Australian superstar Michael Addamo continued his torrid 2021 on Saturday and Sunday by winning the final two events of the 2021 Poker Masters. Addamo swept Events #11 and #12 of the series: $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em and $100,000 No-Limit Hold'em.
Addamo's win on Saturday in the $50,000 Event #11 was worth $680,000, and his Sunday triumph in the $100,000 series finale earned him another $1,160,000. The two events also featured the highest buy-ins of the 12-event 2021 Poker Masters slate.
The victories also gave Addamo the Poker Masters' series champion title. That honor included the Purple Jacket and an additional $50,000 bonus. Addamo secured the series-long honor despite playing in only three of the 12 events.
“It’s been an incredible run of winning a lot of all ins – it’s just insane,” a fatigued Addamo told series sponsor PokerGO. “I tend not to sleep too well during these things, so I always look forward to the sleep after these." He noted his relief at locking down the twin wins, but added, ”I’m sure the excitement will come soon.”
The combined $1.84 million in winnings pushed Addamo over the $10 million mark in recorded tourney cashes. He currently ranks third on Australia's all-time money list and is closing in on the country's career leaders, Joe Hachem and Kahle Burns. Addamo is just 27 and is also a two-time WSOP bracelet winner.
Addamo routs final table in Event #11 triumph
Addamo arrived at the five-player finale of the $50,000 no-limit hold'em Event #11 with the chip lead and surged to the first of his two wins from there. A well-timed heater allowed him to bust all four of his remaining opponents to close out the win.
First, Addamo bounced Cary Katz when his kings held up against pocket jacks. He followed that up with a knockout of Alex Foxen when Addamo's A-K stayed ahead of Foxen's K-J. Next, the only final-table hand featuring an all-in race instead of a dominating hand also went Addamo's way, when David Coleman's Q-J couldn't connect against Addamo's pocket fours.
Coleman's third-place exit left only Jason Koon in Addamo's path, and Koon fared no better. Addamo continued to hold a large edge, and in the final hand, he squared off with K-J against Koon's K-9. Like the others, Koon found no help on the runout, and the Event #11 title was Addamo's.
Event #11 Final Results
- Michael Addamo - $680,000
- Jason Koon - $442,000
- David Coleman - $272,000
- Alex Foxen - $187,000
- Cary Katz - $119,000
Repeat performance in $100,000 NLH secures purple jacket
Soon after his Event #11 triumph, Addamo entered Event #12, the series-closing $100,000 high-roller. It was in many ways a déjà vu story, as Addamo powered his way into another five-player finale on Sunday.
Again, Addamo began logging the knockouts. He bounced a short-stacked Mikita Badziakouski in fifth place to start the action, then sent Stanley Tang to the cashier's cage in fourth. Form changed just briefly at that point, though, when Nick Petrangelo logged the only final-table knockout of the weekend not registered by Addamo: Petrangelo eliminated Foxen when his K-7 held up against Foxen's K-4.
Even with the knockout, however, Petrangelo still faced a huge chip deficit to Addamo as their heads-up duel began. Addamo's rush remained intact as well, and he picked off a three-barrel Petrangelo bluff to close out the win. Petrangelo originally raised pre-flop with K-8, and Addamo called with a modest 7-3.
A 7-2-2 flop, however, gave Addamo the lead. Petrangelo led out for 50,000, and Addamo check-raised to 165,000. When a 10 arrived on the turn, Petrangelo bet another 250,000, and Addamo called. The river brought a 5. This time, Petrangelo moved all in for his remaining 540,000. Addamo pondered, then called, and his pocket sevens were good for the pot and the win.
Event #12 Final Results
- Michael Addamo - $1,160,000
- Nick Petrangelo - $754,000
- Alex Foxen - $464,000
- Stanley Tang - $319,000
- Mikita Badziakouski - $203,000
Featured image source: PokerGO
