Thailand-based Australian poker pro Michael Addamo (23) is $653,581 wealthier after winning the $2,620 buy-in The Marathon No-Limit Hold’em competition at the World Series of Poker Friday and claiming his first WSOP winner’s bracelet.
His victory comes at the end of a tough five-day contest in which 1,637 entries were recorded, among them former WSOP main event champ Martin Jacobson and WPT champ Taylor Paur, and represents his biggest pay day yet, bringing his career live tournament earnings to almost $1.4 million.
Belgian pro Bart Lybaert was the dominant force in the game as three-handed play was reached, with US pro Mark Sleet (50) and Addamo his remaining opponents.
The action was interesting as three skilled players mixed it up with plenty of aggression, and it looked as if the game was in the bag for the Belgian. However, following the dinner break, Addamo surged upward and Sleet and Lybaert were involved in some intense clashes which ultimately led to the Belgian’s exit in third place for $290,315.
Heads up, Sleet enjoyed a significant chip lead at the start and things looked glum for the Aussie, but he turned it around and was able to take the lead and ultimately best a very worthy opponent, sending Sleet home with a second placing prize of $403,870.
Other final table cashes from the $3,485,124 prize pool included:
Taylor Paur $210,995
Martin Jacobson $155,062
Ying Chan $115,244
Anton Morgenstern $86,631
Cate Hall $65,875
Ihar Soika $50,678