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Event #55: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha
Day 3 Completed
In 1994, Brazil won its fourth World Cup title by beating Italy on penalties in the final at the Rose Bowl in California. More than three decades later, with the world’s biggest tournament once again on American soil, the country is again celebrating a fourth championship, only this time it took place a few hours east.
Joao Simao, already his country’s all-time leading money winner, captured World Series of Poker bracelet No. 4 by dispatching Indian casino owner and amateur extraordinaire Santhosh Suvarna heads-up in Event #55: $50,000 High-Roller Pot-Limit Omaha. Simao earned the $1,368,700 top prize for prevailing over the 110-entry field as, once again, a raucous Brazilian celebration broke out inside the Paris Las Vegas ballroom.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joao Simao | Brazil | $1,368,700 |
| 2 | Santhosh Suvarna | India | $912,420 |
| 3 | Robert Cowen | United Kingdom | $628,510 |
| 4 | Venkat Chivukula | United States | $445,440 |
| 5 | Carlo van Ravenswoud | Netherlands | $325,080 |
| 6 | Yuri Dzivielevski | Brazil | $244,510 |
| 7 | Naoya Kihara | Japan | $189,720 |
| 8 | Veselin Karakitukov | Bulgaria | $152,020 |
“This one is very special, especially with it being Father’s Day. When Brazil won the World Cup the fourth time, we used to call out ‘tetra, tetra.’ That means the fourth title. So it’s big, famous in Brazil to scream ‘tetra’ every time you make four times something. Fourth title for anything, fourth time you have anything. It’s very special for Brazilian people. So this means a lot for me,” Simao said.
The high roller was enjoying a banner year on the felt as he established himself as not only a top Brazilian pro, but one of the best in the world. Simao has 15 six-figure scores just in the last year, with nearly $10,000,000 in live earnings. His victory today will push his career total over $20,000,000.
His third bracelet last December at the WSOP Paradise came in the $150,000 Triton No-Limit Hold’em for a career-best $3,067,000. He also won a $100,000 event at the Super High Roller Bowl later that month. Some of the best PLO experts came out for this event, and Simao takes great pride in being able to compete against them on a regular basis.
“It’s a good way to learn, to challenge yourself, and to make money. The ROIs, of course, are a lot smaller. The game is very tough, but when you make 10 percent in a $100K, you make $10K. If you make 50 percent in a $10K, it’s $5,000. It’s double profit. So that’s what drives me,” he said.
Simao came into the event’s final day in second place among the final eight players, behind only chip leader Robert Cowen. Naoya Kihara’s quest for a third bracelet this summer came to an end in seventh place, while Simao’s countryman Yuri Dzivielevski busted in sixth as the final five moved over to the main feature table.
Cowen and Simao still occupied the top two spots on the leaderboard, with Cowen holding more than double Simao’s stack. Suvarna, meanwhile, sat in the place he had begun the day: at the bottom of the chip counts.
Simao spiked two pair on the river to bust Dutch PLO online wizard Carlo van Ravenswoud in fifth place. Suvarna flopped a straight against Cowen’s kings to double up before Cowen hit the nut flush and bet most of his chips on the river. Simao tanked for more than five minutes before folding, and Cowen retook the lead.
Suvarna flopped top two pair and improved to a full house to bust fellow businessman Venkat Chivukula in fifth place. The start of three-handed play proved turbulent for Suvarna, who picked up aces to double up off Simao, was left short again, then doubled off Simao once more. He finally tripled up by hitting the nut flush on the river.
Cowen rocketed to a big lead when he doubled up off Simao with two aces, but nothing went right for the 2022 champion from there. Suvarna flopped a set of eights to double up against Cowen’s queens, and Cowen surrendered the chip lead after folding a flush to Simao’s river bet. Cowen suddenly found himself the short stack, and while he earned one double up, he then ran into Suvarna’s flopped straight and couldn’t connect with a flush draw as he fell in third place.
Suvarna led 20,800,000 to Simao’s 12,200,000 at the start of heads-up play, with each chasing their fourth WSOP bracelet. Simao took the lead when he doubled up with two aces, then spiked a full house and got paid on a big river bet to open a sizeable advantage. Just a few hands later, Suvarna called off his last 9,300,000 with two tens, but Simao again had aces and hit top set to secure the bracelet.
The heads-up battle was a study in contrast: the seasoned pro against the amateur businessman. Simao, though, had nothing but respect for Suvarna and his passion for what is essentially a hobby for him.
“I love Santhosh. He’s super nice and a really good player. He’s not a professional, but he has three bracelets already, so he plays as good as the professional guys. It’s a great vibe with him, you know, so it was really fun. The Brazilian and Indian rails together was a great experience, for sure,” Simao said.
Simao’s experience and demeanor were a perfect match for him to meet the challenge and prevail today. Sitting at a card table, even surrounded by some of the toughest players in the world, is a welcome reprieve from some of the trials he’s gone through.
