2021 WSOP: Michael Addamo dominates $50K High Roller for third career bracelet; triple crown Adam Friedman makes history at Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed

There are many reasons why players make the annual pilgrimage to the World Series of Poker, one of them is to test their skills against the creme de la creme and hopefully walk away golden. In the past couple of days, two champions have done just that, both players further cementing their names as one of the best the world has seen.

Winning his third gold bracelet was Australian superstar Michael Addamo who bulldozed through the star studded $50,000 High Roller NLH 8-Handed to collect another seven figure score and add another win to his incredible run this fall. At the $10K Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed, Adam Friedman made history as the first player to win the same event three years in a row. Friedman stopped the hot running 16x bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth at heads up. We’ve got those stories down below. 

*Information is based from WSOP.com, PokerNews live updates, and The Hendon Mob

Event 38: $50K High Roller NLH 8-Handed – MICHAEL ADDAMO – US$ 1,132,968

While there are plenty of events to catch the world’s elite in action, it is almost guaranteed to see them populating the ones with the largest price tags. This was the case at Event #38: High Roller No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed where 81 heavyweights forked out the US$ 50,000 buy in for a prize pool of US$ 3,877,875. After three days of play, hoisting the gold was none other than Australian pro Michael Addamo who defeated USA’s Justin Bonomo at heads up. Addamo earned his third career bracelet and the largest series payout to date of US$ 1,132,968. 

Regarded by many as one of the best No Limit Hold’em players today, Addamo has been a killing machine at Sin City. Last month, he crushed the infamous PokerGO high roller events, shipping three of five deep runs. This won him a combined US$ 6.1 Million in just ten days of work with the bulk of it at the Super High Roller Bowl event where he pocketed a career high score of US$ 3,402,000. At this event, the fat purse came down between Addamo and Bonomo, as it did again at the recent bracelet event. 

With his latest takedown, Addamo has accumulated over US$ 15 Million in tracked live tournament earnings. Briefly reviewing his WSOP achievements, he emerged into the scene in 2016 and has been present every year since. He won his first two bracelets in 2018; the first one at the $2,620 THE MARATHON No Limit Hold’em event and the second in Europe at the € 25,500 Super High Roller Series. The next two years saw close calls with a 3rd place finish at the $50K Final Fifty No Limit Hold’em and 2nd to David Peters at the WSOP Online $10K Heads Up No Limit Hold’em. In the past six years he has earned over US$ 4.5 Million at the series. 

With more than a handful of big buy in events yet to be tabled, we will likely see Addamo chasing more titles in the days to come. 

Event recap

It was the same result for all three days, in command was Addamo. On Day 1, he topped the 21 survivors; on Day 2 he delivered the bubble in Elio Fox then bagged a mountain of chips that dwarfed all others. Prior to Day 3, walking away in the money were series winners Anthony Zinno (12th) and Scott Ball (11th) while both Mustapha Kanit (8th) and Bin Weng (6th) reached their second final table. 

Five players returned on the final day with only Chris Hunichen hunting down his first gold. Hunichen has consistently done well at the series with over US$ 2.9 Million in earnings however still no bracelet. Unfortunately for him, his second showdown against Addamo led to a 5th place finish. Backed by over half the chips in play, Addamo proceeded to deny American legend Erik Seidel a 10th bracelet with A-K outdrawing pocket Eights. Taking out the next two players took some time with bracelet winner Gal Yifrach and 3x winner Bonomo scooping double ups. Addamo’s drop in chips earned Bonomo the lead though briefly as the Australian pro reclaimed it after cleaning out Yifrach in 3rd place. 

Heads up was reminiscent of their SHRB battle. Bonomo hoped to overcome Addamo in this round and was on track after jumping to a good lead but Addamo caught up to gain a slight edge when the final hand was tabled. Bonomo four bet shoved , Addamo tank-called , before the dealer burned and turned, per PocketFives the table talk went, 

Bonomo: This is a big hand
Addamo: It’s for all the chips basically
Bonomo: How many bracelets do you have?
Addamo: Two. You?
Bonomo: Three
Addamo: Get it even? Three each?
Bonomo: I don’t know if I agree to those terms.

