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'It's Like a Dream, It's Magic', Santhosh Suvarna Captures Third WSOP Bracelet in $50,000 High Roller
Few can boast a poker record to rival Santhosh Suvarna. He sits atop India's all-time money list, has taken down some of the toughest fields the game has to offer, and now, with victory in Event #29: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, has claimed his third World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, all of which have come in high roller events.
His latest success also moves him into a share of the record for the most WSOP bracelets won by an Indian player.
"Oh my god, it's like a dream, it's magic. I feel very proud, and I feel very good".
Those were Suvarna’s immediate thoughts after a jubilant celebration with his rail, moments after overcoming a 167-entry field stacked with poker’s elite. The victory earned him $1,992,870 from a $7,932,500 prize pool, but the bracelet mattered most.
"Any bracelet is always good, for me, for everyone. I am playing all the tournaments because the WSOP is so different, so many people are coming here, more than 100 countries are participating here. So I am always feeling that it's the dream, one bracelet is very important, it's the prestige".
$50,000 High Roller Official Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santhosh Suvarna | India | $1,992,870 |
| 2 | Chang Lee | South Korea | $1,281,905 |
| 3 | Colin Robinson | United States | $893,225 |
| 4 | Chris Brewer | United States | $634,870 |
| 5 | Anatoly Zlotnikov | Russian Federation | $460,445 |
| 6 | Brandon Wilson | United States | $340,905 |
| 7 | Brian Breck | United States | $257,770 |
| 8 | Jans Arends | Netherlands | $199,150 |
"It means a lot, as many Indians are playing, this bracelet means many more [players from India] will come", Suvarna reflected, hoping to inspire up-and-coming players from his home nation, while also confirming that he has one very specific goal left in poker.
"The Main Event only. If I win the Main Event, I will retire".
Final Day Recap
When cards went in the air on the final day, 12 players remained with their sights set on the title. Any expectation of a cautious start as players battled for a place at the final table was quickly dispelled.
Just 30 minutes into the day, the field had already been reduced by three. The first to fall was Turbo Nguyen, and his exit lived up to his name. After only a few hands, Nguyen's pocket sixes ran into pocket aces, bringing his tournament to an abrupt end.
No sooner had that happened than Ben Heath was sent to the rail in unfortunate fashion. Heath got his ace-six all in preflop in excellent shape against six-four, but his opponent improved to two pair, bringing his tournament run to an abrupt end.
Like Nguyen before him, Sergio Aido fell victim to pocket aces. His pocket sevens failed to improve, with eventual champion Suvarna claiming his first knockout of the day.
From that point on, the spotlight belonged to Anatoly Zlotnikov. Having doubled through Pieter Aerts, who departed in ninth place shortly afterwards, Zlotnikov eliminated Jans Arends and surged into the chip lead.
His next victim was Brian Breck. The pair built a massive pot and happily piled their chips into the middle on the river, but while Breck had made a flush, Zlotnikov had improved to a full house. The cooler sent Breck to the rail in seventh place.
The tide began to turn once the players moved under the bright lights of the feature table, as Zlotnikov's stack began to dwindle. After doubling up Chang Lee, he then lost two significant pots to Suvarna, the second of which proved particularly pivotal. Suvarna later pointed to the hand as a turning point at the final table, marking a shift in momentum.
"He's a really aggressive player, so I thought I have to wait for a big hand. So I waited and waited, and I got it. [When] the river came flush, I thought I am winning. That was the big hand, and six-handed, I got more luck against him."
As Zlotnikov's grip on the final table loosened, Brandon Wilson struggled to gain any momentum and bowed out in sixth place. Zlotnikov soon followed him to the rail, his tournament coming to an end when he ran pocket jacks into Chang Lee's pocket queens.
Chris Brewer, the last remaining 25K Fantasy Draft player in the field, was the next to fall after losing a crucial flip against Lee.
His elimination guaranteed Colin Robinson a podium finish, capping a remarkable comeback. Having been reduced to just two big blinds with six players remaining, Robinson battled his way up the chip counts and through multiple pay jumps before eventually bowing out in third place.
The heads-up showdown lasted little more than an hour, with the stacks remaining close to level throughout.
In the end, Suvarna picked off a bluff from Lee to claim the chip lead before finding a monumental river to send his rail into raptures, giving him the title.
Suvarna now plans to play the remaining high rollers before hopefully completing his ultimate goal, winning the WSOP Main Event.
That concludes coverage of the $50,000 High Roller event. Check out the PokerNews homepage for further coverage of the series.