The turnout for the event was bigger than expected, leading to a better payday for the winner
The 2025 BSOP Super High Roller Series couldn’t have asked for a livelier opening. Held at the WTC Sheraton in São Paulo, the $10,000 SHR Invitational set the tone for the festival with an atmosphere that felt more like a celebration than a high-stakes showdown, despite a hefty $1.13 million prize pool up for grabs.
By the end of the night, it was Brazilian standout Joao Simão who enjoyed the biggest reason to celebrate. Outlasting 113 elite entrants, he secured the series’ first trophy and a $256,000 payday, kicking off the week in emphatic fashion.
The final table wasted no time producing action. Argentina’s Ivan Luca doubled early and quickly notched the first knockout, cracking Gabriel Tavares’ pocket jacks with kings. Moments later, Vinicius Rezende bowed out after losing a flip to Thiago Macedo, who kept the momentum going by sending Luiz Ferreira and later, Rafael Mota to the rail.
Simão joined the knockout spree by eliminating Eduardo Parra in fifth, then shifted gears. A steady flow of pressure—mixing raises, well-timed continuation bets, and a few uncontested pots—allowed him to build a comfortable lead as the field narrowed to four, then three.
Dennys Ramos and Macedo exited in rapid succession, leaving Luca as Simão’s final obstacle. Though Luca briefly edged ahead during heads-up play, the match turned when Simão’s ace-six held against king-queen for a massive swing. Luca clawed back with a trio of double-ups, but Simão sealed the win soon after, fading pocket sixes with queen-jack to secure the title on home soil.