The board ran for a victory straight to Addamo and his third bracelet. This was Australia’s first bracelet in the series and 31 in total. The only Aussie player to have more bracelets than Addamo is Jeff Lisandro with six. 

Date: October 19 to 21
Buy in: US$ 50,000
Entries: 81
Prize pool: US$ 3,877,875
ITM: 13 places

Payouts 

1st Michael Addamo – Australia – US$ 1,132,968
2nd Justin Bonomo – USA – US$ 700,228
3rd Gal Yifrach – USA – US$ 495,305
4th Erik Seidel – USA – US$ 358,664
5th Chris Hunichen – USA – US$ 266,031
6th Bin Weng – US$ – US$ 202,236
7th Sam Soverel – USA – US$ 157,666
8th Mustapha Kanit – Italy – US$ 126,141
9th Leonard Maue – Germany – US$ 103,635
10th Dan Smith – USA – US$ 87,500
11th Scott Ball – USA – US$ 87,500
12th Anthony Zinno – USA – US$ 80,000
13th Johan Guilbert – France – USA – US$ 80,000

Event #36: $10K Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed – ADAM FRIEDMAN – US$ 248,350

There’s no stopping Phil Hellmuth… oh wait, there is. Adam Friedman came from behind to steal the moment from Hellmuth and lock up his third consecutive $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship event. With this win, Friedman became the first player in poker history to win the same event three years in a row. Prior to winning the three golds, Friedman seized his first at the 2012 $5,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better. To date, he has a total of 34 series cashes amounting to over US$ 2.1 MIllion and four bracelets. 

Leading up to the event and the incredible win, Friedman was very active on Twitter. In one post, he shared his anticipation, 

“I have waited 28 months to play the 10K Dealer’s Choice. For the first and probably last time in my life, I can say it is not about the money. This is the most excited and nervous I’ve been for a tournament since the first time I played the Main Event in 2005. Time to 3peat!” 

After winning, he has been quiet on social media, likely still celebrating his accomplishment while runner up Hellmuth extended all the applause, 

“Let’s give credit where credit is due: congrats on the 3-peat in the Dealer’s Choice tournament, amazing feat! I had 4.2M in chips to Adam’s 1.4M at 12:30am to win my 17th bracelet, but Adam made a great comeback. THIS close to my 17th, and my second week.” 

The devastated Hellmuth may have missed it but he still has plenty of chances. He is already the hottest running player with five final tables and he overtook two time series winner Anthony Zinno for the top spot in the WSOP Player of the Year race. 

Event recap

The Dealer’s Choice is one of the toughest tournaments offered with players having to display their skills at numerous variants. 93 of the finest poker players turned up for a prize pool of US$ 867,225. As the bubble round slowly approached, Day 1 leader Ignacio Barbero lost a big chunk to Hellmuth then was cleaned out by 4x winner Mike Matusow. The money flowed at the fall of 3x winner Benny Glaser to Friedman at No Limit Hold’em. 

Most of the players in the money were decorated with either bracelets or rings or both, enough to weigh down a treasure chest. Missing out on final day action were 5x ring winner Raymond Henson (11th), 3x bracelet winner Scott Seiver (12th), and ring winner Ryan Miller (13th). Friedman boasted the second largest stack, just behind Jake Schwartz, while Hellmuth was wedged in the middle. 

On the final day, short stacked bracelet winner Joao Vieira (10th) dropped to Friedman at Badugi, 6x winner Daniel Negreanu had to settle for 9th place, and 2x winner Mike Gorodinsky exited in 8th to form the final 7 led by the defending champion Friedman.

