The online poker scene was buzzing with high-stakes action all week, with PokerBaazi’s spectacular ₹28+ Crores GTD Indian Poker Masters taking centre stage. This inaugural mega series continues to register almost guarantee-doubling participation across the board, proving once again that poker’s appeal continues to soar.

Meanwhile, Pocket52’s largest-ever ₹5 Crores GTD Big Pocket Series culminated in an exciting finale last Sunday. The platform also amplified its prominence by promising an astounding ₹11.50 Crores in guaranteed prize money across its August tournaments, firmly stamping its presence in the big leagues. Combined with the other signature events across major platforms, the online tournament action was nothing short of exhilarating!

Young Gun Gaurav Sood (annual winnings – ₹3.30 Crores) is holding steady on his journey towards an unprecedented third Player of the Year title, marking seven straight weeks as the POY leader. However, Sood`s path to glory will not go unchallenged, as his closest competitors, Ashish Munot (annual winnings – ₹3.23 Crores) and Ankit Wadhawan (annual winnings – ₹3.02 Crores), have returned from a long break and are ready for battle.

Given it’s still early August, the weekly leaders also significantly influence the monthly leaderboard, which we will canvass next Sunday.

This week’s spotlight was on Himanshu Arora (weekly winnings – ₹17.33 Lakhs), who delivered an extraordinary performance on Friday by taking down PokerBaazi’s Masters#23 Mini HighRoller. Close on his heels were the Masters#11 Micro Highroller champion Akshat Sharma (weekly winnings – ₹15.79 Lakhs) and Sunday`s top performer Sreekanth Narayan (weekly winnings – ₹15.13 Lakhs), who round out the top three on the weekly leaderboard.

Weekly Online Rankings (July 30 – August 5)

Player	Weekly Cashes	Weekly Profit
Himanshu Arora	₹17,33,383	₹13,00,000
Akshat Sharma	₹15,78,988	₹12,00,000
Sreekanth Narayan	₹15,12,943	₹11,50,000

Yearly Online Rankings (January 1 – August 5)

Player	Yearly Cashes	Yearly Profit
Gaurav Sood	₹3,60,03,570	₹1,71,69,791
Ashish Munot	₹3,22,88,932	₹1,81,36,604
Ankit Wadhawan	₹3,01,70,428	₹97,35,591

Weekly Online Rankings

1. Himanshu Arora

Weekly Cashes ~ ₹17,33,383

Weekly Profit ~ ₹13,00,000

Weekly Leaderboard Points ~ N/A

The year`s first The MoneyMaker champion, Himanshu Arora, once again showed his skills on Friday by winning PokerBaazi’s Masters#23 Mini HighRoller. What makes this victory even more noteworthy is that he entered the tournament through a ₹1,650 satellite.

Arora had a tremendous week, accumulating a staggering total of ₹17.33 Lakhs in winnings and approximately ₹13 Lakhs in net profits. His breakout Friday triumph places him firmly at the summit of the weekly charts.

Top Cashes This Week

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s Masters#23 Mini HighRoller for ₹16,41,188* (heads-up deal)

2. Akshat Sharma

Weekly Cashes ~ ₹15,78,988

Weekly Profit ~ ₹12,00,000

Weekly Leaderboard Points ~ N/A

Akshat Sharma, currently ranked #1 on the Indian Poker Masters leaderboard, has been on a relentless winning streak lately. Last Sunday, he made it to the final table in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship, finishing third for ₹2.89 Lakhs, and followed it up with another deep run in the Masters#5 Inaugural, securing fourth place for ₹2.77 Lakhs.

Armed with these solid finishes, Sharma made the title conquest on Friday, taking down the highly anticipated Masters#11 Micro HighRoller, earning a handsome ₹6.46 Lakhs.

Sharma’s success this past week didn’t stop there. He secured 19 cash finishes, including his title victory and another four FT scores, accumulating over ₹15.79 Lakhs in winnings, translating to significant profits of approximately ₹12 Lakhs.

Top Cashes This Week

– 1st in PokerBaazi’s Masters#11 Micro HighRoller for ₹6,46,383

– 3rd in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship for ₹2,89,262

– 4th in PokerBaazi’s Masters#5 Inaugural for ₹2,76,518

3. Sreekanth Narayan

Weekly Cashes ~ ₹15,12,943

Weekly Profit ~ ₹11,50,000

Weekly Leaderboard Points ~ N/A

Sreekanth Narayan`s standout Sunday performance elevated him to the prestigious ‘₹8 Crore Club.’ The exceptional start gave him the perfect launchpad, and Narayan didn’t disappoint, raking in ₹15.13 Lakhs across the week with ₹11.50 Lakhs profits, taking the #3 rank on the weekly charts.

Narayan’s dazzling performance is highlighted by his standout victory in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack, earning him a handsome prize of ₹8.48 Lakhs. His success didn’t stop there, as he posted another three final table finishes, three in-the-money scores, and a bounty win.

Among the many accolades, a particular accomplishment that stands out is his third-place finish in PokerBaazi’s Masters#11 Micro Highroller, earning him ₹5.18 Lakhs. Such accomplishments underscore Narayan’s remarkable ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Top Cashes This Week

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack for ₹8,48,115

– 3rd in PokerBaazi’s Masters#11 Micro HighRoller for ₹5,18,25

Loveleen Singh (Weekly Cashes – ₹9.20 Lakhs), Venkatesh Mukundan (Weekly Cashes – ₹8.02 Lakhs), and Siddharth Pandey (Weekly Cashes – ₹7.97 Lakhs) were the week`s other top scorers.

Yearly Online Rankings

1. Gaurav Sood

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,60,03,570

Yearly Profit – ₹1,71,69,791

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 46,426

The most decorated player on our database, Young Gun Gaurav Sood, has an online poker profile that commands respect and admiration. Already a two-time Player of the Year (POY) champion, Sood’s quest for greatness is far from over. He is on a remarkable journey, striving for an unprecedented third POY title, holding an unassailable lead at the top of the annual leaderboard for an astonishing seven consecutive weeks.

Considering his sky-high standards, Sood’s weekly earnings of ₹5.52 Lakhs may seem modest. However, this was realized through an impressive array of 15 deep runs, including a top finish in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum (₹2.75 Lakhs) and another final table score.

But the figures that genuinely encapsulate Sood’s prowess are his annual winnings, which have reached an astronomical ₹3.60 Crores. Even more remarkable is that ₹1.72 Crores of this amount are pure profits.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #82 Sunday High (6 Max) (High) for ₹15.29 Lakhs on June 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s The Millionaire for ₹14.82 Lakhs on February 26

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #85 Beast (6 Max) (High) for ₹14.53 Lakhs on June 11

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #35 Wednesday Grande (6 Max) for ₹10.91 Lakhs on March 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #12 Saturday Titan for ₹8.44 Lakhs on March 4

2. Ashish Munot

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,22,88,932

Yearly Profit – ₹1,81,36,604

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 18,768

Ashish Munot, currently enjoying the #2 position on the annual leaderboard, is mounting a serious challenge to reclaim his lost lead. Trailing by precisely ₹37.15 Lakhs behind the leader, Gaurav Sood, Munot’s competitive spirit is clearly ignited. His recent exploits at the 2023 World Poker Championship Summer Series in Hanoi, Vietnam, have only added fuel to the fire, with a notable victory for Team India in Event #9: VN₫ 55 Million High Roller.

