Thursday, October 21, 2021 8:20 PM Local Time
Michael Addamo Wins Third Gold Bracelet in Event #38: $50,000 High Roller ($1,132,968)
Michael Addamo took home his third World Series of Poker gold bracelet and a $1,132,968 first-place prize after topping an elite 81-player field and defeating Justin Bonomo heads-up in the 2021 WSOP Event #38: $50,000 High Roller.
Addamo is a regular in high-stakes tournaments and is no stranger to success – having already cashed for over $14 million prior to this victory according to The Hendon Mob. The year 2021 has been a career year for the Aussie native, having won three PokerGO Tour tournaments back in September for a combined $5.2 million in earnings alone. That includes winning a pair of Poker Masters tournaments to win the coveted purple jacket and then taking down the Super High Roller Bowl VI for $3.4 million.
Addamo also now joins a select club of three-time bracelet winners alongside Antonio Esfandiari, Joe McKeehen, and Bonomo himself, to name a few.
Addamo remained humble in victory — mostly attributing his resounding success in the past couple of months to luck.
"Obviously there's some skill involved, but winning this much is really attributed to luck in the end, so it's very fortunate. I play a strategy where I put a lot of big bets in. That's no secret. Sometimes you're going to be out in the first level and sometimes you're gonna build up a big stack."
On being regarded as one of the best tournament players by his peers, Addamo had this to say:
"It does put some pressure on me. If you sort of internalize and believe that, you can become complacent. I try to just stay humble and not to let it get to my head and keep working and studying."
Event #38: $50,000 High Roller Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|
| 1 | Michael Addamo | Australia | $1,132,968 |
| 2 | Justin Bonomo | United States | $700,228 |
| 3 | Gal Yifrach | United States | $495,305 |
| 4 | Erik Seidel | United States | $358,665 |
| 5 | Chris Hunichen | United States | $266,031 |
| 6 | Bin Weng | United States | $202,236 |
| 7 | Sam Soverel | United States | $157,666 |
| 8 | Mustapha Kanit | Italy | $126,141 |
| 9 | Leonard Maue | Germany | $103,635 |
Final Table Action
Addamo entered Day 3 with a commanding chip lead over the remaining players and quickly continued to add to his stack by knocking out Chris Hunichen and Erik Seidel within the first level. After doubling Gal Yifrach up on two separate occasions, Addamo sent Yifrach to the rail in third place after his pocket eights held up against the ace-seven of Yifrach after getting all-in preflop.
Justin Bonomo
Heads-up play began with Addamo enjoying a slight chip lead over Bonomo, but the tides quickly turned in Bonomo's favor after Addamo called Bonomo with ace-high and lost in a sizable pot.
It wouldn't take long after that, however, for Addamo to regain the chip lead after winning a series of smaller pots that would eventually culminate in Bonomo four-bet shoving with ten-nine and getting called by Addamo with king-jack. Addamo ended up rivering a straight in dramatic fashion after losing the lead on the turn to seal his victory.
Congratulations to Michael Addamo on winning the 2021 Event #38: $50,000 High Roller for $1,132,968!
Check out our 2021 WSOP Hub here!
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:56 PM Local Time
Justin Bonomo Eliminated in 2nd Place ($700,228)
In what would be the final hand of the tournament, Justin Bonomo raised to 450,000 on the button and Michael Addamo three-bet to 1.8 million. Bonomo shoved for 11.3 million and Addamo called after thinking for over a minute to put Bonomo at risk.
Michael Addamo:
Justin Bonomo:
The flop came — keeping Addamo out in front, but the turn vaulted Bonomo into the lead with trip tens.
A tournament-ending completed the board — giving Addamo Broadway and eliminating Bonomo in second place.
| Michael Addamo | 24,300,000 | 12,200,000  |
| Justin Bonomo | 0 | -12,200,000  |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:52 PM Local Time
PokerNews Podcast: Phil Hellmuth Talks 16th Bracelet; Mike Matusow in PHoF?
PokerNews Podcast
On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Jesse Fullen and Chad Holloway come to you from the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP)!
