Sean Rafael took down the Super High Roller Bowl: Pot-Limit Omaha IV title for $1,150,000, marking a serious profession milestone for the PLO event specialist.
Rafael spent the higher a part of the final three years touring the increasing international PLO event circuit. He placed on a completely dominant efficiency on his approach to this marquee title, recording six of the final seven eliminations of the event, together with 4 of his 5 ultimate desk opponents.
“With how the final table went down, it was just like a bloodbath, but it was handed to me,” stated Rafael. “Like that’s how the final table is meant to be played.”
Joao Simao was the final participant standing in Rafael’s approach. And although Simao has been on an absolute tear of late, successful nearly $10 million on the latest Triton Jeju competition, not even he might halt Rafael’s momentum down the stretch.
This seven-figure windfall represents the most important stay event results of Rafael’s profession and essentially the most vital trophy in his assortment. This efficiency elevated his profession event earnings to $7,899,472.
In the aftermath, Rafael was nearly wistful about lastly breaking by after quite a few shut calls during the last three years in large spots.
“It feels a bit weird, with all things combined,” stated Rafael. “I was [saying] earlier that I really like the chase, so it was fun to show up so many times and not quite get a big one. I’m curious if that hunger will like linger after the fact.”
High-Stakes PLO
The fourth version of the PLO Super High Roller Bowl drew 27 entries on day 1 of the $100,000 purchase–in event. Players have been permitted a single re-entry earlier than the shut of registration at the beginning of day 2, however Alex Foxen, Eelis Parssinen, earlier PGT PLO Super High Roller Bowl winner Jared Bleznick, and Ben Tollerene every obtained knocked out twice earlier than the tip of day 1.
At the shut of day 1, 11 gamers bagged chips. Five gamers elected to benefit from a last-minute entry, as Jeremy Ausmus, Jesse Lonis, Nick Schulman, Cary Katz, and Lautaro Guerra began with a contemporary stack at the beginning of day 2. That introduced the whole subject to 32 entries, producing a $3.2 million prize pool, which was cut up by the ultimate six.
It took till late within the evening on day 2 for the cash bubble to burst, as seven-handed play stretched on for about 5 hours. Youness Barakat, who began day 2 as chip chief, finally fell in seventh place, one spot in need of a money. After increase a substantial chip lead beneath the circumstances of the bubble, Rafael did the soiled work to burst it, flopping the nut flush to place away Barakat.
Play continued for a quick stretch past that time, however the ultimate six gamers bagged up with an opportunity to win $1.15 million the next day. Rafael had simply over 4.9 million, with solely Joao Simao (1.415 million) and Guerra (1.125 million) bagging up seven figures.
All Pain, No Spain
There have been two Spanish gamers among the many ultimate six contenders for this title, however neither managed to battle their approach again into rivalry. Cesar Garcia, who made two ultimate tables and received the closing occasion throughout the latest PGT PLO Series, was the primary of these two to go. Rafael raised the utmost quantity from beneath the gun, and Garcia referred to as, with the flop coming down A♦8♣3♠. Garcia checked, Rafael guess about 25% of the pot, and Garcia raised. Rafael referred to as, and the flip was the 10♠. Garcia shoved, Rafael referred to as, and the playing cards have been turned up.
Lautaro Guerra
Rafael was forward with a set of eights, however Garcia had a good variety of outs with prime two pair, aces and tens, and the nut spade flush draw. The 4♣ river stored Rafael’s set on prime, and Garcia went out in sixth place ($190,000).
Guerra formally locked up a revenue for the event by reaching the highest 5, and made essentially the most of his second entry. But he, too, would additionally head to the rail in brief order. Guerra obtained all in for 15 large blinds with A♠A♦7♥3♥ towards Rafael’s A♥Ok♠5♥5♦. Guerra was a 70.56% favourite preflop, in keeping with the Card Player Omaha odds calculator, a reasonably appreciable edge contemplating the sport. The Ok♥J♥2♠ flop and 6♠ flip stored Guerra forward, however the 9♥ river made Rafael’s flush. Guerra was eradicated in fifth place ($255,000).
With this rating, Guerra now sits in a digital tie for the highest spot on the PLO all-time cash listing, together with his $12.11 million in recorded scores within the sport simply narrowly trailing the $12.13 million of top-ranked Eelis Parssinen.
