WSOP 2014 Event #11 - Bonomo Wins First Career Bracelet

After three lost WSOP heads-ups, including this year’s $10,000 Limit 27TD event, Justin Bonomo has finally scooped in the coveted gold bracelet.

10 players qualified for Day 2 of WSOP Event #11 $1,500 6-max No Limit Hold’em with Mike Sowers in the lead; the holder of numerous WSOP, WPT and EPT ITM finishes had 1,413,000 in chips to his name. He was closely followed by this year’s Event #6 $ 10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw runner-up Bonomo with 1,294,000 and an ambition to finally score a title after three 2nd finishes in the series. WSOP 2013 Event #18 $1,000 No Limit Hold’em winner Taylor Paur came in third with 1,120,000.

Play commenced on Level 22 (2,000/8,000/16,000) and as soon as the very first hand, the field was down to 9 players: shoprtstack Frank Debus pushed for 279,000 on Sowers’ 32,000 raise, the latter called and tabled 8 8. Debus held J 7 and the rainbow board did not help him.

In only 12 minutes, the 6-handed Final Table was set: first, Sowers eliminated Todd Anderson, and then Viet Vo got railed, pushing with K J on Niel Mittelman’s open. The latter had 6 6 and he improved to a set on the flop. Finally, Sebastian Pauli bubbled the finale, also showing sixes but it was Daniel Strelitz’ jacks this time that evolved to trips on the board.

The Final Table seat draw was as follows:

Seat 1: Daniel Strelitz – 1,127,000
Seat 2: Taylor Paur – 1,125,000
Seat 3: Mike Sowers – 1,882,000
Seat 4: Justin Bonomo – 1,442,000
Seat 5: Lance Harris – 718,000
Seat 6: Niel Mittelman – 949,000

Still on Level 22, Paur was out in 6th place: he called Sterlitz’ all-in and showed Q Q against the latter’s A K. The board came 8 T T 5 K.

On Level 23 (3,000/10,000/20,000), Mittelman was railed when he shove with Q Q and the hand got cracked by Sowers’ 9 9 as the 9 fell on the river. Lance Harris followed before Sowers eliminated Sterlitz too, getting pocket aces and improving to a set.

Mike Sowers – 5,532,000
Justin Bonomo – 1,611,000

A long heads-up followed, especially when compared to the fast pace of the day till that point. In the 2.5 hours of play, Bonomo was down to 1,300,000 in chips before managing to come back by Level 25 (5,000/15,000/30,000). By continuously winning pots, he even took over the lead before playing with about equal stacks again soon.

At this point, Bonomo opened to 75,000, Sowers raised to 230,000 and Bonomo called. The flop came J 3 2, Sowers bet 260,000 and Bonomo called again. On the 7 turn, Sowers fired 510,000 and, if grudgingly, Bonomo called. The river came 4, Sowers started to tank and then moved all-in to see Bonomo’s insta-call with A 5 for a rivered straight. Sowers tabled J 2 and was left with only 25,000 in chips.

While doubling up multiple times, Sowers could not come back anymore and was behind when he called Bonomo’s 80,000 open in the last hand. The flop came 4 8 7, Sowers check-raised all-in on Bonomo’s 110,000 bet and the latter called.

Bonomo: T 3
Sowers: Q T

Turn: 9
River: 8

Bonomo won with a flopped flush.

After three runner-up finishes in WSOP tournaments, the coveted bracelet finally found its way to Bonomo, together with $449,980 in prize money.

End results:

1st: Justin Bonomo – $449,980
2nd: Mike Sowers – $278,518
3rd: Daniel Strelitz – $180,587
4th: Lance Harris – $119,977
5th: Niel Mittelman – $80,341
6th: Taylor Paur – $55,703