The biggest story was that of Phil Hellmuth finally breaking through and capturing his record-extending 16th WSOP gold bracelet. Find out what he had to say in his winner interview with the media after his victory.
Other stories include bracelet wins by Chance Kornuth, David "Bakes" Baker, and Ryan "Santasbzack2" Stoker. Plus, you can hear bracelet winner interviews from Jim Collopy, Mike Noori, Anthony Koutsos, and Karolis Sereika.
Finally, find out how PokerNews pissed off Mike Matusow in regards to the Poker Hall of Fame nominations, which leads to Jesse and Chad sharing their thoughts on "The Mouth" as well as the other 10 finalists. Who stands the best chance of being inducted? Find out here.
Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:39 PM Local Time
Bonomo Finds a Fold
Michael Addamo raised to 480,000 and Justin Bonomo called.
The flop was and both players checked.
The turn was and Bonomo fired an 800,000 bet. Addamo called and the river was .
Bonomo checked the river and Addamo went into the tank before betting 3.4 million. Bonomo thought it over for more than three minutes before finally getting away from the hand.
| Justin Bonomo | 12,200,000 | -2,400,000 |
| Michael Addamo | 12,100,000 | 2,400,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:27 PM Local Time
Bonomo Takes The Lead
Justin Bonomo limped on the button and Michael Addamo raised to 800,000. Bonomo called.
The flop came and Addamo continued for 440,000. Bonomo called.
The came on the turn and Addamo checked to Bonomo, who bet 750,000, Addamo called.
The completed the board and Addamo checked once more — prompting Bonomo to fire two million into the middle.
Addamo called and Bonomo turned over to beat Addamo's and take the pot.
| Justin Bonomo | 14,600,000 | 2,800,000 |
| Michael Addamo | 9,700,000 | -2,800,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:06 PM Local Time
Heads Up
Justin Bonomo and Michael Addamo are now heads-up for the gold bracelet and $1,132,968 first-place prize.
Addamo currently has a slight chip advantage over Bonomo.
| Michael Addamo | 12,500,000 | 0 |
| Justin Bonomo | 11,800,000 | 0 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 6:03 PM Local Time
Gal Yifrach Eliminated in 3rd Place ($495,305)
Gal Yifrach limped in from the small blind and Michael Addamo raised to 520,000 from the big blind. Yifrach three-bet shoved for 3.8 million and Addamo called.
Gal Yifrach:
Michael Addamo:
The board ran out and the river spade completed a flush to knock Yifrach out of the tournament in third place.
| Michael Addamo | 12,500,000 | 3,800,000 |
| Justin Bonomo | 11,800,000 | -100,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 0 | -3,800,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:55 PM Local Time
Bonomo Applies Pressure
Justin Bonomo raised to 350,000 from the button and Michael Addamo called from the big blind.
The flop was and Addamo checked.
Bonomo continued for 300,000 and Addamo folded. Bonomo grabs a small pot to extend his lead further.
| Justin Bonomo | 11,900,000 | 700,000 |
| Michael Addamo | 8,700,000 | -300,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 3,800,000 | -400,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:48 PM Local Time
Level 19 started
Level: 19
Blinds: 80,000/160,000
Ante: 160,000
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:39 PM Local Time
Players on Break
The final three players are now on a short break.
| Justin Bonomo | 11,200,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Michael Addamo | 9,000,000 | -400,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 4,200,000 | -600,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:25 PM Local Time
Yifrach Doubles Through Addamo
Michael Addamo raised to 240,000 on the button and was called by Gal Yifrach in the big blind.
The flop came and Yifrach checked to Addamo, who bet 660,000. Yifrach then check-shoved for a bit over two million and Addamo called.
Michael Addamo:
Gal Yifrach:
The turn kept Addamo out in front, but the river completed Yifrach's flush and he doubled through Addamo.
| Michael Addamo | 9,400,000 | -2,300,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 4,800,000 | 2,400,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:20 PM Local Time
Bonomo Calls for a Big Double
Michael Addamo raised to 480,000 from the small blind and Justin Bonomo called from the big blind.
The flop was and both players checked.
