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Robert Cowen Finishes 3rd as Joao Simao Claims Fourth WSOP Bracelet

By Mrinal Gujare

01 Jul 2026

Mrinal Gujare 01 Jul 2026

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Joao Simao wins $50K High-Roller PLO, earning $1,368,700 & his fourth WSOP bracelet
Defeated amateur Santhosh Suvarna in a dramatic heads-up match
Robert Cowen secured 3rd place after starting as chip leader

Image Credit: Jess Beck / Pokernews

Simao defeated Indian pro Santhosh Suvarna heads-up in the $50,000 High-Roller Pot-Limit Omaha, while United Kingdom player Robert Cowen finished the tournament in 3rd place.

The Final Day of Event #55: $50,000 High-Roller Pot-Limit Omaha at the World Series of Poker saw a dramatic shift in momentum, ultimately highlighted by United Kingdom player Robert Cowen finishing in 3rd place and Brazil's Joao Simao capturing his fourth career gold bracelet.

Simao, who stands as his country’s all-time leading money winner, earned the $1,368,700 top prize after defeating Indian casino owner and amateur extraordinaire Santhosh Suvarna in a heads-up match.

The victory triggered a raucous Brazilian celebration inside the Paris Las Vegas ballroom as Simao prevailed over a highly competitive 110-entry field.

A lifetime of experience prepared Simao for the final day challenge, which began with eight players remaining. Simao entered the day second in chips behind the overall chip leader, Robert Cowen.

As action progressed, Naoya Kihara’s quest to win a third bracelet of the summer ended with a 7th place finish. Simao’s countryman Yuri Dzivielevski was subsequently eliminated in 6th place, prompting the final five competitors to move over to the main feature table.

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At that stage of the tournament, Cowen and Simao still held the top two spots on the leaderboard, with Cowen holding more than double the chips of Simao's stack.

Meanwhile, Suvarna sat at the bottom of the chip counts, maintaining the exact position he held when the day started.

Despite holding a commanding chip lead during five-handed play, Robert Cowen was eventually eliminated from the tournament, officially finishing in 3rd place. His exit paved the way for a heads-up battle between Simao and Suvarna.

The final match served as a study in contrast, pitting a seasoned professional against an amateur businessman.

Suvarna, an Indian casino owner, proved his capabilities by shining once again amongst the best players in the game.