Known as the “showstopper killer,” Munot has recently marked a triumphant return to the online stage. His skill and strategy were on full display this week as he reached the final table in PokerBaazi’s Masters#23 Mini Highroller, securing fourth place and a handsome ₹7.33 Lakhs.

Over the past week, Munot cashed in three events, accumulating a respectable ₹8.79 Lakhs in winnings. While some might view this as modest earnings for a player of Munot’s stature, his performance throughout the year continues reverberating in the poker community. His annual winnings stand at an astounding ₹3.15 Crores, with a staggering ₹1.75 Crores in net profits, ensuring he holds onto the prestigious title of the year’s most profitable player.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #46 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹45.65 Lakhs on March 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹31.94 Lakhs on January 26

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #115 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹24.83 Lakhs on February 2

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹16.17 Lakhs on June 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday High Roller for ₹13.75 Lakhs on February 26

3. Ankit Wadhawan

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,01,70,428

Yearly Profit – ₹97,35,591

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 30,284

After a nearly six-week-long hiatus to compete in the 2023 WSOP in Las Vegas, Ankit Wadhawan has returned to the online poker arena. Following the completion of IOPC 15.0 in June, Wadhawan’s reentry into the virtual battleground was marked by a respectable ₹3.29 Lakhs from six deep runs this week, including a final table finish. These efforts propelled him beyond the ₹3 Crores milestone in annual winnings, making him the third player to accomplish this.

Interestingly, Wadhawan’s absence from the online scene did nothing to diminish his stronghold on the #3 rank on the annual leaderboard. His position remained steadfast, a testament to his consistent gameplay and remarkable victories earlier in the year that keep him firmly in contention for the prestigious Player of the Year title. He now trails the leader, Gaurav Sood, by an eye-catching ₹58.91 Lakhs.

A closer look at Wadhawan’s performance over the current year reveals impressive achievements. The extraordinary accumulation of ₹3 Crores in winnings is underlined by ₹96.84 Lakhs in net profits.

Top Cashes This Year

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #58 G.O.D (Game Of Diamonds) for ₹27.79 Lakhs on March 12

– 2nd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹22.43 Lakhs on April 9

– 3rd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹16 Lakhs on May 14

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹15.02 Lakhs on June 2

Vishal Bajaj (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.97 Crores), Young Gun Arsh Grover (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.89 Crores) and Young Gun Laksh Pal Singh (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.84 Crores) are ranked #4, #5 and #6 on the annual leaderboard, respectively.

For a complete list of online rankings, check out our ‘Leaderboards’ page. If your name is not on our list, register and enter your screen names into your account to get ranked!

The post Online Rankings: Masters Mini HighRoller Champion Himanshu Arora Takes the Weekly Leaderboard by Storm, Gaurav Sood Maintains Steady Momentum Towards Third POY Title appeared first on PokerGuru.

PokerGuru Podcast: Episode 2. FT. Technology & Gaming Lawyer Jay Sayta

GST Council`s recent decision to levy 28% GST on initial deposits across online gaming and casinos has been a burning topic of discussion in the industry. To clarify some burning issues left unanswered, we invited Jay Sayta, an expert in online gaming law, for Episode 2 of the PokerGuru Podcast. In a candid conversation with PokerGuru`s Saumya Paithankar, Sayta analyzed the potential implications of this tax and the industry`s future. Topics discussed include possible revisions to the CGST Act, potential legal countermeasures, and changes to the Indian gaming industry. Sayta also outlined the possible impact on operators and professional players. Despite the challenges, he expressed confidence in the industry’s resilience.

Chota Machhi & SharmaJI’s Exciting MTT Streams

The thrilling duo of Chota Machhi (Arpit Jain) and SharmaJI (Naman Sharma) kept their audiences engaged this past week with exciting live streams.

On Sunday, these streaming gurus plunged into the realm of high-stakes poker, contending for top spots in Pocket52`s ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS #51 Snacks, ₹20 Lakhs GTD BPS #53 Ragnarok, and the Big Pocket Series showstopper, the ₹50 Lakhs GTD BPS #52 Pocket Royale.

As the new week dawned on Monday, SharmaJI took a shot at the ₹4 Lakhs GTD Amethyst on PokerSaint.

On Tuesday, Chota Machhi took on competitors on the ₹5/10 and ₹10/20 cash tables on A23 Poker.

Later that day, Chota Machhi tackled MPL Poker’s ₹50K GTD Steal Deal Series Event #79.

On Thursday, SharmaJI dived into the ₹4 Lakhs GTD Opal on PokerSaint.

On Friday, SharmaJI took on the competition at the ₹5 Lakhs GTD Masters #21 Freeze-Out & ₹5 Lakhs GTD Masters #24 (6-Max) Turbo on PokerBaazi.

Engaging Indian Poker Masters Flagships Streamed by Aditya Wadhwani, Prachi Pahuja & Vikhyat Ahlawat

The thrilling Indian Poker Masters, currently shattering records, is in full swing on PokerBaazi. Daily live streams on PokerBaazi’s YouTube channel offer fans a close view of the action.

Last Tuesday, renowned poker commentator Aditya Wadhwani shared his experiences from Day 1 of the IPM flagships and the ₹1 Crore GTD The MoneyMaker.

On Wednesday, Wadhwani was joined by Prachi Pahuja for a dual stream, where they navigated the day’s IPM flagships.

On Thursday, Vikhyat Ahlawat made his presence known as he tackled the Day 3 IPM flagships.

Shobhit Bhargava Streams Pocket52`s Flagships

Shobhit Bhargava, who runs his streaming channel 569poker, showcased his poker skills in multiple live streams on Pocket52’s flagships last week.

He started off with the ₹50 Lakhs GTD BPS#52 Main Event on Sunday.

Bhargava and Siddharth joined forces for a dual stream for the ₹15 Lakhs GTD Pocket Royale on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Bhargava participated in the ₹12 Lakhs GTD Thursday Highroller.

He concluded the week by playing the ₹12 Lakhs GTD Pocket Magnets on Friday.

Monster Poker Community’s Utsav Taneja Stream MTTs

Utsav Taneja, representing the Monster Poker Community, streamed his run in Pocket52’s Friday flagships, the ₹25 Lakhs GTD Pocket Knights and the ₹10 Lakhs GTD Friday PLO5.

Harshdev Jhirmiria Streams Pocket52`s Big Pocket Series Flagships

On Sunday, Harshdev Jhirmiria, a prominent poker streamer, thrilled his audience by playing the final table attractions of the Big Pocket Series, including the ₹50 Lakhs GTD BPS#52 Main Event.

Parth Jain Streams MTTs & Cash Games

Popular content creator Parth Jain, AKA Your Poker Guy, lined up two streams this week, grinding MTTs and cash games.

Parth Jain returned on Tuesday, playing HiScore’s Grand Prix.

On Friday, Jain dived into MPL Poker’s ₹5 Lakhs GTD Steal Deal #108 Full Stack Friday.

Sawan Kumar Streams For Gamezy Poker

Sawan Poker came out with two thrilling streams for Gamezy Poker this week.

On Tuesday, he played the ₹18 Lakhs GTD Whiplash.

On Friday, he streamed his run in the ₹25 Lakhs Wolverine.

IPPA’s Ashutosh Kumar, Devvrat Singh Kaurav & Shivam Jain Stream MTTs

Streamers from India Poker Players Association (IPPA), including Ashutosh Kumar, Devvrat Singh Kaurav, and Shivam Jain, captivated audiences this past week with regular poker streams.

