Santhosh Suvarna Wins Record $2.4 Million Pot in High Stakes Poker

Santhosh Suvarna, an entrepreneur and former casino owner, made history in the world of high-stakes poker. Suvarna won a $2.4 million pot in High Stakes Poker, the largest in the show's history. This victory came after a tumultuous week for the Indian high roller, which included winning the $50,000 no-limit hold’em high roller at the World Series of Poker for his third career bracelet and a $1.9 million payday. However, just a couple of days later, he lost $1.15 million in the special WSOP edition of the Hustler Casino Live Million Dollar Game.

The pivotal hand began with the blinds at $500-$1,000, with a straddle and double straddle on. Sam Kiki raised to $20,000 on the button holding A♠K♦. Matt Kalish called from the big blind with 8♦6♦, and Sameh Elamawy called from the straddle with 8♠7♠. Suvarna looked down at Q♣Q♠ in the double straddle and raised to $100,000. All three opponents called. The flop came down A♦Q♦6♣, and Kalish and Elamawy checked. Suvarna bet $125,000 with his set, and Kiki called with top pair, top kicker. Kalish, having flopped bottom pair and a flush draw, then moved all in for $948,000. Suvarna called, and Kiki reluctantly folded, bemoaning his luck.

The players decided to run it twice. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Suvarna was 67% to win the first runout and a 65% favorite for the second. The first board completed 9♠6♠, and the second fell 7♥4♠, giving the entire pot to Suvarna. The $2,421,500 haul was the largest in High Stakes Poker history, topping the $1,412,500 pot won by Alan Keating in April of 2025.