Six more players have been announced for the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop, with Daniel ‘Jungleman’ Cates among those joining Phil Ivey at Wynn Las Vegas in December.
Cates was named alongside Rick Salomon, David Einhorn, Talal Shakerchi, Chris Brewer, and Nick Petrangelo, with seven players now committed to playing poker’s biggest buy-in event, scheduled for December 18-20 as part of the 2023 WPT World Championship festival.
Of the six players named today, three – Salomon, Einhorn, and Shakerchi – have played every iteration so far of the highest of high roller tournaments.
Alexandre Meunier, One Drop Foundation’s Chief Marketing and Events Officer, said, “It is amazing to witness the first wave of entrants into the Big One, which includes some of our past participants as well as new faces.
“Rick, David and Talal have been a part of every Big One since its inception. We welcome all the players and cannot wait to add more incredible names to the lineup.”
History of One Drop
Founded in 2012 by Cirque Du Soleil maestro and poker fanatic Guy Laliberte, the One Drop Foundation’s mission is to ensure sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for communities facing extreme barriers.
It has had the support of the poker community from the word go, with Antonio ‘The Magician’ Esfandiari winning the inaugural 48-player Big One for One Drop back in 2012 for $18,346,673.
Two years’ later it was Daniel Colman in the winner’s circle, topping a field of 42 for a $15,306,668 payday, edging out Daniel Negreanu heads-up for the win.
In 2016, The Big One for One Drop left Vegas for the European climes of Monte Carlo, where Elton Tsang topped 27 rivals to pocket $12,248,912.
Back at the WSOP in 2018 and Justin Bonomo scooped the jackpot, his $10,000,000 win part of a $25 million sun-run that year.
Salomon and Einhorn have Big One previous
Now preparing for a fifth Big One for One Drop outing, it’s high stakes pro Salomon who holds the record for cashing in three of them, including a €3,000,000 ($3,307,206) third-place finish in the 2016 Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza.
His two fourth-place cashes either side of that podium finish were worth $2.8 million and $2.86 million respectively, adding up to almost $9 million in cashes.
Investor and hedge fund manager Einhorn has also cashed, for $4,352,000, in the inaugural event back in 2012.
Cates, Brewer and Petrangelo, not to mention Ivey of course, are all well-known high stakes pros but it will be Brewer’s first shot at the Big One.
Big One for One Drop winners
| 2012 (48 runners) | Antonio Esfandiari | $18,346,673 |
| 2014 (42 runners) | Daniel Colman | $15,306,668 |
| 2016 (28 runners) | Elton Tsang | $12,248,912 |
| 2018 (27 runners) | Justin Bonomo | $10,000,000 |
Featured image photo credit: Joe Giron/Triton