On Tuesday, Ashutosh Kumar took to the digital felts, streaming his gameplay on MPL Poker’s ₹5/₹10 cash game tables.

On Friday, Kumar streamed his run in Pocket52’s Friday flagships, the ₹25 Lakhs GTD Pocket Knights and the ₹10 Lakhs GTD Friday PLO5.

On Sunday, Devvrat Singh Kaurav played the ₹50 Lakhs GTD Pocket Royale and the ₹20 Lakhs GTD Ragnarok on Pocket52.

On Wednesday, Kaurav took a shot in PokerSaint’s ₹5 Lakhs GTD Emerald.

On Thursday, Kaurav played the ₹20 Lakhs GTD Pocket Magnets on Pocket52.

The next day, he played the ₹25 Lakhs GTD Wolverine on Gamezy Poker.

On Thursday, Shivam Jain dived into Adda52’s ₹25 Lakhs GTD Godfather.

Prapti Singh’s MTT Streams

Throughout the week, Prapti Singh delivered a dazzling showcase of her poker skills.

On Sunday, Singh played the ₹50 Lakhs GTD Pocket Royale and the ₹20 Lakhs GTD Ragnarok on Pocket52.

On Tuesday, she joined Gamezy Poker’s ₹18 Lakhs GTD Whiplash.

On Thursday, she dived into Pocket52’s ₹20 Lakhs GTD Pocket Magnets.

Your Poker Journey Podcast Ft. Aman Madan

The inaugural episode of the “Your Poker Journey” podcast by Monster Poker Community, hosted by Utsav Taneja, featured an enlightening conversation with Aman Madan. Madan shares his inspiring poker journey, having escalated his bankroll from ₹50,000 to ₹30 Lakhs in just 11 months. This episode is a must-listen for poker enthusiasts seeking both inspiration and insight.

PokerGuru’s Saumya Paithankar Provides Weekly Recap of Major Tournaments

Known for her extensive insights into online poker victories, PokerGuru’s Saumya Paithankar once again delivered a week filled with detailed daily updates. Her round-up of the biggest online tournament winners on Sunday, July 30, and Wednesday, August 3, are our top picks.

Triton Super High Roller Series London 2023 – Live Streams

The prestigious Triton Super High Roller Series returned to London at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on July 27. All the adrenaline-pumping action from these high-stakes tournaments is being live-streamed on Triton Poker’s YouTube channel. Relive the most electrifying moments from these games by watching the replays below.

German phenom Fedor Holz stormed back into the winner’s circle, taking down Event #2: $25,000 NLH 7-Handed, claiming his third career Triton title and banking a cool $609,853.

Espen Jorstad, the 2022 WSOP Main Event champion, took the crown in Event #3: $40,000 Mystery Bounty, earning an impressive prize of $639,000. This victory marked his first win in the Triton Poker Series.

The spotlight shone on Ole Schemion in Event #5: $50,000 NLH 8-Handed, as he became the second German professional to clinch a Triton title this week. His win, which netted him a massive $1.35 Million, was also his debut Triton victory.

Jason Koon validated his status as one of poker’s greatest players in Event #6: $60K NLH 7-Handed, clinching a record-extending eighth Triton title (his fourth this year) and a windfall of $1.57 Million.

In Event #7: $200,000 NLH 8-Handed, New Zealand’s David Yan emerged victorious, pocketing a colossal cash prize of $3.05 Million following a three-way deal.

DAT Poker Podcast Ep 144

The 144th episode of the DAT Poker Podcast had Adam Schwartz, Terrence Chan, Ross Henry, and GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu discussing hot topics like:

> DNegs WSOP Vlog Recap

> Overall Numbers Of The 2023 WSOP

> Main Event Payouts

> Reasons for the resurgence

> Poker Hall Of Fame

> DNegs Series Results

> TChans WSOP, Learning new games

> WSOP Player Of The Year

> WSOP In Paradise (Bahamas)

> Daniel’s Travel Story

> Triton High Rollers

> Upcoming High Stakes Duel VS Polk & more!

Feast Your Eyes on the Most Captivating Poker Hands of the Week on PokerStars

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned player seeking high-stakes thrills, these weekly highlight reels are just for you. Every Thursday, PokerStars showcases the most gripping moments from the week’s Twitch live streams, offering a ringside view of adrenaline-fueled online poker tournaments. Savour the best poker moments from the streams of stalwarts like Lex Veldhuis, Fintan Hands, aka EasyWithAces, and Spraggy on the PokerStars Twitch channel below.

Jeff Gross Podcast Ft. Chris Moorman

In a recent episode of the Jeff Gross Podcast, renowned poker pro Chris Moorman shared his experiences in poker, the benefits of coaching, and strategies for handling downswings. From carrying €800,000 in public to applying poker skills in life, Moorman provides listeners with unique insights into the world of professional poker.

GGMillion$ Show – Season 2023 E20

GGMillion$ Show returned with the cards-up FT replay of the site’s $1 Million GTD Super Millions, with Jeff Gross and Indian bracelet winner Nikita Luther calling the action.

Juan Domínguez won the Super MILLON$ title, bagging a massive $262,938 winner’s paycheque.

Big Bet Poker Live Streams

Watch the electrifying cash game action with Big Bet Poker straight from the renowned Tropicana Las Vegas Casino Resort.

Keep following PokerGuru for a compilation of the top poker videos each week!

The post Top Videos of the Week: July 30 – August 5 appeared first on PokerGuru.

While the players’ identities at the heart of this jackpot remain confidential, we have insight into how the landmark hand unfolded. On a board of , one player must have been brimming with anticipation as they held – a four-of-a-kind, which, although not the stone-cold nuts, ensured that the bad beat jackpot would be activated if he were beaten. As luck would have it, this player’s quad tens were trumped by an opponent’s straight flush, revealed as , triggering the largest bad beat jackpot in live poker history.

Here’s how the monumental jackpot payout was divided:

• The losing hand, with the four-of-a-kind 10s, walked away with 40% of the Bad Beat Jackpot worth $776,166
• The winning hand, the straight flush, pocketed 20% of the pot worth $388,083
• Another 20% of the jackpot was distributed equally among the remaining players at the table where the record-setting hand occurred.
• The final 20% was shared among all the other cash game Hold’em players who were signed in and playing elsewhere in the venue at the time of the epic hand.

This equated to an impressive payout of about $776,166 for the losing hand, $388,083 for the winning hand, and $388,083 split among the other players at the table and throughout the room (all in USD).

The reseeded jackpot now stands at $700,000, awaiting the next lucky players.

Interestingly, the Playground Poker Club was also the stage for the previous record-setting bad beat jackpot, which saw a similarly spectacular hand in June 2022 when the same quad tens were beaten by a straight flush, resulting in a US$2.2 Million jackpot.

Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh also joined the record books later that summer when a $1.2 Million jackpot was triggered as a royal flush trumped quad aces, dealt to local player Raymond Broderson.

The post Gossip Column: Canada’s Playground Poker Club Shatters World Record With a CAD 2.60 Million Bad Beat Jackpot appeared first on PokerGuru.

This past week saw a wave of anticipation sweep across the online real-money gaming industry as they braced for the GST Council’s final verdict on the proposed 28% GST on the face value of bets and competition entry fees. The All India Gaming Federation, the nation’s apex self-regulatory body for the gaming industry, submitted a final appeal for a reconsideration of this decision to Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra.

