Justin Bonomo won the 2018 $1 million Big One for One Drop (WSOP photo)

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 AsQh. Holz folded his small blind but Bonomo defended with 7d4h. The 7c5c5h flop gave Bonomo the chance to check-raise all and Einhorn called. Neither the 2h turn or Kc 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 Ac5c, Holz called from UTG+1 with TcTs before Rick Salomon moved all in for 26,900,000 holding AhKh. 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 Ah to the entire table. Holz took some time to consider his options and eventually decided to call. The flop came AdKs2c to give Salomon two pair. The Qc turn gave Kaverman outs to the nut flush and Holz outs to Broadway. The river was the Td, 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 KsTh and Smith called off his last 12,500,000 holding QdTd. The board ran out Ad9s6sJsQh 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 KsJd before Bonomo three-bet to 9,500,000 with 8d4d and Holz called. The Qc4c3s flop got Bonomo to bet 5,000,000 and Holz called. The turn was the 8h and Bonomo check-called after Holz bet 11,500,000. The river was the 6d, 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 AsJd, Holz moved all in with Ac4s and Bonomo called. The board ran out Kd8s3s2cQd to give Bonomo the win.

Big One for One Drop Payouts

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