The Big One for One Drop is a $1,000,000 buy-in No-Limit Texas hold ’em tournament hosted at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). It was started in the year 2012 and became the highest buy-in poker tournament in history as well as the largest single payout offered. The Big One for One Drop ™ is a philanthropic poker event that debuted in 2012 with a sold out 48-seat tournament that raised US$5.6 million for One Drop. 2019 World Series of Poker - $1,111 No-Limit Hold'em Little One for One Drop - Poker tournament results, including winners and their payouts and winnings.

LAS VEGAS -- Winning any one of the three biggest high-roller poker tournaments of the year would be a standout accomplishment for any player. Two such titles would be borderline unthinkable coming into this year.

On Tuesday night, Justin Bonomo sealed the best year of high-roller results that any tournament poker player has ever had by winning the World Series of Poker's $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop and its $10 million first-place prize.

'Disbelief. Happiness. All over the place,' Bonomo said of his emotional state following the victory. 'The adrenaline has been going through me like crazy.'

With that payday, in addition to his Super High Roller Bowl wins in China in March and Las Vegas earlier this summer, Bonomo pushed his winnings for the year to just shy of $25 million, which moved him past Daniel Negreanu for the top spot on the all-time poker tournament money list with $42.98 million.

Though the total gross isn't quite an accurate tally of actual dollars pocketed, it is an indicator of how well Bonomo has played and how fortunate he has been to this point. His success earlier in the year allowed him to take a bigger piece of his own action, rather than relying on others to invest a bigger stake in his buy-in. With this victory, Bonomo was able to repay the confidence of those willing to take a chance in staking him.

'Because of the wins this year, I absolutely do get to take bigger pieces of myself,' said Bonomo. 'This was a million-dollar buy-in, so I was not able to put up anywhere close to even half the money myself. It honestly made this even more special; I get to share this win with literally hundreds of people, because I sold action on the internet, as well. Also, some of my closest friends in the world who helped me prepare for this tournament [had pieces], and I'm so happy to give back to them.'

Bonomo entered the final day of the tournament holding the chip lead, but it wasn't a smooth path to the title. Even after eliminating Dan Smith in third place, Bonomo was on the brink of losing the title early on in his heads-up match with eventual runner-up Fedor Holz -- only for his As-8h to beat pocket fours when an ace landed on the turn. From there, the heads-up match was on.

The match truly swung when Bonomo turned two pair with 8d-4d and called an all-in bluff from Holz to take a commanding heads-up lead. Holz doubled up twice, but with a third chance for Bonomo to knock Holz out of the tournament, Bonomo's As-Jd held against Holz's Ac-4s as the board ran out Ks-8s-3s-2c-Qd.

Despite all his success this year, with the ESPN cameras running and so much on the line, Bonomo said he was feeling the nerves as the tournament wound down. Even so, he was well-prepared for this life-changing moment.

'It's more money than I ever played for in my life, so I buckled down,' Bonomo said. 'I studied. I took the day off the day before and just studied all day. Meditation every single day. I took this as seriously as I possibly could.'

Holz earned $6 million in the Big One for One Drop, and he now sits fourth on the all-time tournament money list.

Before anyone could get paid at this final table, though, one player was going to walk away empty-handed after two-plus days of poker. Even with such a large buy-in, a $2 million bubble is no joke by any stretch.

What Is The One Drop Poker Tournament 2018 Entrants

Hedge fund manager David Einhorn, who poker fans will remember from his deep run in the 2006 WSOP main event and the inaugural edition of the Big One for One Drop in 2012 (he finished third), was the odd man out in sixth place. The last of his chips went all-in with As-Qh on a 7c-5c-5h flop, and Bonomo's 7d-4h held.

Just two hands later, the field dropped from five players down to three, after one of the most dramatic hands you're likely to see on TV this year -- because of the stakes and the way the hand played out. Byron Kaverman went all-in for 8.025 million preflop. Holz called. Rick Salomon reraised all-in for 26.9 million, and Holz thought it over.

As Holz thought about the decision, Salomon accidentally exposed the Ah. After using up all of his time extension chips and two full minutes, Holz called. Salomon and Holz were virtually even in chips, with the winner taking the chip lead and the loser either out or virtually out.

Holz: Tc-Ts

Salomon: Ah-Kh

Kaverman: Ac-5c

The Ad-Ks-2c flop put Salomon well out in front, but the Qc turn turned everything on its head. Kaverman could hit a flush, which would split the chips multiple ways, and Holz could win the whole pot outright with a non-club jack or a ten. After a short pause, the dealer burned and put out the river.

It was the Td, giving Holz a set, the pot and the chip lead. Kaverman was eliminated in fifth place, earning $2 million, and Salomon was out in fourth for $2.84 million.

