Farzad Bonyadi Wins 4th WSOP Bracelet in Prestigious $10K No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Championship

There is a long list of talented mixed game players that call themselves four-time WSOP bracelet winners. Mike Matusow, Bobby Baldwin, Eli Elezra, John Monnette, Mickey Appleman, Puggy Pearson, and Amarillo Slim Preston are a few that lead the list, and the latest player to join such an exclusive group is Farzad Bonyadi after he won the Event #49: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw Championship at the 2021 World Series of Poker.

“It’s good to have the fourth one,” Bonyadi said after his win. “I like it. Who doesn’t like it? I’m happy about it.”

Bonyadi topped a talented group of players on the final day that included defeating Johannes Becker heads-up, along with Benny Glaser, Dustin Dirksen, Jake Schwartz, and Julien Martini at the final table on his way to being the last player standing in the 122-entrant field. Bonyadi collected the $297,051 first-place prize and his fourth WSOP bracelet as his WSOP earnings climbed to over $2.27 million from just 31 total cashes since his poker tournament career began back in 1994.

“I think I played a good game. I really do,” Bonyadi said about the way he handled the final table after beginning as the short stack. “I bluffed when I had oo, I caught a few cards too. But I think I played a good game.”

The final day of play began with eight players remaining as Daniel Negreanu’s 13th cash for the series would result in an eighth-place finish. Benjamin Diebold and Julien Martini would follow next before the PokerGO stream began with the final five players and Becker holding a slight lead ahead of Glaser. Schwartz was at his fifth final table, but his 11th cash of the series would result in him falling in fifth-place when his nine-draw failed to hit against Becker’s pat-jack.

Glaser would push his way into the chip lead and further his advantage before Dirksen exited in fourth-place when his eight-seven draw couldn’t improve against Bonyadi’s pat-ten. With the chip stacks fairly even, Bonyadi time as the short stack would come to an end as he secured a huge double into the chip lead with a pat-ten against Glaser who drew one and could only find an ace. Glaser’s quest for a fourth WSOP bracelet ended in third-place when Bonyadi drew and made a nine as Glaser check-called all-in and was shown the outdraw. Bonyadi entered heads-up play with nearly a two-to-one advantage over Becker and immediately began building upon his lead before the final hand saw …. to award Bonyadi his fourth WSOP bracelet and $297,051 in prize money.

Bonyadi isn’t considered a household name like some of his fellow four-time WSOP bracelet winners such as Shaun Deeb, Anthony Zinno, Robert Mizrachi, Brian Hastings, Dominik Nitsche, or Joe Cada. The respect and admiration for Bonyadi are echoed by his fellow mixed game players and peers who regard him as an extremely talented poker player that has stood the test of time.

“Definitely in 2-7,” Negreanu said on Bonyadi being underrated as a poker player. “That’s his game. He’s been around a long time and he’s just got a good sense for that. He’s got good card sense. I would say he’s underrated for sure.

Having amassed over $4.5 million in lifetime tournament earnings since his first career cash in 1994, Bonyadi has now won over $2.27 million at the WSOP that includes 31 cashes, 11 final tables, and four WSOP bracelets. However, Bonyadi hasn’t been playing as much as other players from his generation at the WSOP in recent years, and his first event this year also resulted in his fourth WSOP bracelet.

“I don’t play tournaments that much. This was my first tournament this year,” Bonyadi said. “I haven’t been playing poker for two years. I haven’t played mixed games for so long. Feels good to know that you’re not too rusty.”

Bonyadi is now a four-time WSOP bracelet winner, and a two-time WSOP bracelet in his favorite game, “This is my favorite game. I always wanted one bracelet in this event.”

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