Late on August 2, the GST Council ratified its decision to levy 28% GST on the online gaming and casino sectors, explaining that the tax would be applied to initial deposits rather than individual contest entries. Updates to the CGST law mirroring these changes are scheduled to be tabled in the Parliament’s monsoon session, concluding August 11, and the new tax scheme is anticipated to take effect from October 1, 2023. A six-month review period has been set for this decision. Although less devastating than initially feared, the decision does pose a significant challenge for the industry.

While the industry is grappling with this announcement, Indian poker players continue to make their mark on the international stage. Leading the pack is Dubai-based Indian high-stakes player Santhosh Suvarna. This former casino operator has become a regular fixture in Triton Poker tournaments and recently notched his first series score in the 2023 Triton Super High Roller Series London. Suvarna placed 12th in Event #6: $60K NLH 7-Handed, bagging $112,300 and earning our “PokerGuru Star of the Week” title. The event was clinched by Jason Koon, who secured a record-setting eighth Triton title and a colossal $1.57 Million cash prize.

Meanwhile, the Indian team displayed a strong performance at the 2023 Asian Poker Tour Summer Series Da Nang, which wrapped up on July 30. The team boasted 34 cash finishes, including seven final table appearances and a prestigious title win. Archit Khandelwal was the standout performer, netting VN₫ 523.670 Million from two standout finishes.

Turning to the digital felts, Sreekanth Narayan topped the online leaderboard with total winnings exceeding ₹16.78 Lakhs throughout the week, including two title victories, pushing his tracked online winnings over ₹8 Crores. Mohak Kapoor, Rishab Malik, and Rishabh Gupta emerged as the other top online scorers.

Highlighting an increase in online activity, PokerBaazi’s inaugural Indian Poker Masters started on August 1 and will run until August 20, featuring 99 thrilling tournaments with over ₹28 Crores in guaranteed prize money. The tournament caters to all, with buy-ins ranging from ₹440-₹55,000, and the series headliner ₹4 Crores GTD Main Event from August 15 to 20.

Additionally, it’s Cash Battle Royale 2.0, which commenced alongside the IPM, runs until September 29, offering cash game players over ₹16 Crores in rewards! Daily leaderboards and a potential ₹26.75 Lakhs in prizes sweeten the deal.

In line with embracing innovation, PokerBaazi has introduced a new game variant, Super Hold’em, a fresh take on Texas Hold’em, bearing the fitting slogan “Extra Card! Extra Fun!” Unlike traditional Texas Hold’em, which deals two hole cards, Super Hold’em deals three, requiring players to use at least one to form the best five-card combination. This extra card brings a plethora of new possibilities, ramping up the thrill for both newcomers and seasoned players.

Get set for an adrenaline-fueled August on Pocket52, boasting an unprecedented ₹11.50 Crores guaranteed prize money across tournaments. Staying true to their motto, “Ab Club Badalne Ka Time Aa Gaya,” they’re inviting players to be part of India’s rapidly expanding poker network.

Junglee Poker is the new entrant in India’s online poker scene, represented by renowned actor Abhay Deol. Launched with the ₹1 Crore GTD Big Bang MTT series offering over in prizes, it provides a variety of poker games, quick seating, advanced graphics, and certified security. Players can enjoy a ₹25,000 Welcome Bonus, daily rewards, a 50% rakeback, and a shot at the Daily Leaderboard‘s ₹2-Lakh pool.

Gamezy Poker’s August Chip Champion Rakeback runs until August 9, promising ₹25 Lakhs in rewards across 14-tier leaderboards. It’s simple – play, earn points, and ascend the leaderboard for bigger rewards.

PokerSaint is dialling up the excitement three-fold with the Triple Thrill promotion, which includes the Daily Deal (₹14 Lakhs daily prizes), the Money Masters2 extravaganza (₹30 Lakhs over 28 days), and the ₹25 Lakhs GTD Money Master’s Grand tournament on August 20. The Mini Mania Tournaments offer micro-stake players 14 days of intense action for a slice of ₹2 Lakhs in prizes.

Marking its fifth year of operations, PokerStars India has unveiled an enticing promotional schedule for the coming two months, featuring numerous tournaments and giveaways. The centrepiece is the Weekly Rakeback Challenges, providing cash game players with weekly rake targets and between 20% to 45% in Rakeback rewards.

Spartan Poker has upped the ante by rolling out the Cashback Reloaded and Cash Leaderboard promotions. Players can claim up to 50% cashback on the PLO and Hold’em cash tables, with stakes from ₹5/₹10. Four leaderboards across different stakes offer rewards, with Super High Rollers getting the chance to earn as much as ₹1.50 Lakhs weekly. Smaller stakes provide up to 40% daily cashback.

Signifying a transformative shift in the online gaming sector, the Indian government has brought content providers for online gaming services and advertisements under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) as per a Gazette notification issued on July 31. This change empowers the I&B Ministry to regulate online advertisements and gaming content platforms’ policies. The move comes amidst active monitoring by the Ministry to curb illegal platforms’ promotion.

Indo-American poker enthusiast Jagdeep Bal clinched his maiden live tournament title in The Hendon Mob Mid-Major Championship at the Thunder Valley Casino this Sunday. Bal overcame a field of 1,605 participants to take home a career-best cash reward of $71,036, the prestigious Hendon Mob Trophy, and the RunGood Poker Series ring.

Online Railbird Report

Sunday`s top performer, Sreekanth Narayan, has further solidified his online standings by entering the prestigious ‘₹8 Crore Club.’ His remarkable accomplishments this past week earned him over ₹16.78 Lakhs, establishing him as the week`s top online scorer.

Narayan’s impressive portfolio includes two major title victories in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack and Ultron, bagging ₹8.48 Lakhs and ₹4.66 Lakhs, respectively. He also made a notable final table finish in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller, scoring ₹2.48 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack for ₹8,48,115

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s Ultron for ₹4,66,479

> 4th in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller for ₹2,48,347* (four-way deal)

Mohak Kapoor, the #1 ranked player on the annual TLB leaderboard, made significant strides this past week, accumulating a staggering ₹12.14 Lakhs to take the #2 position on the weekly leaderboard.

Kapoor’s dexterity in multi-scoring is well-known, evidenced by his mind-boggling 13 final table finishes this week, inclusive of four prestigious title victories. Among his most notable achievements were victories in PokerBaazi’s Masters#4, where he secured ₹3.28 Lakhs, and in the WTF, earning ₹3.02 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s Masters#4 for ₹3,27,690

> 2nd in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹3,02,371

> 3rd in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) SPRINT for ₹53,389

Rishab Malik again demonstrated why he’s considered one of India’s most promising poker talents with a remarkable performance this week. Malik’s prowess at the poker tables secured him a podium spot on the weekly charts with a handsome ₹9.82 Lakhs in winnings.

