Michael Addamo

Born in 1994 in Melbourne, Michael Addamo is an esteemed Australian professional poker sensation, excelling both online and live. With an impressive four WSOP bracelets and $22M in live earnings — at the time of writing,he ranks 33rd on the All-Time Money List. Renowned globally, Addamo is a regular in high-stakes online tournaments, cementing his status as one of the world’s premier players.

Early Life

Born in Melbourne in 1994, Michael Addamo’s journey from chess to professional poker is a testament to his versatility and determination. While originally on the path to becoming an actuary, Addamo’s passion for strategy and pattern recognition drew him into the world of poker.

As a skilled chess player, he saw the potential for a seamless transfer of his abilities to poker. He was captivated by the intricate strategies and the opportunity to exploit opponents’ mistakes. His unwavering self-confidence fueled his ambition to excel in high-stakes poker, knowing that nothing would deter him.

Ultimately, Addamo made the pivotal decision to pursue poker over chess. The thrill of staking money on every choice was captivating for him. In poker, confidence in choices was crucial, and he thrived on the competitive nature of the game. Switching from chess to poker launched a remarkable journey fueled by determination and a passion for strategic thinking.

Michael Addamo: Poker Career

He joined live tournaments in 2012 and cashed for very small amounts. Three years later, in 2015, his live tournament performance started gaining momentum. He secured several five-figure payouts. The following year, Addamo joined the masses at the 2016 World Series of Poker and cashed in seven events. He nearly captured a bracelet in the US$1,500 No Limit Hold’em event where he finished 3rd for $196,202. This was the first six-figure payout of his live tournament career. In total, he earned $249,890 in the series.

In 2017, Michael Addamo excelled in live poker with wins at the Aussie Millions and PokerStars Championship Macau. Although he didn’t win a WSOP event, he ranked high in Australia’s GPI Rankings. However, the ban on online poker in Australia prompted him to relocate to Thailand to continue playing.

Addamo’s live poker success was remarkable and 2018 proved even more rewarding. He began with a strong second-place finish at the Aussie Millions, securing $154,925. Addamo continued his success in APPT Macau, earning three significant payouts, with the largest being $75,441 for third-place finish at the HK$50,000 NLHE. Next came his WSOP accomplishments. In the summer of 2018, he secured his first-ever bracelet, followed by a second one in Rozvadov that October during the WSOP Europe. Then, in 2019, he claimed third place in the WSOP $50,000 NLH High Roller for a hefty $697,375.

Michael Addamo Hot Streak Continues

In September 2021, Addamo’s incredible hot streak continued as he won back-to-back events at the Poker Masters, earning over $1.8 million and the Purple Jacket. He followed this with a victory in the 2021 Super High Roller Bowl, adding $3,402,000 to his winnings — his highest career payday to date. 

During that year, in October 2021, he secured his third WSOP gold bracelet. He took down the $50,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller – 8-Handed event for $1,132,968. He managed to claim yet another World Series victory the same year. This time, he finished first in the $100,000 NLHE High Roller, securing $1,958,569 and his fourth bracelet.

In May 2022, Addamo secured two Triton Series titles in Madrid, significantly boosting his tournament earnings to over $23.9 million. He overcame a tough table to claim victory in the €75,000 buy-in eight-max event.  The event featured 63 entries, with only the top eight cashing. Addamo dominated, eliminating Fedor Holz on the bubble. In the end, Addamo faced Stephen Chidwick in heads-up play, securing the victory for $1,210,721. 

Addamo’s strategic approach to high-stakes poker has paid off remarkably. In 2022 European Poker Tour Barcelona €50,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em single-day high roller event, earning him his 20th career title and a top prize of $941,721. In heads-up play, Addamo dominated, eventually winning the title against David Yan, who earned $617,514 as the runner-up finisher.

At Triton Cyprus in May 2023, Addamo’s stellar performance continued as he secured a 3rd-place finish, earning a commendable $796,000. The tournament’s ultimate victor was Malaysia’s Christopher Soyza, who claimed the title and a prize of $1,735,000.

Michael Addamo: Online Success

Michael Addamo has not only excelled in live poker but also made a significant impact in the online poker world. In 2016, Addamo won the PokerStars SCOOP $700 6-Max NLHE Event, earning $142,000 impressively.

2019 marked a standout year for Addamo as he accomplished a dual victory online. In just two days, he secured the $2,100 High Roller on PokerStars, winning $43,000. He also claimed the WCOOP $5,200 Sunday Million High Roller, pocketing $258,952 and his first WCOOP title. In 2020, he achieved second place in the Super High Roller Bowl Online, earning $1,187,500. He also secured sixth place in the 2020 SCOOP-74-H: $10,300 NLHE Main Event, winning $221,648.

Addamo’s online presence continued to shine in 2020. He won in the WPT World Online Championships, earning $1.28 million after a heads-up deal with Isaac Haxton. In March 2021, he secured first place in the $102,000 Mega High Roller at partypoker MILLIONS Online, winning $1.3 million. In May 2021, he won two events in the WPT Online Series on partypoker, showcasing his high-stakes skills.

Conclusion

Michael Addamo’s background and skill set provide compelling evidence of the striking parallels between chess and poker. Both games demand concentration, patience, critical thinking, and strategic planning as integral components of success. As he once expressed, his heartfelt aspiration was to attain the status of a professional poker player. Addamo has indeed remained true to his word, emerging as one of the most powerful players. Undoubtedly, he has marked his name indelibly in the hearts of poker enthusiasts worldwide, solidifying his reputation as a household name in the global poker community.