Santhosh Suvarna's victory in the High Roller event adds another gold bracelet to his collection.
The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) will once again see the crowning of a heavyweight champion.
Indian high-stakes champion Santhosh Suvarna at Event #29:$50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'emHe successfully defeated a star-studded field of 167 competitors to win the championship, a $1,992,870 jackpot, and his third WSOP gold bracelet.
This victory not only made him the first player in Indian poker history to have three live WSOP gold bracelets, but also further solidified his status as one of the most successful professional poker players in Indian poker history.
After the match, Suvarna excitedly said:
"It's like a dream, everything is so amazing. I feel so proud and so happy."
All three gold bracelets come from the Hoffenheim team.
Unlike many WSOP champions, Suvarna's three gold bracelets all came from high-stakes buy-in tournaments.
His championship record includes:
- 2023 WSOP Europe €50,000 Diamond High Roller
- 2024 WSOP $250,000 Super High Roller
- 2026 WSOP $50,000 High Roller
All three events fall under the category of the world's highest-level high roller tournaments.
This also fully demonstrates Suvarna's top competitiveness in high-stakes gaming environments.
A star-studded lineup of 167 people created a prize pool of nearly $8 million.
This 50K High Roller event attracted 167 participants, with a total prize pool of $7,932,500.
Many world-class professional poker players gathered together, including:
- Chris Brewer
- Jans Arends
- Anatoly Zlotnikov
- Ben Heath
- Sergio Aido
- Brandon Wilson
Regulars of high roller tournaments all participated.
After three days of fierce competition, Suvarna emerged victorious.
They were already in the lead before the finals.
On the final day, Suvarna was in first place with 7,700,000 chips.
At that time, only 12 players remained, and South Korean player Chang Lee was in second place with 5,900,000 chips.
It's worth mentioning that during the Day 2 bubble phase, it was Suvarna who personally eliminated Bernhard Binder, breaking the bubble in the prize money and ensuring that all remaining players would receive at least $100,000 in prize money.
Since then, he has consistently remained in the championship contender group.
Zlotnikov once dominated the final table.
The most outstanding player at the beginning of the final table was not Suvarna, but the Russian player Anatoly Zlotnikov.
He eliminated Jans Arends and Brian Breck in succession, and once topped the scoreboard.
Especially in the crucial pot against Brian Breck, Breck completed a flush on the river, but Zlotnikov made a full house and played a classic Cooler.
However, once they entered the six-handed table, Suvarna won two important pots from Zlotnikov in succession, one of which, a huge pot with a flush on the river, became a major turning point in the entire match.
Suvarna also said after the game that that hand changed the course of the entire final table.
Colin Robinson performs a short code miracle
Another impressive player was American player Colin Robinson.
At the six-person table stage, he was left with only two big blinds.
However, Robinson showed amazing resilience, doubling his bets repeatedly and climbing into the top three.
He ultimately finished third and won $893,225, writing one of the most inspiring comeback stories of this year's High Roller tournament.
Defeated Chang Lee in a one-on-one match and became the champion.
The championship match will be between Suvarna and Chang Lee from South Korea.
The scoreboards remained very close, making for a very tight battle.
At a crucial moment, Suvarna successfully capitalized on a bluff by Chang Lee, gaining a clear lead for the first time.
Then, in the decisive hand, he made a crucial move on the river, ending the game completely.
In the end, Suvarna won the championship, while Chang Lee received a runner-up prize of $1,281,905.
Event #29: $50,000 High Roller Final Table Results
| Ranking | player | Country/Region | bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Russia | $460,445 |
| 6 | Brandon Wilson | United States | $340,905 |
| 7 | Brian Breck | United States | $257,770 |
| 8 | Jans Arends | Netherlands | $199,150 |
Aiming for more high roller tournament titles
After winning the title, Suvarna stated that he will continue to participate in the remaining high-stakes events of this year's WSOP.
His ultimate goal remains the World Series of Poker Main Event championship.
With three gold bracelets and over $20 million in live tournament winnings, Suvarna has become one of the most iconic high rollers in Asian poker.
This victory in the 50K High Roller tournament adds another brilliant chapter to his legendary story.
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