The turn was and Addamo bet 1.1 million. Bonomo called to see a river .
Addamo went into the tank for more than a minute before continuing with a river bet of 3.4 million. Bonomo spent more than six minutes before calling with . The jacks and tens were good and Addamo's went into the muck.
| Michael Addamo | 11,700,000 | -5,000,000 |
| Justin Bonomo | 10,200,000 | 4,700,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 2,400,000 | -100,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:10 PM Local Time
WSOP 2021 | Friedman Is Champion 3 Years In A Row! | Interview
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:07 PM Local Time
Yifrach Doubles Through Addamo
Michael Addamo raised to 240,000 on the button and Gal Yifrach shoved from the big blind. Addamo called to put Yifrach at risk.
Gal Yifrach:
Michael Addamo:
Yifrach had Addamo dominated and the board kept Yifrach out in front — awarding him the double up with aces up.
| Michael Addamo | 16,700,000 | -900,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 2,500,000 | 1,200,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 5:03 PM Local Time
Erik Seidel Eliminated in 4th Place ($358,665)
Erik Seidel limped in from the small blind. Michael Addamo raised to 480,000 from the big blind and Seidel went over the top with a shove for 4.8 million. Addamo called.
Erik Seidel:
Michael Addamo:
The board ran out and Addamo's flopped pair of kings was enough to send Seidel to the rail in fourth place.
| Michael Addamo | 17,600,000 | 4,400,000 |
| Justin Bonomo | 5,500,000 | 200,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 1,300,000 | 0 |
| Erik Seidel | 0 | -4,100,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:53 PM Local Time
Addamo Leaves Yiffrach Short
Michael Addamo raised to 240,000 on the button and was called by Gal Yichrach in the big blind.
The flop came and Yifrach check-called a 120,000 bet from Addamo.
The turn brought the and Yifrach checked. Addamo bet 300,000 and Yifrach again called.
The completed the board and Yifrach checked a final time, Addamo bet enough to put Yifrach all in and Yifrach quickly folded.
| Michael Addamo | 13,200,000 | 500,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 1,300,000 | -800,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:45 PM Local Time
Seidel Pressures Addamo
Michael Addamo raised to 240,000 from early position and Erik Seidel called from the big blind.
The flop was and Seidel checked. Addamo bet 120,000 and Seidel check-called.
The turn was and both players checked. The river was .
Seidel fired 600,000 on the river and Addamo got away from it.
| Michael Addamo | 12,700,000 | 600,000 |
| Justin Bonomo | 5,300,000 | -1,000,000 |
| Erik Seidel | 4,100,000 | 700,000 |
| Gal Yifrach | 2,100,000 | -1,060,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:24 PM Local Time
Chris Hunichen Eliminated in 5th Place ($266,031)
Michael Addamo raised to 200,000 on the button and was called by Chris Hunichen in the big blind.
The flop came and Hunichen checked to Addamo, who continued for 100,000. Hunichen called.
The fell on the turn and Hunichen shoved for 1.12 million. Addamo called.
Chris Hunichen:
Michael Addamo:
Hunichen would need to hit one of his many outs to survive, but the river left Addamo with trips and Hunichen was eliminated in fifth place
| Michael Addamo | 12,100,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Chris Hunichen | 0 | -1,500,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:20 PM Local Time
Hunichen Doubles Through Addamo
Chris Hunichen shoved his last 660,000 from under the gun and Michael Addamo was the lone caller.
Chris Hunichen:
Michael Addamo:
The board ran out and Hunichen found another big double with queens full of threes.
| Michael Addamo | 10,600,000 | -875,000 |
| Chris Hunichen | 1,500,000 | 790,000 |
Thursday, October 21, 2021 4:18 PM Local Time
Seidel Backs Down
Justin Bonomo raised to 200,000 from under-the-gun and Seidel three-bet to one million from the small blind. Action folded back over Bonomo, who, undeterred, four-bet to 4.4 million.
Seidel let his hand go and Bonomo scooped the pot.
| Justin Bonomo | 6,300,000 | 1,600,000 |
| Erik Seidel | 3,400,000 | -935,000 |