Though he didn’t clinch any titles this week, Malik’s exceptional skills were undeniably evident. He claimed runner-up finishes in two flagship tournaments: PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship, where he earned ₹3.67 Lakhs, and Pocket52’s BPS#35 Elite Highroller, with a prize of ₹2.66 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship for ₹3,67,199

> 2nd in Pocket52’s BPS#35 Elite Highroller for ₹2,66,475

> 6th in Pocket52’s BPS#53 Ragnarok for ₹80,800

Anant Purohit also delivered a stellar performance, raking in ₹7.72 Lakhs and landing the #4 spot on the weekly leaderboard. His most significant accomplishments include a title victory in Adda52’s Mega Suits, where he earned ₹6.05 Lakhs, and a final table finish in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack, netting him an additional ₹1.23 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Adda52’s Mega Suits for ₹6,04,800

> 4th in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack for ₹1,23,077

Rishabh Gupta, now recognized as an elite player, compiled an impressive total of ₹7.59 Lakhs from eight cash finishes over the past week. His noteworthy performances include a title victory in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack and a runner-up finish in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller.

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller for ₹3,87,557* (heads-up deal)

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack for ₹2,94,165* (heads-up deal)

Karan Malhotra, Ashit Sharma, Vishal Bajaj, Vaibhav Sharma, Vishal Ojha and Rajat Sharma were the week`s other top online scorers.

Indian Poker Masters – PokerBaazi’s BIGGEST-EVER MTT Series is Underway! Over ₹28 Crores in Guaranteed Prizes Await (August 1 to 20)

PokerBaazi`s inaugural Indian Poker Masters is in full swing, running from August 1 to 20, offering poker enthusiasts an unforgettable experience. With over ₹28 Crores in prize money guaranteed across 99 action-packed tournaments, it’s a celebration of poker at its finest. Players of all stakes can partake, with buy-ins ranging from ₹440 to ₹55,000.

The spotlight shines on the ₹4 Crores GTD Masters Main Event, scheduled from August 15 to 20, alongside several high-stakes flagship tournaments.

Read the complete report here

Join PokerBaazi’s Cash Battle Royale 2.0 – Over ₹16 Crores in Prizes to be Won (August 1 – September 29)

PokerBaazi’s Cash Battle Royale 2.0 promotion is in full swing, running from August 1 to September 29. Over ₹16 Crores in prizes are up for grabs! Don’t miss the daily leaderboards and a chance to win up to ₹26.75 Lakhs in rewards.

Read the complete report here

PokerBaazi Introduces New Poker Variant – Super Hold’em

In a thrilling new addition, PokerBaazi has added a new game variant, the globally celebrated Super Hold’em—a thrilling adaptation of Texas Hold’em—to its client. This exciting variant introduces three-hole cards instead of two, requiring players to use at least one in conjunction with community cards to make their winning five-card hand. The introduction of an extra card escalates the thrill, unveiling a plethora of new possibilities. With its inclusive appeal to both poker rookies and veterans, Super Hold’em promises a unique gaming experience. Dive in and enjoy “Extra Card! Extra Fun!”

Read the complete report here

Pocket52 Intensifies the Action: Enormous ₹11.50 Crores in Guaranteed Prizes in August Tournaments

Prepare for an exciting August as Pocket52 ramps up the stakes with a whopping ₹11.50 Crores guaranteed prize pool across all tournaments this month, challenging the other top platforms. Upholding their tagline, “Ab Club Badalne Ka Time Aa Gaya,” they’re inviting players to join India’s rapidly expanding poker network.

With daily tournaments with buy-ins from ₹990 to ₹11,000, Pocket52 offers an enticing opportunity for poker enthusiasts. The highlight is the ₹30 Lakhs GTD Pocket Kings, starting at 8 PM on Sunday.

Read the complete report here

Junglee Poker Debuts Spectacularly: Introduces ₹1 Crore GTD Junglee Big Bang & Welcomes Abhay Deol as Brand Ambassador

Introducing the newly rebranded Junglee Poker, previously known as Poker India, a fresh and exciting addition to India’s flourishing online poker scene. With a vision to make poker “Everyone’s Game,” the platform has appointed renowned actor Abhay Deol as its brand ambassador.

To mark its launch, Junglee Poker presents the Junglee Big Bang MTT series, which commenced on July 27, featuring tournaments with over ₹1 Crore in guaranteed prizes. The platform offers popular poker variants, immediate seating options, high-quality graphics, and top-notch safety features, including an iTech Labs-certified Random Number Generator.

In addition to a Welcome Bonus of up to ₹25,000, players can enjoy various promotions and daily rewards. The Daily Rakeback Challenge offers a generous 50% rakeback, and consistent play could secure you a slice of the Daily Leaderboard‘s ₹2-Lakh prize pool.

Read the complete report here

Claim₹25 Lakhs in Rakeback Rewards in Gamezy Poker’s August Chip Champion Rakeback (July 27 – August 9)

Gamezy Poker is back with an exhilarating promotion – the August Chip Champion Rakeback! Running from July 27 to August 9, this promotion offers an incredible opportunity to win ₹25 Lakhs in rakeback rewards. It’s open to all cash game players across 14-tier leaderboards, regardless of their stake levels.

Participating is easy: play cash games, earn points, and climb up the leaderboard. The more points you accumulate, the better your chances of unlocking fantastic rewards.

Read the complete report here

Triple Thrill on PokerSaint: Daily Deal, Money Masters 2 & Mini Mania Tournaments Await

PokerSaint has launched a Triple Thrill promotion with three exciting opportunities to win big. First up is the Daily Deal, offering 14 days of cash game challenges and a staggering ₹14 Lakhs prize pool each day. Next, gear up for the Money Masters2 extravaganza, spanning 28 days and featuring a grand prize pool of ₹30 Lakhs. Don’t miss the chance to participate in the Money Master’s Grand tournament on August 20 at 8 PM, with a guaranteed prize pool of ₹25 Lakhs.

For micro-stake masters looking for their path to glory, the Mini Mania Tournaments offer 14 days of thrilling action, where consistency can earn you a share of ₹2 Lakhs in prizes.

Read the complete report here

Weekly Rakeback Challenges at PokerStars India Present Cash Game Players with Weekly Opportunities For 20% – 45% in Rakeback Rewards

PokerStars India, the Indian arm of the global poker giant, is now in its fifth year. It has launched an exciting promotional calendar for August and September, full of compelling tournaments and giveaways. The highlight is the Weekly Rakeback Challenges, offering cash game players personalized weekly rake targets, with potential rewards of between 20% to 45% Rakeback. These challenges provide a full week of thrilling poker, the cycle running from Thursday to the next Wednesday.

Read the complete report here

Boost Your Profits With Spartan Poker’s August Promotions: Earn Up to 50% Cashback on PLO & Hold’em Cash Tables in Cashback Reloaded & Cash Leaderboards

Leading online poker platform Spartan Poker is doubling the fun this August with the Cashback Reloaded and Cash Leaderboard promotions. Players participating in the PLO and Hold’em cash games can earn up to 50% cashback on stakes from ₹5/₹10 and above this month.

The Cashback Reloaded includes four leaderboard races catering to various stakes. The Super High Rollers can earn up to 50% cashback in weekly races with prizes up to ₹1.50 Lakhs. The Reloaded High, Mid, and Low cater to smaller stakes, offering up to 40% daily cashback. Every ₹50 contributed in Rake earns 1 point, with all winnings credited as real cash.

The Cash Leaderboards offer additional excitement for micro stakes players, guaranteeing ₹8.25 Lakhs on ₹1/₹2 and ₹2/₹5 NLHE and PLO tables.

Read the complete report here

Triton Super High Roller Series London 2023

The 2023 Triton Super High Roller Series London kicked off on July 27 at the prestigious JW Marriott Grosvenor House. The fortnight-long extravaganza, boasting 17 super high roller events, witnessed its first victory when Lucas Greenwood triumphed in Event #1: $25,000 GG Million$ Live, pocketing a career-best $897,000.

