The 2026 PokerGO Tour (PGT) Super High Roller Bowl PLO is down to just six remaining players following Day 2 play on Tuesday. The $100,000 buy-in drew 27 entries across Day 1 play, of which 11 put chips in the bag.
An additional 5 entries joined the field before the close of late registration at the start of Day 2 – bringing the tally to a total of 32 entries and generating a prize pool of $3,200,000.
That's a slight downturn from last year when John Riordan triumphed over a 37-entry field.
On Wednesday, the final six will reconvene at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas to play down to a winner.
With more than half of the chips in play, Sean Rafael holds a commanding chip lead over his five remaining opponents. Brazil's Joao Simao is Rafael's closest competitor, followed by Spanish PLO specialist Lautaro Guerra.
The UK's Talal Shakerchi and Richard Gryko sit fourth and fifth in the counts, respectively, while Guerra's countryman Cesar Garcia will start the final day of play as the short stack.
The remaining players are all in the money and guaranteed a payday of at least $190,000 – but all eyes are on the $1,150,000 first-place prize. When final table play resumes at 1pm PT, players will return to the 20,000/40,000 (40,000) blind level.
PokerGO will air livestream coverage of the action on its YouTube channel.
2026 Super High Roller Bowl PLO final table chip counts
- Sean Rafael: 4,905,000
- Joao Simao: 1,415,000
- Lautaro Guerra: 1,125,000
- Talal Shakerchi: 850,000
- Richard Gryko: 740,000
- Cesar Garcia: 555,000
Rafael in the driver's seat
When Day 2 play started with 16 remaining players, Rafael had a comfortable stack to work with. In the early goings, he played a key pot that would propel him into the chip lead – an advantage he has yet to relinquish.
Jesse Lonis started the action with a limp from up front, prompting Jonas Kronwitter and Jason Koon to do the same. Rafael completed from the small blind, but Youness Barakat opted to put in a pot-sized raise from the big blind.
Lonis and Kronwitter both called while Koon sent his cards back to the dealer. Rafael came along as well and the four players watched on as the dealer spread the 
flop.
Rafael checked in flow and Barakat bet the pot. Lonis made the call, forcing Kronwitter to fold, but Rafael check-raised for all of his chips. Barakat and Lonis put the chips in, creating a massive pot.
Youness Barakat started Day 2 as the chip leader, but after a long day's play he went out as the bubble boy. Rafael: 
Barakat: 
Lonis: 
Lonis and Barakat had similar draws, as both players flopped wraps with backdoor flush outs. Rafael had the only made hand with top set and on the 
turn he left both of his opponents drawing dead.
Lonis was eliminated and Barakat's start-of-day chip lead evaporated.
The prolonged money bubble helped Rafael extend his lead over the field. With several short stacks in play, he was able to pressure the table and pick up countless uncontested pots.
After nearly five hours on the stone bubble, Rafael took out Barakat to end the wait. With 
he ran down Barakat's 
by making the nut flush on a 
runout.
Images courtesy of Antonio Abrego/PokerGO Tour
