Hand of the Week: Addamo Jams into Quads in $25k High Roller

Michael Addamo

The PokerNews live reporting team is hard at work covering every single bracelet event from the 2021 World Series of Poker, bring you all the action from the tables at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

In addition to all the live reporting available on PokerNews, we'll be bringing you the Hands of the Week every Thursday, picking up some of the most eye-catching hands from the past week.

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Setting the Scene

Coming off the back of a strong run, including victory in the 2021 Super High Roller Bowl, many expected Michael Addamo to put in a good performance in the first High Roller of the 2021 World Series of Poker.


Related: Big Names Expected in WSOP 2021 High Roller Tournaments


The $25,000 High Roller attracted some of the biggest names in poker, eager to return to action after two years away from the online felt. Daniel Negreanu, Jason Koon, Adrian Mateos and Erik Seidel all joined the field, hoping to become one of the opening week's WSOP champions.

Addamo was one of them, and was seated at a table that included former bracelet-winner Ankush Mandavia. However, any hopes of a third WSOP bracelet were soon dashed after a monumental cooler.

Ankush Mandavia - Michael Addamo

The Hand

With blinds at 1,500/3,000 with a 3,000 big blind ante, action was on a flop of 10210 and Mandavia had checked to Addamo. The Australian bet 13,000 and Mandavia called.

The turn was the Q and again Mandavia checked. Addamo bet 25,000 and Mandavia called again.

The river was the A. Addamo "looked like a statue" according to the updates, before eventually moving all in for 85,000.

Mandavia snap-called with 1010 for quad tens.

"Addamo looked sick as he stared at his cards," say the updates, with Addamo turning over AA for aces full.

The Aftermath

Players were allowed one re-entry in the $25,000 High Roller, and Addamo immediately took it. However, only an hour later he was eliminated again after running 77 into AK only for his opponent to river an ace.


Honourable Mention

Eli Elezra

Addamo's hand was not the only memorable hand this week to involve quads, so an honourable mention has to go to Eli Elezra in Event #7: $1,500 Dealer's Choice.

On Day 2, the tournament had just made the money before the following hand took place. The game was 5-Card Draw, and Hernan Salazar was all-in against Kevin Gerhart and the aforementioned Elezra.

Salazar discarded three, with Elezra and Gerhart both drawing one. After the draw, Elezra bet 42,000 and Gerhart moved all in. Elezra snap-called and was all in for 120,000..

"Quads!" he said, according to the updates, and turned over 8888K. "Sorry Salazar, I got dealt quads with a jack." Meanwhile, Gerhart flashed QQ553 for two pair

Salazar had already mucked his hand, and was eliminated in 46th place for a min-cash of $2,400. Elezra would go on to finish 20th for $3,593 and Gerhart 16th for $4,429.

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Managing Editor

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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