Rafael Undeniable
Rafael recorded his third consecutive ultimate desk elimination by dispatching Talal Shakerchi in fourth place ($350,000). Shakerchi obtained his final 6.5 large blinds all in preflop with A♠6♠6♣4♥, towards Rafael’s A♦10♦7♥5♣. Rafael turned a Broadway straight, and dodged Shakerchi’s nut flush draw to complete the job.
Three-handed play carried on for nearly a full 90-minute degree, with Richard Gryko’s stack swinging essentially the most over the course of that interval. In one of the vital pots of the ultimate desk, Rafael opened for a pot-sized guess of 210,000 from the button, and Gryko three-bet to 690,000 from the small blind. Simao four-bet all in from the large blind for 930,000, Rafael folded, and Gryko referred to as all in for barely much less, a complete of 845,000.
With three gamers left enjoying for $1,150,000, Joao Simao and Richard Gryko get the cash in.
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Gryko’s Q♣J♠10♠9♣ was a dynamic hand, however his spades have been dominated by Simao’s A♠Ok♥Q♠2♥. That got here into play because the board ran out 5♠4♥2♠3♥7♠, with Simao’s flush dwarfing Gryko’s. The Englishman, who’s a multi-time Triton champion and WSOP bracelet winner, completed in third place ($480,000).
Early on in heads-up play, Simao tanked for seven minutes and used up 14 time extension plaques going through an all-in river determination. Despite holding a number of key blockers, he accurately yielded to Rafael’s rivered straight. Simao closed the hole to lower than 3:1 at his peak, however couldn’t pull all the way in which again.
It’s throughout! Sean Rafael captures the Super High Roller Bowl PLO IV title and $1,150,000! https://t.co/Pp24s1gT6e
— PokerGO (@PokerGO) October 8, 2026
On the ultimate hand, the chips obtained in on a 9♦4♦4♣6♣ board. Simao’s A♦Ok♥5♥4♥ was forward of Rafael’s A♣7♣7♠6♦ with one card to come back, however Rafael nonetheless had a 27.5% likelihood to shut out the event. The 9♣ accomplished Rafael’s flush, and Simao was out in second place ($775,000).
POY Implications
With this win, Rafael earned 480 Card Player Player of the Year factors. That pushes his whole for the yr to 4,176 POY factors. That’s good for thirty sixth place on the yearlong leaderboard offered by CoinPoker. Simao (forty third), Gryko (63rd), Guerra (71st), and Garcia (91st) are all within the prime 100 of the POY standings.
Rafael additionally earned 400 PGT factors for his SHRB PLO victory. With 684 PGT factors on the season, Rafael jumps to 58th of their season-long standings, inside placing distance of a prime 40 spot and a seat within the season-ending $1 million PGT Championship.</em> Simao’s runner-up end elevates him to seventh place on the PGT leaderboard. Gryko (89th), Guerra (a hundred and first), and Garcia (a hundred and fortieth) additionally improved their positions on that leaderboard.
Rafael’s POY outcomes are significantly spectacular as a result of he’s nearly completely earned his spot by PLO event outcomes. Outside of a small money within the 2025 WSOP essential occasion, all however one in all Rafael’s recorded event cashes have are available PLO occasions. The different outlier is Rafael’s first ever event money, a thirteenth place end within the 2013 WSOP Millionaire Maker.
Despite a rising variety of event possibility for PLO gamers within the present period, Rafael believes there’s area for extra going ahead.</p>
“We need more,” stated the most recent Super High Roller Bowl champion. “We definitely need more, especially in the U.S. Usually I have to travel pretty far to get my live tournament fix. We could do a lot better. I think [PLO] is a great tournament game, and I think there’s a market for more mid-stakes PLO.”
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points | PGT Points |
| 1 | Sean Rafael | $1,150,000 | 480 | 400 |
| 2 | Joao Simao | $775,000 | 400 | 233 |
| 3 | Richard Gryko | $480,000 | 320 | 144 |
| 4 | Talal Shakerchi | $350,000 | 240 | 105 |
| 5 | Lautaro Guerra | $255,000 | 200 | 77 |
| 6 | Cesar Garcia | $190,000 | 160 | 57 |
Photo credit score: PGT / Antonio Abrego
