The Big One for One Drop event at the 2014 WSOP has drawn to a conclusion. Colman has taken home more than $15.3 million having outlasted a field of 42 players and defeating Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu in the heads-up battle.
The Big One for One Drop featured many well-known names in the poker world. In total there were 30 professionals in the field, which included the defending champion of the “One Drop” Antonio Esfandiari, last year’s runner-up Sam Trickett, Poker Hall of Famer Erik Seidel, and 2012 WSOP Main Event champ Greg Merson.
Colman had a small chip lead over Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu going into the heads-up match, but the pair swapped the chip lead on several occasions. However, a key pot swung things the way of Daniel “mrGR33N13” Colman as he is known in the online poker world.
Negreanu check called both the flop and turn on a board of 4s-8d-Js-As-4h. He checked again on the river and Colman bet big again. Negreanu went into the tank but ended up calling the 18 million in chips, and Colman turned over A-4 for a rivered boat, which resulted in his rail going crazy.
The 2014 Big One for One Drop attracted fewer players then last year’s event which drew 48 players. This is not hugely surprising considering the Big One for One Drop debuted in 2013 and $1 million is a lot of money to put up for a poker tournament regardless of who you are.
Of course, Daniel Colman didn’t rise from complete obscurity after winning the world’s biggest buy-in tournament. He made a name for himself on the live tournament circuit after taking down the EPT Grand Final €100k Super High Roller for more than $2 million.
There were nine players that returned back to the tables on Day 3 of the Big One for One Drop with only eight positions paid, so there was still one player that would get knocked out empty handed.
Unfortunately, Tom Hall was the unlucky bubbleboy after his pocket tens couldn’t manage to beat Negreanu’s ace-queen which paired up on the flop. Cary Katz collected a very handy $1.3 million for his eighth place finish, busting out again at the hands of Negreanu.
Next to be eliminated was Paul Newey who received $1.4 million for his seventh place finish. He would not be too displeased with the result having started the final day with the shortest stack.
Scott Seiver finished in sixth place which was good for close to $1.7 million, and again it was Negreanu that inflicted the damage putting him in a good position to win the tournament.
After his elimination in the One Drop, it was Tobias Reinkemeier, Rick Salomon, and finally Christoph Vogelsang who was resigned to watching the action from the rail to set up the heads-up match between the two Daniel’s.
The Big One for One Drop is unique in the fact that not only is it the biggest buy-in poker tournament it also raises money for the One Drop Foundation. This year, the tournament raised $4.6 million for charity.
Despite finishing second in the Big One for One Drop, Negreanu now leads the all time tournament money list, bumping Antonio Esfandiari for the top spot after adding another $8.3 million in cash prize money due to this deep run.
Below were the payouts of all the money finishers in the WSOP’s Big One for One Drop for 2014:
1st: Daniel Colman – $15,306,668
2nd: Daniel Negreanu – $8,288,001
3rd: Christoph Vogelsang – $4,480,000
4th: Rick Salomon – $2,800,000
5th: Tobias Reinkemeier – $2,053,334
6th: Scott Seiver – $1,680,000
7th: Paul Newey – $1,418,667
8th: Cary Katz – $1,306,667