At the round were several players back at the final table. Ring winner Matt Glantz was on his second, bracelet winner Andrew Kelsall and Schwartz were on their third, and Hellmuth was on his fifth. Glantz was first to go in 7th place, Hellmuth chunked Kelsall who then busted 6th, and Matusow (5th) also met his end against Hellmuth. By this point, Hellmuth was chip-leading and continued to distance himself by railing bracelet winner Carol Fuchs (4th). 

At three handed, Schwartz couldn’t control the ebb and flow of chips to bow out and miss his chance at a first bracelet. Heads up couldn’t have been more exciting with Hellmuth up in the count and seeking #17 while Friedman was looking to make history with a three-peat. However, Hellmuth let the advantage slip, and once Friedman gained command, he held on. Friedman’s biggest pot was at 2-7 No Limit Single Draw. From there, he clinched his third consecutive $10K Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed title in Badugi. 

Date: October 18 to 20
Buy in: US$ 10,000
Entries: 93
Prize pool: US$ 867,225
ITM: 14 places

Payouts 

1st Adam Friedman – USA – US$ 248,350
2nd Phil Hellmuth – USA – US$ 153,493
3rd Jake Schwartz – USA – US$ 107,861
4th Carol Fuchs – USA – US$ 77,437
5th Mike Matusow – USA – US$ 56,826
6th Andrew Kelsall – USA – US$ 42,646
7th Matt Glantz – USA – US$ 32,746
8th Mike Gorodinsky – USA – US$ 25,741
9th Daniel Negreanu – Canada – US$ 25,741
10th Joao Vieira – Portugal – US$ 20,726
11th Raymond Henson – USA – US$ 20,726
12th Scott Seiver – USA – US$ 20,726
13th Ryan Miller – USA – US$ 17,103
14th Chip Jett – USA – US$ 17,103

Current leaderboard standings

Apart from bracelets are two leaderboards to fight for with only the top three players per board winning a piece of the US$ 50,000 cash prize. At the WSOP Player of the Year race, 16x bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth overtook two time series winner Anthony Zinno for the top spot while Ryan Leng climbed up two notches into 3rd position. At the No Limits Velo race, Jason Koon is the current frontrunner with series winner Scott Ball on his tail. Taiwanese bracelet winner Pete Chen is ranked 3rd. With Michael Addamo’s recent win, he entered the board ranked 9th. 

Breakdown of prizes is the same per board. 

1st US$ 15,000
2nd US$ 7,500
3rd US$ 2,500

2021 WSOP Tally

Listed below are select series numbers, player achievements, bracelet winners, and players that have reached multiple final tables.

Event #1 – #38 prize pool: US$ 57,163,137
Online Event #1 – #4 prize pool: US$ 2,166,270
Entries: 48,479
Online entries: 2,216
Largest prize pool: Event #17: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER – US$ 7,110,210
Asia bracelet winner: Pete Chen – Online Event #3: $400 NLH Ultra Deepstack
First time bracelet winners: 22 (live) / 2 (online)
Multiple final tables: 22 players
Most final tables: Phil Hellmuth – 5

Millionaire winners

Michael Addamo – US$ 1,132,968 – Event #38: $50,000 High Roller NLH 8-Handed
Daniel Lazrus – US$ 1,000,000 – Event #17: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER

Two series wins

Anthony Zinno
Event #19: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
Event #27: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.

