WSOP: Justin Bonomo Closes out WSOP with Big One for One Drop Win
It seems that nothing can stop Justin Bonomo. Nearly six weeks after winning the $10,000 Heads Up Championship at the 2018 World Series of Poker, Bonomo won the biggest buy-in event on the calendar, the $1 million Big One for One Drop for a $10 million score and sole possession of the top spot on poker’s all-time earnings list.
On top of the pair of WSOP bracelet wins, Bonomo also won the Super High Roller Bowl in Macau in March, the Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas, two $25,000 Aria High Roller events and two €25,000 High Rollers at EPT Monte Carlo.
On Tuesday night he beat out a final table that included Fedor Holz, Dan Smith, and Byron Kaverman to pass Daniel Negreanu for #1 on the all-time earnings list. In 2018 alone, Bonomo has won $24,945,435.
The third and final day of the Big One for One Drop began on the stone bubble with six players still hoping to show some form of positive return on the $1 million of investment. Unfortunately for David Einhorn, who finished third in the inaugural Big One for One Drop, he ended up going home with nothing.
Action folded to Einhorn on the button and he raised to 1,100,000 with 
. Holz folded his small blind but Bonomo defended with 
. The 
flop gave Bonomo the chance to check-raise all and Einhorn called. Neither the 
turn or 
river were any help for Einhorn and he was eliminated on the bubble.
Two hands later, two more players were sent packing in a three-way preflop all in that included a bit of controversy. Kaverman moved all in from UTG holding 
, Holz called from UTG+1 with 
before Rick Salomon moved all in for 26,900,000 holding 
. Action was back on Holz at which point a discussion at the table began about whether or not one of Salomon’s cards had flashed. Tournament director Jack Effel determined it had and ruled that Salomon had to expose the to the entire table. Holz took some time to consider his options and eventually decided to call. The flop came 
to give Salomon two pair. The 
turn gave Kaverman outs to the nut flush and Holz outs to Broadway. The river was the 
, giving Holz a set and eliminating Kaverman in fifth and Salomon in fourth place.
Three-handed play began with Holz holding nearly 48% of the chips in play. Holz continued to hold that lead, even after Bonomo sent Dan Smith packing in a blind vs. blind battle. Holz folded his button, Bonomo moved all in from the small blind holding 
and Smith called off his last 12,500,000 holding 
. The board ran out 
to give Bonomo the ace-high straight and send Smith out in third.
Even after that pot, Bonomo still had an uphill climb ahead of home with just 37.5% of the chips. The pair battled back and forth with Bonomo gaining ground before he took the chip lead after catching Holz bluffing.
Holz raised to 2,800,000 with 
before Bonomo three-bet to 9,500,000 with 
and Holz called. The 
flop got Bonomo to bet 5,000,000 and Holz called. The turn was the 
and Bonomo check-called after Holz bet 11,500,000. The river was the 
, Bonomo checked again and then snap-called Holz’s shove. That hand put Bonomo in front with 81.4% of the chips in play.
Holz managed to double-up twice but ultimately wasn’t able to reverse his fortunes. On the final hand of the night, Bonomo completed with , Holz moved all in with 
and Bonomo called. The board ran out 
to give Bonomo the win.
Big One for One Drop Payouts
- Justin Bonomo – $10,000,000
- Fedor Holz – $6,000,000
- Dan Smith – $4,000,000
- Rick Salomon – $2,840,000
- Byron Kaverman – $2,000,000