2021 World Series of Poker

Event #36: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship
Day: 3
Event Info

2021 World Series of Poker

Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$867,225
Entries
93
Players Left
10
Average Chip Stack
558,000
Total Chips
5,580,000
Level Info
Level
24
Blinds
0 / 0
Ante
0
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
10
Players Left
1

Event #36: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship

Day 3 Completed

Adam Friedman Defeats Phil Hellmuth to Win WSOP $10k Dealer's Choice for Third Straight Year ($248,350)

Level 24
Adam Friedman
Adam Friedman

Phil Hellmuth sought to extend his bracelet record to 17 on Wednesday in 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #36: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship, but he was denied during heads-up play by Adam Friedman, who pulled off an incredible comeback along with one of the most impressive feats in WSOP history.

Friedman took home $248,350 for the accomplishment, his fourth gold WSOP bracelet and the third consecutive time he's won this very same tournament. No player in history had ever gone back-to-back-to-back in the same WSOP event. This accomplishment is right up there with Michael Mizrachi winning the $50,000 Poker Players Championship, arguably the most prestigious non-Main Event tournament in poker, three times in his career.

“It’s really amazing. I didn’t expect this," Friedman said after the win. "I just wanted to have a shot to be able to do something that no one else has done in the 53-year history of the World Series and to do it in this event is pretty fantastic. Once people play the dealer’s choice, they always keep coming back.”

He continued: “This $10k is so much different from every other $10k event because if you look at every other tournament, there’s been a less percentage drop off compared to every other event. People that play in this tournament – they want to play in it again and again because it’s so addicting. There are so many games you don’t get to play in other events … so many thought processes and strategies. It’s such a unique tournament.”

The 2021 version of the $10k Dealer's Choice had 93 entrants, 14 of whom cashed. Friedman beat out a field of 122 entries in 2019 and 111 runners in 2018.

2021 WSOP Event #36: $10,000 Dealer's Choice Championship Final Table Results

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Adam FriedmanUnited States$248,350
2Phil HellmuthUnited States$153,493
3Jake SchwartzUnited States$107,861
4Carol FuchsUnited States$77,437
5Mike MatusowUnited States$56,826
6Andrew KelsallUnited States$42,646
7Matt GlantzUnited States$32,746
8Mike GorodinskyUnited States$25,741

Friedman now has four gold bracelets and over $2 million in WSOP cashes. This one certainly didn't come easy as he had to grind until the wee hours of the morning against a tough heads-up foe to capture the victory. Hellmuth, who won Event #31: $1,500 No-Liit 2-7 Lowball Draw on Sunday, had better than a 2-1 chip advantage at one point during heads-up play.

Cheered on by a large crowd of supporters there hoping to witness poker history, Hellmuth was unable to seal the deal this time. That doesn't take away from the fact that he's been the most outstanding performer during the first half of the 2021 WSOP. The 1989 World Champion now has five final table appearances this month, including one title, and has leapfrogged Anthony Zinno atop the WSOP Player of the Year standings.

Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth

Final Table Action

The final day played down at an anticipated pace, with the first elimination not occurring until the second level of play when Joao Vieira was scooped in a Badacey hand and finished in 10th place ($20,726). Next, the legendary Negreanu exited in ninth place ($25,741) after his last few chips were won by Matt Glantz in a game of limit hold ’em. Not long after, Mike Gorodinsky moved the last of his chips in the middle against Schwartz in a hand of pot-limit Omaha eight or better and was eliminated in eighth place ($25,741).

At this time the tournament combined to one “unofficial” final table of seven and play would continue until they were down to one.

Next to exit the tournament area was Glantz, who got the last of his chips in the middle in a three-way pot of Badacey, and he was out in seventh place ($32,746). Andrew "AJ" Kelsall played his final hand in Razz against Matusow and was eliminated in sixth place ($42,646). Meanwhile, Matusow played his final hand in Badugi against Hellmuth, his long-time pal, and the former was out in fifth place ($58,826). The last female standing, Carol Fuchs, was eliminated in fourth place ($77,437) via a hand of 2-7 pot-limit Triple Draw versus Friedman.

Adam Friedman
Phil Hellmuth was seeking bracelet No. 17.

Hellmuth then busted Schwartz in third place for $107,861, the same man he defeated heads up to win bracelet No. 16. That set up quite the intriguing heads-up match. Hellmuth had a sizeable lead against Friedman, but he couldn't hold onto that chip advantage. After much back-and-forth jockeying, Friedman ultimately prevailed to defend his 2018 title for the second WSOP in a row!

