Less than one month ago, Michael Addamo and Justin Bonomo, two of the most respected nosebleed tournament players in the game today, faced off heads-up at the end of Super High Roller Bowl VI. On that day, Addamo walked away with the win and the $3.4 million prize.

On Thursday at the 2021 World Series of Poker, the two heavyweights made it to the end of Event #38, the $50,000 High Roller, and faced off again for a high-stakes rematch – this time with a WSOP bracelet at stake. And once again, it was Addamo who came out on top, besting Bonomo and the 81 player field to walk away with another seven-figure score of $1,132,968.

For the better part of two days, Addamo dominated the event. He held a healthy chip lead at the end of Day 1, aggressively extended it into Day 2, and started the final table with nearly 50% of the total chips in play at his disposal. Although Addamo did not go wire-to-wire at the final table, losing the chip lead to Bonomo for a brief period, he did ultimately eliminate all four of his final table opponents in order to take home the third gold bracelet of his career.

Chris Hunichen started the final table as the short stack but managed to find a double against Justin Bonomo in the early goings and then again against Addamo. However, he was unable to keep the momentum when he squared off again against the chip-leading Addamo. With the blinds at 60,000/120,000 (120,000 bb ante). Addamo put in a raise to 200,000 on the button with and with roughly 12 big blinds Hunichen defended his big blind holding . The flop came giving Addamo top pair and Hunichen an over and backdoor draws. Hunichen checked and Addamo continued for a small bet which Hunichen called. When the fell on the turn, Hunichen open-shipped for his final 10 bigs and Addamo made the call. Hunichen was looking for a heart, a ten, or a queen to survive, however, the river was the giving Addamo trips and sending ‘Big Huni’ out in fifth place for $266,031.

A big clash between Addamo and 9-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Erik Seidel took place just 40 minutes later. The action folded to Seidel in the small blind who just completed holding . Addamo, in the big blind, made it 480,000 with his . Seidel then shipped his last 40 big blinds and Addamo made the call. The flop came giving Addamo a huge lead in the hand. Seidel needed an eight and an eight only to survive. The turn came the and before the even completed the board Seidel was shipping his chips into the middle for Addamo. Seidel’s quest for bracelet #10 ended in fourth place for which he collected $358,655.

Addamo held a massive chip lead but then something a little unexpected took place. Bonomo doubled through Addamo, and moments later Gal Yifrach did as well and for the first time in days, Addamo lost his chip lead as Bonomo became the big stack. However, that didn’t last long.

Shortly after the three players returned from a break, with the blinds up to 80,000/160,000 (160,000 bb ante) Yifrach and Addmo played yet another big pot only this time, Addamo came out on top. After Bonomo folded his button, Yifrach limped in from the small blind with . Addamo, holding , put in a raise to 520,000 in the big blind. Just like Seidel did in his bustout hand, Yifrach three-bet shipped his final 23 bigs and Addamo made the call with his pocket pair. The flop came keeping Addamo’s eights in the lead but giving Yifrach a gutshot straight draw to go along with his one overcard. The turn was the and Yifrach was left looking for an ace. The river was an ace, but it was the bringing in a flush for Addamo and ending Yifrach’s run in third place for $495,305.

This set up what many people were hoping for, a rematch of the Super High Roller Bowl heads-up finale between Addamo and Bonomo, this time with a bracelet on the line.

Addamo’s elimination of Yifrach helped him take back the chip lead, however, the difference in chips between the two was just four big blinds.

Heads-up play wasn’t nearly as extensive as it could have been with both players sitting with more than 70 big blinds each. Bonomo grabbed an early lead and Addamo closed the gap. Addamo took a small lead before the final hand took place.

On the button, Bonomo raised to 450,000 holding the and Addamo three-bet to 1.8 million from the big blind with his . Bonomo then three-bet shipped for more than 11 million and Addamo, after a brief time in the tank, Addamo called for it all.

“This is a big hand,” Bonomo said as an understatement.
“It’s for all the chips basically,” Addamo replied with a smile on his face.

“How many bracelets do you have?” Bonomo asked.
“Two. You?”
“Three.”
“Get it even? Three each?” Addamo said.
“I don’t know if I agree to those terms,” Bonomo joked right before the dealer fanned the flop.

The flop came bringing Bonomo bottom pair and a straight draw and giving Addamo middle pair and a straight draw as well. The turn was the giving Bonomo trips and a chance to cripple Addamo. However, the river was the bringing in Broadway for Addamo and eliminating Bonomo as the runner-up for a $700,228 score.

Addamo picked up a career-high WSOP score of $1,132,968 (the 4th largest of his career) and his second WSOP gold bracelet.

WSOP $50K High Roller Final Table Payouts

Michael Addamo – $1,132,968
Justin Bonomo – $700,228
Gal Yifrach – $495,305
Erik Seidel – $358,665
Chris Hunichen – $266,031