India’s Santhosh Suvarna, who has gradually become a known name in the international high-stakes scene, claimed his first score of the series in Event #6: $60K NLH 7-Handed, packing in a 12th place finish worth $112,300, making him our “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”

Jason Koon clinched a record-extending eighth Triton title in Event #6: $60K NLH 7-Handed, making away with $1.57 Million in first-place prize money.

Other renowned champions crowned thus far include German poker prodigy Fedor Holz in Event #2: $25,000 NLH 7-Handed ($609,853), the 2022 WSOP Main Event winner Espen Jorstad in Event #3: $40,000 Mystery Bounty ($639,000), and poker maestro Ole Schemion in Event #5: $50,000 NLH 8-Handed, who scooped an impressive $1.35 Million.

APT Summer Series Da Nang 2023

The 2023 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Summer Series Da Nang culminated its electrifying ten-day run on July 30 at the luxurious beachfront Ariyana Convention Centre within the opulent five-star Furama Resort, surpassing turnout records set at the previous APT Summer Series held in Hanoi.

This captivating series featured 57 unique trophy events and drew an incredible 5,180 participants hailing from 35 nations. These competitors battled it out for a share of a remarkable prize pool of VN₫ 84.688 Billion, reflecting a 7% uptick compared to the last APT Hanoi series.

Team India gave an admirable performance, racking up 34 cash finishes that included seven final table appearances and a prestigious title win.

The VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Event #19: VN₫ 35 Million APT Main Event served as the series’ pièce de résistance, creating a new record as the most lucrative APT Main Event ever held in Vietnam. The event drew a staggering 675 entries, amassing a colossal prize pool of VN₫ 20.625 Billion. Singapore’s Shixiang Khoo walked away with the highly sought-after Golden Lion APT Main Event trophy, earning a striking VN₫ 3.93 Billion in prize money.

The Indian contingent’s journey in the Main Event wrapped up on Day 3, with Amit Kaushik making the deepest run, landing in 23rd place and taking home VN₫ 135.92 Million. Noteworthy performances from other Indian competitors included Young Gun Anuj Yadav (36th place for VN₫ 89.72 Million), Tarush Gupta (45th place for VN₫ 77.34 Million), and Chirag Sodha (73rd place for VN₫ 60.84 Million).

Archit Khandelwal was the standout player from Team India, garnering VN₫ 455.10 Million, the highest individual earnings by an Indian at the festival, with his runner-up finish in the VN₫ 2 Billion GTD Event #44: VN₫ 14 Million Double Stack. Khandelwal narrowly missed the final table in Event #56: VN₫ 7 Million Micro Main Event, finishing in 10th place for an additional VN₫ 18.70 Million. His cumulative winnings of VN₫ 523.670 Million ensured his standing as the top-earning Indian player in the series.

Team India`s Scores at the Series

Rank	Player	Event	Prize (VND)
2	Archit Khandelwal	Event #44 Double Stack - VND 2,000,000,000	45,51,00,000
16	Ashish Munot	Event #51 APT High Roller - 8 Max - VND 5,000,000,000 GTD	15,74,20,000
19	Anuj Yadav	Event #51 APT High Roller - 8 Max - VND 5,000,000,000 GTD	14,16,80,000
23	Amit Kaushik	Event #19 APT Main Event - VND 12,000,000,000 GTD	13,59,20,000
9	Anuj Yadav	Event #45 Single Day High Roller - 8 Max	12,37,00,000
7	Amit Kaushik	Event #50 Mini Main Event - VND 1,500,000 GTD	9,87,80,000
7	Vivek Singh	Event #1 APT Kickoff - VND 1,500,000,000 GTD	9,29,40,000
36	Anuj Yadav	Event #19 APT Main Event - VND 12,000,000,000 GTD	8,97,20,000
45	Tarush Sunil Gupta	Event #19 APT Main Event - VND 12,000,000,000 GTD	7,73,40,000
73	Chirag Sodha	Event #19 APT Main Event - VND 12,000,000,000 GTD	6,08,40,000
12	Sumit Sapra	Event #44 Double Stack - VND 2,000,000,000	5,78,50,000
2	Ramesh Srinivas Rao Thotapalli	Event #38 NLH - Double Board, Single Winner - Hyper Turbo	5,39,30,000
5	Archit Khandelwal	Event #32 Turbo	4,98,70,000
12	Chirag Sodha	Event #1 APT Kickoff - VND 1,500,000,000 GTD	4,14,30,000
13	Tarush Sunil Gupta	Event #1 APT Kickoff - VND 1,500,000,000 GTD	4,14,30,000
12	Ramesh Srinivas Rao Thotapalli	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	3,73,10,000
19	Anuj Yadav	Event #1 APT Kickoff - VND 1,500,000,000 GTD	2,88,30,000
22	Chirag Sodha	Event #50 Mini Main Event - VND 1,500,000 GTD	2,76,70,000
14	Deepak Vansil	Event #12 Sunday Super Stack - VND 1,000,000,000 GTD	2,62,50,000
11	Chirag Sodha	Event #29 NLH - Freezeout	2,39,20,000
41	Vivek Singh	Event #44 Double Stack - VND 2,000,000,000	2,22,80,000
10	Archit Khandelwal	Event #56 Micro Main Event	1,87,00,000
17	Amit Kaushik	Event #29 NLH - Freezeout	1,75,80,000
42	Chirag Sodha	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,31,00,000
45	Anuj Yadav	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,31,00,000
51	Meherzad Viraf Munsaf	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,31,00,000
54	Ashish Munot	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,31,00,000
55	Amit Kaushik	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,31,00,000
56	Vivek Singh	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,21,00,000
57	Deepak Vansil	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	1,21,00,000
7	Ish Agarwal	Event #49 NLH - Lazy Rivers - Hyper Turbo	91,70,000