Sixteenth career bracelet won

Phil Hellmuth – Event #31: $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw

Fourth career bracelet won

John Monnette – Event #16: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship
Adam Friedman – Event #36: $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship

Third career bracelet won

Ryan Leng – Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed
Chance Kornuth – Event #29: $10,000 Short Deck No Limit Hold’em
David “Bakes” Baker – Event 34: $1,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Lowball Draw
Michael Addamo –  Event #38: $50,000 High Roller NLH 8-Handed

Second career bracelet won

Jeremy Ausmus – Event #3: $1,000 Covid-19 Charity Relief
Connor Drinan – Event #5: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
Ari Engel – Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
Yuval Bronshtein – Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold’em
Rafael Lebron – Event #14: $1,500 Seven Card Stud
Daniel Lazrus – Event #17: $1,500 Millionaire Maker NL Hold’em
Jim Collopy – Event #32: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E.
Martin “BathroomLine” Zamani – Online #1: $5,300 NLH Freezeout
Mark “NJ_AcesmarkA” Herm – Online #2: $500 NL Hold’em BIG 500

2021 WSOP Winners

Event #1: James Barnett – USA – Casino Employees – US$ 39,013
Event #2: Jesse Klein – USA – $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. – US$ 552,182
Event #3: Jeremy Ausmus – USA – $1,000 Covid-19 Charity Relief – US$ 48,687
Event #4: Long Ma – USA – $500 The Reunion 5M GTD – US$ 514,604
Event #5: Connor Drinan – USA – $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better – US$ 163,252
Event #6: Tyler Cornell – USA – $25,000 HR NL Hold’em 8-Handed – US$ 833,289
Event #7: Jaswinder “Jesse” Lally – Canada – $1,500 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed – US$ 97,915
Event #8: Zhi Wu – USA – $600 NL Hold’em Deepstack – US$ 281,406
Event #9: Ari Engel – Canada – $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship – US$ 317,076
Event #10: Michael Perrone – USA – $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty NLH Freezeout – US$ 152,173
Event #11: Jason Koon – USA – $25,000 Heads-Up NL Hold’em Championship – US$ 243,981
Event #12: Yuval Bronshtein – Israel – $1,500 Limit Hold’em – US$ 124,374
Event #13: Harvey Mathews – USA – $3,000 Freezeout NL Hold’em – US$ 371,914
Event #14: Rafael Lebron – USA – $1,500 Seven Card Stud – US$ 82,262
Event #15: Bradley Jansen – USA – $1,500 6-Handed NL Hold’em – US$ 313,403
Event #16: John Monnette – USA – $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship – US$ 245,680
Event #17: Daniel Larzrus – USA – $1,500 Millionaire Maker NL Hold’em – US$ 1,000,000
Event #18: Vladimir Peck – USA – $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball – US$ 134,390
Event #19: Anthony Zinno – USA – US$ 10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship – US$ 182,872
Event #20: Dejuante Alexander – USA – $1,000 Flip & Go NL Hold’em – US$ 180,665
Event #21: Dylan Linde – USA – $1,500 Mixed PLO / Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Big O – US$ 170,269
Event #22: Lara Eisenberg – USA – $1,000 Ladies NLH Championship – US$ 115,694
Event #23: Ryan Leng – USA – $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed – US$ 137,969
Event #24: Michael Prendergast – USA – $600 Pot Limit Omaha Deepstack 8-Handed – US$ 127,348
Event #25: Scott Ball – USA – $5,000 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em – US$ 562,667
Event #26: Dalibor Dula – Czech Republic – $1,000 Freezeout No Limit Hold’em – US$ 199,227
Event #27: Anthony Zinno – USA – $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. – US$ 160,636
Event #28: Dylan Weisman – USA – $1,000 Pot Limit Omaha – US$ 166,461
Event #29: Chance Kornuth – USA – $10,000 Short Deck NL Hold’em – US$ 194,670
Event #30: Michael Noori – USA – $1,500 MONSTER STACK  No Limit Hold’em – US$ 610,347
Event #31: Phil Hellmuth – USA – $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw – US$ 84,951
Event #32: Jim Collopy – USA – $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. – US$ 173,823
Event #33: Ran Koller – Israel – $800 8-Handed NL Hold’em Deepstack – US$ 269,478
Event #34: David “Bakes” Baker – USA – $1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw – US$ 87,837
Event #35: Anthony Koutsos – USA – $500 Freezeout NL Hold’em – US$ 167,272
Event #36: Adam Friedman – USA – $10K Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship
Event #37: Karolis Sereika – Lithuania – $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty NL Hold’em – US$ 195,310
Event #38: Michael Addamo – Australia – $50,000 High Roller NLH 8-Handed – US$ 1,132,968