“I mean, I played a lot of tournaments, and the way that my family raised me was very tough. That’s the easiest part for me. I had a lot of challenges in my childhood that, just to play cards, is kind of comfortable for me,” he said.
Simao donned a large Brazilian flag around his shoulders as he went to celebrate his triumph with his rail. It’s been a stellar WSOP so far for the Brazilian contingent, with Simao’s win preceded by Dzivielevski’s sixth earlier this summer. Simao hopes that their success will inspire more players from back home to travel to Las Vegas over the final few weeks of the series.
“It’s incredible. We don’t have as many players as used to be. I think this year I saw less Brazilians than every year. I hope they come for the Main Event. Inspired by me and Yuri winning, people that didn’t come yet are feeling a lot of FOMO, you know, so I hope we have a lot of Brazilians in the Main,” he said.
Simao pulled within two of Dzivielevski’s bracelet tally today, but he’s satisfied being second to his compatriot and recognizes the likelihood of catching up to Dzivielevski is remote. “I don’t think so. He plays all the games. He’s really good, so it would be almost impossible. I just want to think about my journey and enjoy it,” he said.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of Event #55: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the 2026 WSOP.
Despite entering heads-up play behind in chips, Joao Simao managed to come back to win his fourth WSOP bracelet in Event #55: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha.
Simao topped a field of 110 entries to claim the $1,368,700 first-place prize, while runner-up Santhosh Suvarna collected $912,420 for his second-place finish.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joao Simao | Brazil | $1,368,700 |
| 2 | Santhosh Suvarna | India | $912,420 |
| 3 | Robert Cowen | United Kingdom | $628,510 |
| 4 | Venkat Chivukula | United States | $445,440 |
| 5 | Carlo van Ravenswoud | Netherlands | $325,080 |
| 6 | Yuri Dzivielevski | Brazil | $244,510 |
| 7 | Naoya Kihara | Japan | $189,720 |
| 8 | Veselin Karakitukov | Bulgaria | $152,020 |
Santhosh Suvarna raised to 1,200,000 on the button and Joao Simao three-bet to 3,600,000. Suvarna then moved all in for 9,300,000, and Simao called.
Santhosh Suvarna: 10♥10♣8♣6♠ 
Joao Simao: A♠A♣J♥9♣
The A♦8♥7♥ flop gave Simao top set, while Suvarna was left looking to complete a straight draw. The 5♣ turn gave him additional outs as a four would also give him a straight, but Suvarna missed the K♥ river and Simao secured the bracelet.
Joao Simao on the button raised to 1,200,000 with A♣7♠7♥5♥ and Santhosh Suvarna defended from the big blind with K♠Q♣10♣4♣.
Simao flopped a set on 7♦K♦2♥ and continued for 900,000. Suvarna check-called.
Simao fired a second barrel to 1,000,000 on the 8♦ turn and Suvarna check-raised to 2,900,000. Simao called and the K♣ landed on the river.
Suvarna checked and Simao bet 6,000,000, keeping only 1,300,000 behind. Suvarna went deep into the tank and eventually made the call with trips, but he ran into Simao's full house.
Santhosh Suvarna raised to 1,200,000 on the button with A♥Q♠9♠9♦ and Joao Simao called holding K♦7♥3♠3♦.
The flop came A♦8♥7♣ and Suvarna bet 900,000. Simao then raised to 2,600,000, and Suvarna called.
Simao slowed down and checked the 6♠ turn, then quickly folded once Suvarna bet 2,900,000.
Santhosh Suvarna on the button raised to 1,200,000. Joao Simao in the big blind three-bet to 3,600,000, then Suvarna four-bet. Simao snap-called, finding himself at risk for 8,550,000.
Joao Simao: A♠A♥A♦K♥
Santhosh Suvarna: K♣Q♦8♦6♥
Simao's aces improved to a full house on 5♠2♣5♥7♥5♦ so he doubled up and moved back into the lead.
Joao Simao raised to 1,200,000 on the button with K♥9♦8♥8♦ and Santhosh Suvarna called.
The flop came 7♣6♥3♠ and Suvarna led out for 900,000. Simao then moved all in for 5,250,000, and Suvarna folded A♦4♠4♦3♥.
In a limped pot, Santhosh Suvarna bet 450,000 from the button on a flop of Q♦10♥8♠ and Joao Simao called.
Both players checked the 2♣ turn, and Simao then led out for 1,600,000 on the A♥ river. Suvarna quickly called.
Simao showed 8♥7♠7♥3♥, but Suvarna had flopped a straight yet again with J♣9♠5♠5♥ to win the pot and extend his chip lead.
In a limped pot, Santhosh Suvarna in the big blind and Joao Simao on the button checked a flop of 4♣3♠6♣.
After Suvarna checked the 3♥ turn, Simao bet 400,000. Suvarna called and checked the 9♠ river.
Simao checked back with K♦Q♥6♥2♦ but ran into Suvarna's flopped straight with J♦7♥5♠2♠.
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