List of Winners

Player	Event	Prize (VND)
Shixiang Khoo	Event #19 APT Main Event - VND 12,000,000,000 GTD	3,93,52,85,000
Nguyen Hoang Long	Event #51 APT High Roller - 8 Max - VND 5,000,000,000 GTD	2,61,42,80,000
Pham Duy Anh	Event #35 Single Day High Roller - 8 Max	1,04,49,70,000
Julian-Andrew Warhurst	Event #7 APT Super High Roller - 8 Max	1,00,38,40,000
Van Lich Vu	Event #39 Single Day High Roller - 8 Max	92,71,30,000
Duy Thuc Nguyen	Event #45 Single Day High Roller - 8 Max	87,44,20,000
Joshua Curtis Mccully	Event #21 Superstar Challenge	84,73,90,000
Renji Mao	Event #13 Single Day High Roller - 8 Max	63,48,60,000
Yu-Chung Chang	Event #58 Last Chance High Roller	61,37,10,000
Zhiwen Deng	Event #6 Mystery Bounty Hunter - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 2,000,000,000 GTD	55,11,54,000
Chan Kien	Event #1 APT Kickoff - VND 1,500,000,000 GTD	54,55,40,000
John Pantaleone Bonadies	Event #44 Double Stack - VND 2,000,000,000	53,66,66,000
Thanh Nguyen	Event #50 Mini Main Event - VND 1,500,000 GTD	48,02,33,000
Gavin Mark Flynn	Event #2 Single Day High Roller - Freezeout - 8 Max	45,83,20,000
Ngoc Minh Le	Event #34 NLH - Single Re-Entry	35,28,76,000
Nguyen Hoang Long	Event #40 Zodiac Classic - Sponsored by Natural8 - VND 1,500,000,000 GTD	33,72,00,000
Hyeongyu Song	Event #12 Sunday Super Stack - VND 1,000,000,000 GTD	31,76,26,000
Van Lich Vu	Event #29 NLH - Freezeout	28,70,20,000
Hyeongyu Song	Event #37 Turbo - Double Stack	23,01,84,000
Nguyen Duc Thanh	Event #56 Micro Main Event	17,31,00,000
James Michael Nicholas South	Event #32 Turbo	16,99,92,000
Neng Zhao	Event #25 Turbo	14,98,96,000
Joshua Curtis Mccully	Event #28 Single Day High Roller - 40M Bounty Winner Takes All - 8 Max	14,96,50,000
Michael Lindstrom	Event #52 PL Omaha - High	14,60,26,000
Thanawat Lowharuangrongkul	Event #17 Turbo	14,05,50,000
Mikkel Lund-Madsen	Event #20 PL Omaha - High	12,83,30,000
Peng Yang	Event #42 Turbo	11,81,06,000
The Naing	Event #8 PL Omaha - High	11,29,24,000
Kiwanont Sukhum	Event #54 Turbo	11,22,33,000
Hyun Woo Jeong	Event #48 Turbo	10,68,80,000
Jia-Ming Zhang	Event #4 Turbo	8,74,54,000
Vo Dinh Tuan	Event #10 Turbo	8,31,10,000
Hsiao-Chin Lin	Event #36 Women's Event	7,72,65,000
Ko Goto	Event #38 NLH - Double Board, Single Winner - Hyper Turbo	7,58,58,000
Voong Anuy	Event #27 PL Omaha Hi-Lo	7,46,13,000
Hudson Su Seng Wong	Event #46 PL Omaha - High - Lazy Rivers (individual River Card Face Up)	7,20,25,000
Kai Yi Sun	Event #60 Hyper Turbo	6,80,92,000
Michael Lindstrom	Event #14 5 Card PL Omaha - High	6,29,95,000
Dragos-Gabriel Iosub	Event #61 Hyper Turbo	5,97,65,000
Hayato Kitajima	Event #57 Omaholic (Omaha High - PL Pre / NL Post) - Sponsored by Natural8	5,81,40,000
Martijn Johannes Gerrits	Event #49 NLH - Lazy Rivers - Hyper Turbo	5,49,90,000
Daigo Yoshida	Event #22 Super Hold'em - Double Chance	5,36,34,000
Ka Ho Yan	Event #43 NLH - Rivers - Hyper Turbo	5,10,56,000
Martijn Johannes Gerrits	Event #26 NLH - Deuce Wild - Hyper Turbo	4,90,96,000
Xaymoungkhoun Souksanh	Event 5: NLH - Short Deck - Hyper Turbo	4,65,12,000
Ngoc Minh Le	Event #33 NLH - 2nd Best Hold'em - Hyper Turbo	4,52,20,000
Jia-Ming Zhang	Event #11 NLH - Win the Button - Hyper Turbo	4,26,26,000
Jia-Ming Zhang	Event #18 Super Hold'em - Hyper Turbo	3,96,04,000
Jeongyeol Yu	Event #55 NLH - Crazy Pineapple - Hyper Turbo	3,94,38,000
Jeongyeol Yu	Event #59 NL - 2-7 - Single Draw	3,82,97,000
Joris Michl	Event #53 Limit - Badugi - Triple Draw	2,85,94,000
Pak Hang Pun	Event #3 5 Card PL Omaha - Hi-Lo (Big O)	2,83,53,700
Florent Remi	Event #15 Limit H-E-R-O-S (Hold'em, Stud Hi-Lo 8/B,Razz, Omaha Hi-Lo, 7 Card Stud)	2,30,99,000
Deepak Vansil	Event #23 Omaha Hi-Lo	2,30,99,000
Quoc Bao Diep	Event #47 Limit - Triple Draw Mix (A-5, 2-7, Badugi)	2,30,99,000
Chongwei Liao	Event #30 Limit - Triple Stud (Razz, 7 Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo)	2,09,01,000
Craig Anthony Cooper	Event 9: Limit - Omaha Hi-Lo / Stud Hi-Lo	1,88,55,000

With this, we conclude this week’s roundup of the latest news updates and developments from the poker world. We will return again next week with another weekly report. Stay tuned.

The post This Week in Poker: July 26 – August 1 appeared first on PokerGuru.

While the online poker tournament scene was relatively quiet, with many regulars attending the 14th edition of the Deltin Poker Tournament in Goa and the 2023 APT Summer Series in Vietnam, Pocket52 maintained the momentum by rolling out a series of adrenaline-fueled tournaments as part of its grand ₹5 Crores GTD Big Pocket Series.

Young Gun Gaurav Sood (annual winnings – ₹3.55 Crores) continues to dominate the yearly leaderboard for a sixth consecutive week, relentlessly chasing a record-extending third Player of the Year (POY) title. His closest rivals, Ashish Munot (annual winnings – ₹3.14 Crores) and Ankit Wadhawan (annual winnings – ₹2.98 Crores) have been conspicuously absent from the online scene, causing the gap to broaden.

Haider Madraswala (monthly winnings – ₹74.66 Lakhs) towers over the monthly leaderboard, largely attributable to his stunning performance in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition. Pratik Manjrekar (monthly winnings – ₹72.32 Lakhs) is nipping at his heels in second place. Young Gun Gaurav Sood (monthly winnings – ₹40.76 Lakhs), with his trio of title victories in July, is ranked third in the monthly standings.

Vishal Bajaj (weekly winnings – ₹14.08 Lakhs), currently ranked #4 in the POY race, stole the limelight this week. Bajaj secured an emphatic victory in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller and Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack and bagged second place in Spartan Poker’s Ultron, propelling him to the top of the weekly charts. Trailing him are Satyam Verma (weekly winnings – ₹10.01 Lakhs) and Ayush Garg (weekly winnings – ₹10 Lakhs), rounding off the top three in the weekly leaderboard.

Weekly Online Rankings (July 23 – July 29)

Player	Weekly Cashes	Weekly Profit
Vishal Bajaj	₹14,08,149	₹11,00,000
Satyam Verma	₹10,01,245	₹8,00,000
Ayush Garg	₹10,00,159	₹7,50,000

Monthly Online Rankings (July 1 – July 29)

Player	Monthly Cashes	Monthly Profit
Haider Madraswala	₹74,65,567	₹68,03,020
Pratik Manjrekar	₹72,31,628	₹69,39,796
Gaurav Sood	₹40,76,065	₹24,20,816

Yearly Online Rankings (January 1 – July 29)

Player	Yearly Cashes	Yearly Profit
Gaurav Sood	₹3,54,51,676	₹1,71,81,480
Ashish Munot	₹3,14,10,301	₹1,75,10,583
Ankit Wadhawan	₹2,98,41,541	₹97,54,011

Weekly Online Rankings

1. Vishal Bajaj

Weekly Cashes – 14,08,149

Weekly Profit – ₹11,00,000

Weekly Leaderboard Points – 1,383

With many top regs busy playing the Deltin Poker Tournament in Goa and the 2023 APT Summer Series Hanoi in Vietnam, Vishal Bajaj, the #4 ranked player in the POY standings, had a field day on the digital poker tables. He capitalised on the opportunity, amassing a grand total of ₹13 Lakhs and ₹10.32 Lakhs in profits for the week, ruling supreme at the top of the weekly charts.

