Justin Bonomo tops All-Time Money List with $10 Million Big One for One Drop triumph

In 2016, the poker world stood in awe as Fedor Holz put together a run of live tournament results that few thought they would see again. He accumulated around $16 million through that calendar year, winning High Roller tournaments with apparent ease. Fast forward just two years, and Holz’s epic run has now been surpassed by Justin Bonomo, who fittingly, did so by beating Fedor Holz heads up to win the Big One for One Drop title.

The 2018 installment of this mammoth high roller, commanding a $1 million buy in, attracted 27 runners and generated a prize pool of $24,840,000. Some of the best players in the world pulled up chairs, along with the odd hopeful businessman. Each player attempting to get their hands on the $10 million 1st prize. Former champion Antonio Esfandiari was among the early fallers on day 1, with Holz and Bonomo bagging up below their starting stacks after a difficult opening day. Phil Ivey and Negreanu were among the big stacks after that first day, but their challenge would run out of steam before the final table was set.

As the last six players took their seats, Justin Bonomo had fought his way to a comfortable chiplead, with more than twice the chips of his nearest competitor, Fedor Holz. In the end, nobody could derail the two stars, and heads up play became a battle of the high-flying record setters. Bonomo went in with a chip deficit but came out holding the bracelet after a back and forth duel and came out of the confrontation holding the $10 million top prize.

Big. Bigger. Bonomo. @JustinBonomo wins the Big One for @OneDrop_All_In for $10,000,000 and @DreaRenee_N catches up with the champ for another @WSOP “411” update! pic.twitter.com/jC4dEG2nWX

— Poker Central (@PokerCentral) July 18, 2018

Justin Bonomo Overtakes Daniel Negreanu on All-Time Money List

In claiming this prize, Bonomo not only claimed a place in poker’s history as a One Drop winner, but also overhauled Holz’s record run from 2016, taking his winnings for the year past $23 million.

He also picked up his second bracelet of the series and took over from Daniel Negreanu at the top of poker’s all-time money list. Daniel Negreanu had been top of the pile with $39.6 million, but Bonomo’s victory takes his tally to $42.9 million.

Congrats to @JustinBonomo on reaching the top spot on the all-time money list!

I feel both impressed and relieved.

Impressed by the year he has had.

Relieved of the pressure of keeping all these young high rollers off my back!

— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) July 18, 2018

The final payouts for the tournament are as follows:

1st – Justin Bonomo – $10,000,000
2nd – Fedor Holz – $6,000,000
3rd – Dan Smith – $4,000,000
4th – Rick Salomon – $2,840,000
5th – Byron Kaverman – $2,000,000