“Obviously I ran good in a lot of spots," Friedman said. "I pride myself on not having any games that I play terribly at. I think I’m a pretty well-rounded player. I keep working. I think about the game a lot and all I try to do is put myself in favorable positions. You have to be willing to play any of the 20 games at all times. You can’t be fearful of one of them."

As for defeating the most-decorated player in WSOP history, Friedman offered the following on Hellmuth: “I knew what games I wanted to play against Phil if I ever got heads up with him. The truth is I simply out-carded him. I made a lot of hands and picked off some bluffs at the right spot.”

Friedman will now turn his attention to the $50K Poker Players Championship (PPC) where he'll look to continue his mixed game success!

Adam Friedman's World Series of Poker (WSOP) Bracelets

YearEventField sizePlacePrize
2012$5k Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo2121st$269,037
2018$10k Dealer's Choice1111st$293,275
2019$10k Dealer's Choice1221st$312,417
2021$10k Dealer's Choice931st$248,350
Adam Friedman
Adam Friedman & Friends

Check out our 2021 WSOP Hub here!

Tags: Adam Friedman

Phil Hellmuth Eliminated in 2nd Place ($153,493)

Level 24
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth

Badugi

In what would be the last hand of the tournament, Phil Hellmuth raised on the button and was three-bet by Adam Friedman. Hellmuth went all in and Friedman called.

Both players stayed pat on all three draws and Friedman authoritatively tabled {9-Hearts}{6-Spades}{5-Clubs}{2-Diamonds} for a nine-dugi.

Hellmuth nodded his head in acknowledgment and mucked — ending the tournament and awarding Friedman his third straight $10k Dealer's Choice championship!

Stay tuned for a recap of the event.

Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
5,600,000
350,000
350,000
Defending Champion
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
Busted
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Tags: Adam FriedmanPhil Hellmuth

Friedman Makes the Correct Call; Extends Lead

Level 24
Heads Up
Heads Up

2-7 No-Limit Single Draw

Adam Friedman faced another pot-sized bet after the final draw versus Phil Hellmuth. After plenty of thought, he opted to call and tabled {j-Spades}{9-Clubs}{8-Spades}{7-Hearts}{5-Hearts} for a jack-nine low and was pushed the pot after Hellmuth mucked.

With that hand, Friedman has taken a commanding chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
5,250,000
1,550,000
1,550,000
Defending Champion
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
350,000
-1,550,000
-1,550,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Tags: Adam FriedmanPhil Hellmuth

Queens-up Keeps Hellmuth in Contention

Level 24

Stud Hi-Lo

Phil Hellmuth: {x-}{x-}/{q-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{10-Hearts}{4-Clubs}/{x-}
Adam Friedman: {x-}{x-}/{9-Hearts}{5-Hearts}{j-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}/{x-}

Hellmuth completed and made bets on fourth and fifth, which Friedman called. Friedman took the betting lead on sixth and Hellmuth called.

Friedman called a bet from Hellmuth on seventh and Hellmuth announced, "Queens up," and tabled {q-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds}. Friedman couldn't beat it and mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
3,700,000
-800,000
-800,000
Defending Champion
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
1,900,000
800,000
800,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Hellmuth on The Ropes

Level 24

2-7 No-Limit Single Draw

Adam Friedman raised to 100,000 on the button and Phil Hellmuth called.

Both players drew two and Hellmuth led out for 170,000.

"I'll take this one, you take the next one," Hellmuth quipped.

Friedman responded by raising to 575,000.

Hellmuth slid in a call and Friedman revealed {9-}{8-}{7-}{4-}{2-}. Hellmuth mucked and is now at a significant chip disadvantage.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
4,500,000
850,000
850,000
Defending Champion
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
1,100,000
-850,000
-850,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Friedman Hero Calls to Extend Lead

Level 24
Adam Friedman
Adam Friedman

2-7 No-Limit Single Draw

Phil Hellmuth fired a pot-sized bet into Adam Friedman after the final draw, and that sent Friedman deep into the tank. After a few, he opted to call.

"You got it; I paired", muttered Phil, and Friedman was shipped the pot after he tabled {a-Spades}{j-Hearts}{9-Clubs}{8-Hearts}{4-Spades} for an ace-jack low.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam Friedman us
Adam Friedman
3,650,000
150,000
150,000
Defending Champion
WSOP 5X Winner
Profile photo of Phil Hellmuth us
Phil Hellmuth
1,950,000
-150,000
-150,000
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 17X Winner
Poker Hall of Famer
StakeKings

Tags: Adam FriedmanPhil Hellmuth

Level: 24

Limit Flop / Draw: 40,000/80,000
Stud Games: 20,000 ante, 20,000 bring-in, 80,000 completion
No-Limit & Pot-Limit: 40,000/60,000 ante, 20,000/40,000 blinds