for a bet of 6.5 million and Bonomo finally relinquished his cards, sending the pot to Holz.

Fedor Holz	78,400,000	-8,000,000
Justin Bonomo	37,400,000	10,000,000
Dan Smith	19,200,000	-2,000,000