The Big One for One Drop drew 27 total players. Each player's $1 million buy-in directly benefits the One Drop Foundation's global efforts for clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. There's no rake or fees taken from that $1 million; instead, $80,000 from each buy-in is set aside as a donation to the foundation.

Most of us can only dream of what it might feel like to win millions of dollars at the poker table, although there are some exceptionally talented players who have demonstrated such skill and guile during tournaments, the dream has become a reality.

Of course, the best poker players are drawn to the biggest tournaments like moths to a flame, eager to put both their buy-in funds and reputations on the line. These are high rollers who know their fortunes can change with every card turned, unafraid of taking their chances.

One of the great things about poker is that at many tournaments, pretty much anyone can walk away with the top prizes on offer, even becoming millionaires in some cases. However, the high roller tournaments are the ones which have offered the biggest rewards.

For those with the funds and the confidence to enter, such tournaments have offered stratospheric prize funds in the tens of millions, producing some of the biggest ever tournament winners. Let’s take a look at those who have scooped the highest ever poker wins.

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The first ever Big One for One Drop

When it was created by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté in 2012, the Big One for One Drop tournament instantly made history. The $1,000,000 buy-in was huge, which meant this was a poker tournament geared for high rollers, with more than 10% going to charity.

Hosted initially as a side event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, the prize pool up for grabs was a whopping $42, 666, 672 in total, with ESPN reporting that some of the biggest names in poker amongst the 48 entries, including Laliberté joining the competitors.

At the final table, British player Sam Trickett scooped $10,112,001 of the prize fund for himself, and that in itself remains one of the biggest cash wins of all-time. However, he wasn’t even the tournament winner and was eventually beaten heads-up in a tense finale.

The man who took down Trickett and everyone else was Antonio Esfandiari, an American former magician turned poker professional, landing the gigantic $18,346,673 top prize which he understandably celebrated with great euphoria.

Dan Colman keeps his cool to win big

Given the huge interest and popularity of the very first Big One for One Drop tournament in 2012, after a similar $100,000 buy-in tournament was held in 2013 and featured some 166 players, in 2014 it was time for another massive high roller event.

The 2014 Big One for One Drop tournament required a $1,000,000 buy-in once again, which narrowed the field down to 42 entries and a prize pool of $37,333,338 in total. Heads-up games with some amazing poker hands were observed, as the field of players was narrowed.

Eight players reached the final table and took a share of the total prize funds. Canadian poker star Daniel Negreanu was amongst the biggest winners, taking an impressive $8,288,01 in cash, thanks to his typically fearless approach of calling out rival players.

Nevertheless, even Negreanu couldn’t beat young American winner Dan Colman heads-up, who wrapped his arms around a huge stack of $15,305,668 in cash, having reigned supreme as the tournament winner at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Million One Drop Poker Tournament

The titanic Triton cash grab of 2019

As if those Big One for One Drop winners were impressive enough, the best was yet to come and when the biggest cash win in poker history arrived, it came far away from the casino capital of Las Vegas. Indeed, it came in the English capital of London in August 2019.

When the 2019 Triton Super High Roller Series was hosted at the Marriott Hotel, the $65,660,000 prize fund attracted all the big-name players, although the buy-in at just over $1,200,000 was not for the feint hearted.
In the end, it all came down to just two players and one of them was American professional poker icon Bryn Kenney. While his performance and winnings at Triton tournament would place him top of the All-Time Money List, the pro was beaten by an unlikely amateur in the end.

Aaron Zang, remember the name, because right now the Chinese amateur is the biggest individual tournament cash winner there’s ever been. This calm and introverted poker player won the $20,606,421 top prize at the Triton tournament in London.

What Is The One Drop Poker Tournament Winner

Prior to his remarkable 2019 triumph, Zang had staked millions over the years but hadn’t even broken into the top 100 poker players in China. Now he has become a name who few professional players will forget in a hurry.

Heading online

Of course, to win big money, you don’t have to attend a glamourous event. Chris Moorman is an 888 poker ambassador and the all-time leader in career online poker tournament earnings, amassing an impressive $14.8 million, proving that anyone can achieve success!

What Is The One Drop Poker Tournament

Anyone can win big at poker

While it’s fair to say that not many of us have the funds to enter high roller tournaments, especially given the huge buy-in fee required by the most famous events, it doesn’t mean to say we can’t aspire to reach that kind of level someday. Meanwhile, it’s all about honing your talents and gradually building up the funds.

What Is The One Drop Poker Tournament Jennifer Tilly

With his massive 2019 London win, Chinese poker afficionado Zang’s remarkable story just goes to show that with time and patience, plus the desire to keep learning and improving their game, anyone is capable of winning big if they’re willing to follow their dream.