Online #1: Martin “BathroomLine” Zamani – USA – $5,300 NLH Freezeout – US$ 210,600
Online #2: Mark “NJ_AcesmarkA” Herm – USA – $500 NL Hold’em BIG 500 – US$ 89,356
Online #3: Pete Chen – Taiwan – $400 NL Hold’em Ultra Deepstack – US$ 82,560
Online #4: Ryan “Santasbzack2” Stoker – USA – $888 PLO Crazy 8’s 8-Handed – US$ 95,338

Multiple final tables

Phil Hellmuth
6th – Event #2: $25,000 H.O.R.S.E
5th – Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
4th – Event #19: #10,000 Seven Card Stud
1st – Event #31: $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw
2nd – Event #36: $10K Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship

Jake Schwartz
3rd – Event #20: $1,000 Flip & Go NL Hold’em
2nd – Event #31: $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw
3rd – Event #36: $10K Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship

Andrew Kelsall 
2nd – Event #7: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed
6th – Online Event #4: $888 Pot Limit Omaha Crazy 8’s
6th – Event #36: $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship

Jason Koon
9th – Event #6: $10,000 High Roller NL Hold’em 8-Handed
6th – Online Event #1: $5,300 NLH Freezeout
1st – Event #11: $10,000 Heads Up NL Hold’em Championship

Anthony Zinno
1st – Event #19: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship
1st – Event #27: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.

Connor Drinan
1st – Event #5: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
2nd – Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed

Ryan Leng
1st – Event #23: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed
2nd – Event #30: $1,500 MONSTER STACK  No Limit Hold’em

Pierre Calamusa
2nd – Event #10: $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty NL Hold’em Freezeout
4th – Event #37: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty NL Hold’em Freezeout

Michael Gathy
3rd – Event #13: $3,000 Freezeout No Limit Hold’em
4th – Event #17: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold’em

Jonathan Jaffe
4th – Event #6: $25K HR NL Hold’em 8-Handed
3rd – Event $25: $5,000 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em

Joao Vieira
3rd – Event #18: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (Limit)
5th – Event #29: $10,000 Short Deck No Limit Hold’em

Robert Mizrachi
3rd – Event #5: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
7th – Event #9: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship

John Bunch
4th – Event #12: $1,500 Limit Hold’em
8th – Event #24: $600 Pot Limit Omaha Deepstack 8-Handed

Bin Weng 
5th – Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em
6th – Event #38: $50,000 High Roller NL Hold’em 8-Handed

Mustapha Kanit 
5th – Event #6: $25,000 High Roller NL Hold’em 8-Handed
8th – Event #38: $50,000 High Roller NL Hold’em 8-Handed

John Racener
6th – Event #16: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship
6th – Event $25: $5,000 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em

Jesse Yaginuma
6th – Online Event #2: $500 WSOP.com NLHold’em BIG 500
6th – Event 15: $1,500 6-Handed NL Hold’em

Craig Mason
7th – Event #13: $3,000 Freezeout NL Hold’em
7th – Event #25: $5,000 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em

Hal Rotholz
8th – Event #14: $1,500 Seven Card Stud
6th – Event #18: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (Limit)

Curtis Phelps
8th – Event #5: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better
7th – Event #27: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E.

Matt Glantz 
9th – Event #2: $25,000 H.O.R.S.E.
7th – Event #36: $10,000 Dealer’s Choice 6-Handed Championship

Christopher Vitch
10th – Event #9: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship
3rd – Event #31: $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker as we bring you updates and recaps throughout the series.