Joao Simao Wins Fourth WSOP Bracelet In $50K PLO High Roller For $1.36M

Joao Simao has won Event #55: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha at the 2026 World Series of Poker , defeating Santhosh Suvarna heads-up to claim his fourth WSOP bracelet and the $1,368,700 top prize.

The $50,000 buy-in event attracted 110 entries at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas , creating a $5,225,000 prize pool. Suvarna, who earlier this series won his third WSOP bracelet in the $50,000 High Roller , finished runner-up for $912,420, while Robert Cowen took third for $628,510 after entering the final table as chip leader.

Simao began the final table second in chips behind Cowen, but the final stages turned into a wild stretch of doubles, folds, and huge momentum swings. Suvarna, who started the day as one of the shortest stacks, climbed all the way into the heads-up lead before Simao eventually fought back and finished the job.

The final table also featured Naoya Kihara , who was chasing a remarkable third bracelet of the summer, and Yuri Dzivielevski , who was looking to win his second bracelet of the series after taking down the $100,000 High Roller earlier this summer.

Final Table Results

Simao Claims Fourth Bracelet

“It’s hard for us to get too many bracelets because of our currency and tax situation, so we don’t have many Brazilians playing here compared to online poker. So it’s something really special. The bracelet is something amazing, and to represent my country is even more intense.”

Simao has been on a major run in high roller events, and was asked about recording three seven-figure scores over the last six months.

“No words to say. Twenty years playing this game, eventually you start to get lucky on your side in the big events. Sometimes you get lucky in the smaller buy-ins, sometimes you get lucky in the biggest buy-ins, sometimes you don’t get lucky at all. But when you get lucky in the biggest buy-ins, that’s when everything happens.”

The moment became emotional when Simao spoke about his family and his father, who had passed away only a few days earlier.

“Of course it’s incredible. It would be very hard for me to speak. My father just passed away a few days ago. My biggest mission is to be a dad. I don’t care for poker. I don’t care about anything.”

Kihara and Dzivielevski Fall Short

Veselin Karakitukov was the first player eliminated from the final table. He got his chips in with pocket kings against Kihara, who made top pair on the flop and improved to a flush on the turn to send Karakitukov out in eighth place for $152,020.

Kihara’s own run ended in seventh place after he got all in against Simao. Kihara made eights full of tens, but Simao made tens full of eights to win the pot and end Kihara’s hopes of claiming a third bracelet of the summer.

Dzivielevski followed in sixth place after getting his chips in against Cowen. Dzivielevski had top pair and a flush draw, but Cowen’s aces held through the turn and river to send the Brazilian to the rail for $244,510.

Simao and Suvarna Survive

Carlo van Ravenswoud fell in fifth after clashing with Simao. Van Ravenswoud got his stack in with two pair on the flop, while Simao held top pair and a flush draw. The turn kept Van Ravenswoud ahead, but a king on the river gave Simao a better two pair and sent Van Ravenswoud out for $325,080.

Venkat Chivukula then exited in fourth place. Suvarna flopped two pair against Chivukula’s top pair and draw, then improved to a full house on the turn. Chivukula could not find the jack he needed on the river and collected $445,440.

Cowen Loses Grip on the Lead

Three-handed play began with Simao ahead, but Cowen soon opened a huge lead after doubling through the Brazilian.

Cowen got his aces in against Simao, who picked up a straight draw on the flop. The turn left Simao with just one out, and when the river missed, Cowen climbed to 23,000,000 while Simao dropped to 4,300,000.

Simao fought back quickly. He doubled through Suvarna after making queens full, then doubled again in another major pot when he flopped a full house against Suvarna’s trip nines.

Suvarna also refused to disappear. He doubled through Simao with two pair, then tripled up with ace-queen-ten-nine. Later, he doubled through Cowen after flopping a set of eights against pocket queens, and continued to pressure Cowen as the former chip leader’s stack began to slide.

Suvarna Sends Cowen Out in Third

Cowen managed one double through Suvarna, but his comeback did not last long.

The final blow came when Suvarna limped the button and Cowen raised from the small blind. Suvarna called, and the flop came nine-eight-six with two hearts.

Cowen moved all in with top pair and a flush draw, but Suvarna had already flopped a straight with seven-five-five-three.

Cowen asked for a heart from the rail and picked up extra straight outs on the turn, but the river missed. Cowen was eliminated in third place for $628,510, leaving Suvarna and Simao to play heads-up for the bracelet.

Simao Turns Heads-Up Around

Suvarna entered heads-up play with 20,800,000 against Simao’s 12,200,000 and quickly extended his lead. He won the first showdown with queens and jacks, then continued to apply pressure as Simao’s stack slipped.

Suvarna flopped a straight in one limped pot, then flopped another straight shortly after to stretch his advantage to 27,000,000 against Simao’s 6,500,000.

Simao found the first major answer when he doubled with aces. Suvarna opened the button, Simao three-bet from the big blind, and the chips went in with Simao holding ace-ace-ace-king against Suvarna’s king-queen-eight-six. The board paired three times, giving Simao a full house and bringing him back into contention.

Suvarna briefly moved back in front after forcing a fold on the turn, but the biggest heads-up pot came soon after. Simao raised the button with ace-seven-seven-five and Suvarna defended with king-queen-ten-four. Simao flopped a set on a king-seven-two board and kept betting.

The turn brought an eight, and Suvarna check-raised. Simao called, then the river paired the king. Suvarna checked, Simao bet 6,000,000 while leaving himself only 1,300,000 behind, and Suvarna eventually called with trips. Simao showed a full house to win the huge pot and take control.

Simao Finishes Off Suvarna

The final hand came shortly after.

Suvarna raised the button and Simao three-bet from the big blind. Suvarna moved all in for 9,300,000 and Simao called.

Suvarna had ten-ten-eight-six, while Simao showed ace-ace-jack-nine.

The ace-eight-seven flop gave Simao top set, while Suvarna was left looking for straight cards. The turn gave Suvarna additional outs, but the river missed and Simao secured the bracelet.

Suvarna finished runner-up for $912,420, adding another huge score to a summer that had already included a $50,000 High Roller victory. For Simao, the win meant a fourth WSOP bracelet, a $1,368,700 payday, and one of the most emotional victories of his career.

All images courtesy of WSOP.