WSOP Day 55 Review: Michael Addamo Wins $100k High Roller; Goodbye to the Rio After 17 Years

After 17 years of drama and decision at the felt, the 2021 World Series of Poker has brought the curtain down on the famous old tournament festival’s time at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Michael Addamo claimed the $100,000 High Roller victory for $1.95 million for his fourth WSOP bracelet and Boris Kolev won a first-ever bracelet to become the final winner as the 2021 WSOP wound to a close.

The final five players returned to the felt in the $100,000-entry Event #87 and with the High Roller event already in the money, it was all about whether Michael Addamo could close out a victory that he set up with a stunning performance on the penultimate day.

Heading into the final, Addamo had a massive chip lead over Henrik Hecklen, but after the Dane’s surprise exit, everything changed, and Sam Soverel became chip leader. With some great play from both Sean Perry and Kevin Rabichow too, everything was on the line.

Watch how Addamo came back to win in incredible fashion right here:

In the final event of the 2021 World Series of Poker, Boris Kolev saw out a dramatic final day’s play as he came from the middle of the pack to surprise everyone and grab his first WSOP title in the final even to be hosted at the Rio.

The Bulgarian, whose victory earned him a whopping $511,184 top prize as well as the gold WSOP bracelet, came as a day of drama began with controversy. When all-time money list crusher Justin Bonomo, who is only bettered by Bryn Kenney in lifetime tournament earnings, noticed that Ben Yu’s previous result in one of the WSOP Online events hadn’t been counted, some scrambling of figures needed to be done.

Yu was leading with 30 left at the start of the day and if he could win, then that would accumulate enough points to overtake Josh Arieh at the death. Yu began well, but a series of defeats in vital hands cut his stack down to size, not least in some scuffles with Shaun Deeb. When Yu busted in 10th place, Arieh’s achievement was locked up for good and the two-time bracelet winner in 2021 (he has four overall) was crowned the official WSOP Player of the Year for the second and final time in 2021!

Back in action at the felt, just eight players made the final table, and at that stage, both the Bulgarian Kolev and Uri Reichenstein were looking good for deep runs to the podium places. After players such as Lee Markholt and George Wolff bowed out in 8th and 7th places respectively, the race was on for the bracelet.

PokerStars player Ramon Colillas missed the podium in fourth, before Huy Nugyen, who had looked good on the build-up to the final table, couldn’t make heads-up. Reichenstein had come close to gold all Autumn, making several deep runs and many final tables, but the Israeli ran a massive bluff into Kolev just when it was destined for disaster. Kolev had rivered a flush and called Reichenstein’s bluff to seal victory and a first-ever WSOP bracelet in the last event ever to be staged in the Rio.

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