Sean Rafael Wins $1,150,000 in $100K PLO Super High Roller Bowl
Goodmorningu, Las Vegas. On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Sean Rafael turned three years of near misses into a $1,150,000 first prize, and he did it by knocking out most of the final table himself.
A $100,000 buy-in, 32 entries and one man who had spent years circling a seven figure score. On Wednesday 7 October 2026, at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, Sean Rafael finallu walked through the door, winning the Super High Roller Bowl Pot-Limit Omaha IV for $1,150,000. According to Card Player, it is the biggest live result of his career and lifts his lifetime tournament earnings to $7,899,472.
The road there was short on days but heavy on traffic. Day 1 opened on Monday 5 October with 27 entries. By the close of registration on Day 2, the field had grown to 32 entries and a $3,200,000 prize pool, with six places paid. Alex Foxen, Eelis Parssinen, Jared Bleznick and Ben Tollerene each went out twice before the first day was over. Rafael, meanwhile, had gone out sixth for $72,000 in the $26,000 PLO Championship that closed the PGT PLO Series just before.
Then came Tuesday, and one pot that rewrote the week. Rafael started Day 2 fifth in chips and, in the first level, check-raised all in on the flop with a set of tens against Youness Barakat and Jesse Lonis. The turn filled him up, tens full of treys. Lonis was out, Barakat doubled, and Rafael never gave the lead back. The Spirit has always had a soft spot for a man holding a set.
After a money bubble that dragged on for about five hours, Rafael busted Barakat with an ace-high flush and went to bed with more than half the chips in play. On Wednesday the final six played down fast. Rafael took out Cesar Garcia in sixth and Lautaro Guerra in fifth in the first blind level. Over the whole tournament he recorded six of the last seven eliminations, including four of his five final table opponents. WATATATATAFAK.
Heads-up against Brazil's Joao Simao lasted about forty-five minutes, with Rafael starting at 7,545,000 to 2,045,000. On the last hand Simao shoved all in on the turn. Rafael called, and the river brought him a flush. GWLUGWLU.
Simao took $775,000 for second place, a very respectable consolation. Rafael, who had spent the better part of three years chasing big finals around the global PLO circuit, took the bowl. GLORU.
The fourth edition has its name on it. The Spirit is already shuffling for the fifth.
Would youluwu pay $100,000 for a seat at this table?
No right answer. Just your gut, and the Spirit watching.