Bajaj’s exceptional Sunday play captured the spotlight as he conquered PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller, earning a whopping ₹5.02 Lakhs and amassing ₹6.15 Lakhs in total. His triumphant run was far from over as Bajaj, last month’s IOPC #115 High Roller victor, championed Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack just two days later, adding another ₹2.63 Lakhs to his kitty.

But Bajaj’s mastery didn’t stop at these victories. He attained a commendable second-place finish in Spartan Poker’s Ultron on Thursday, bagging ₹3.15 Lakhs. In addition, he successfully reached the final table in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum [6-Max], securing the fifth position and pocketing ₹83,279.

Top Cashes This Week

– 1st in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller for ₹5,02,200

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s Ultron for ₹3,14,847

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack for ₹2,63,339 (heads-up deal)

– 5th in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum [6-Max] for ₹83,279

– 8th in PokerBaazi’s BSS SuperStack for ₹60,400

2. Satyam Verma

Weekly Cashes – ₹10,22,731

Weekly Profit – ₹7,68,836

Weekly Leaderboard Points – 1,506

Satyam Verma made waves this Sunday, setting a personal record by earning an impressive ₹6.15 Lakhs from his triumphant run in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship. He didn’t stop there, Verma also posted a commendable runner-up finish in PokerStars India’s Sunday Special, raking in an additional ₹1.50 Lakhs.

Adding another ten In-The-Money (ITM) finishes to his impressive weekly record, Verma’s stellar gameplay landed him the #2 spot on the weekly leaderboard. His cumulative earnings touched a remarkable ₹10.23 Lakhs, while his net profits soared to ₹7.69 Lakhs.

Top Cashes This Week

– 1st in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship for ₹6,15,384

– 2nd in PokerStars India’s Sunday Special [8-Max, PKO] for ₹1,50,326

– 8th in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack for ₹72,750

3. Ayush Garg

Weekly Cashes – ₹10,00,159

Weekly Profit ~ ₹7,50,000

Weekly Leaderboard Points – N/A

Ayush Garg, two-time The Millionaire victory, delivered an outstanding performance on Wednesday, championing Pocket52’s BPS#29 Avenger for ₹1.85 Lakhs and nabbing a runner-up position in PokerStars India’s Monster Stack – Ticket Drop Edition, earning ₹72,658. This triumph was followed by another remarkable Friday session, where he won Spartan Poker’s The Elite (6-Max) for ₹4.90 Lakhs and secured a second-place finish in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller, worth ₹2.64 Lakhs, and landed another final table score.

Garg successfully made it into the money in fifteen events this past week, which incorporated his two title victories and two second-place finishes. His phenomenal performance garnered him over ₹10 Lakhs in winnings, translating to noteworthy profits of around ₹7.50 Lakhs. This recent success has escalated his online profits past the ₹3 Crores mark and boosted his annual winnings to ₹1.50 Crores.

Top Cashes This Week

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s The Elite (6-Max) for ₹4,89,587* (heads-up deal)

– 2nd in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller for ₹2,63,604* (four-way deal)

– 1st in Pocket52’s BPS#29 Avenger for ₹1,85,000

– 2nd in PokerStars India’s Monster Stack – Ticket Drop Edition for ₹72,658

Rising Star Ritwik Khanna (Weekly Cashes – ₹9.64 Lakhs), Sreekanth Narayan (Weekly Cashes – ₹8.60 Lakhs), and Karan Malhotra (Weekly Cashes – ₹8.34 Lakhs) were the week`s other top scorers.

Monthly Online Rankings

1. Haider Madraswala

Monthly Cashes – ₹74,65,567

Monthly Profit – ₹68,03,020

Monthly Leaderboard Points – 1,984

Securing a win in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss is about more than just the significant prize money—it’s about achieving a level of prestige in the poker world. In this regard, Haider Madraswala has truly excelled. Madraswala clinched the EndBoss Special Edition title—a feat many strive for—and etched his name in poker history as the fifth player to capture this coveted title. This victory rewarded him with a career-best prize worth a whopping ₹68.48 Lakhs! Moreover, Madraswala added to his monumental success with a stellar runner-up finish in PokerStars India’s Bounty Builder HR.

Madraswala’s overall performance in July has been nothing less than spectacular, with total winnings reaching ₹74.66 Lakhs and profits touching ₹68.03 Lakhs. Despite his two-week hiatus from the online action, this remarkable achievement places him at the pinnacle of the monthly scorers’ charts.

Top Cashes This Month

– 1st in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition for ₹68,47,980* (three-way deal)

– 2nd in PokerStars India’s Bounty Builder HR – Ticket Drop Edition for ₹1,18,484

3. Pratik Manjrekar

Monthly Cashes – ₹72,31,628

Monthly Profit – ₹69,39,796

Monthly Leaderboard Points – 1,685

Although Pratik Manjrekar may not have clinched a title victory in July, his steady ascent to the #2 spot on the monthly leaderboard is remarkably noteworthy. By amassing significant total earnings of ₹72.31 Lakhs and ₹69.39 Lakhs in monthly profits, Manjrekar has certainly made an indelible impact.

Manjrekar’s highest career earnings of ₹67.98 Lakhs stemmed from a breakout second-place finish in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition. He also showcased a strong performance in Adda52’s Nano Highroller, securing the runner-up position.

Over the past week, he accumulated just two more scores, collectively worth ₹69,580. Nevertheless, his substantial earnings from the EndBoss Special Edition continue to place him firmly at the #2 position on the monthly leaderboard.

Top Cashes This Month

– 2nd in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition for ₹67,98,392* (three-way deal)

– 2nd in Adda52’s Nano Highroller for ₹2,06,530* (heads-up deal)

3. Gaurav Sood

Monthly Cashes – ₹40,76,065

Monthly Profit – ₹24,20,816

Monthly Leaderboard Points – 5,157

Young Gun Gaurav Sood is someone we have covered most extensively in this weekly feature. Currently going strong in his pursuit for a landmark third Player of the Year title, Sood, a trained dentist who transitioned into a professional poker career, has already secured three flagship tournament victories this month. In addition, he boasts eleven other final table appearances, seamlessly climbing to the top of the monthly scorers’ leaderboard podium. Sood has accumulated an awe-inspiring ₹40.76 Lakhs in total earnings and ₹24.20 Lakhs in net profits this month.

Sood’s triumphant stride in July includes notable victories in Spartan Poker’s ITM #91 Wednesday Big Turbo (6 Max), PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller, and PokerStars India’s Sunday Highroller.

Top Cashes This Month

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s ITM #91 Wednesday Big Turbo (6 Max) for ₹6,37,806

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s ITM #40 Thursday Big Turbo (6 Max) for ₹4,05,559

– 8th in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller for ₹3,61,900

– 1st in PokerStars India’s Sunday Highroller for ₹2,80,239

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack for ₹2,62,500

Rising Star Aman Parakh (Monthly Cashes – ₹39.04 Lakhs), Vishal Bajaj (Weekly Cashes – ₹35.37 Lakhs), and Pradip Ghosh (Weekly Cashes – ₹33.17 Lakhs) are the other top-ranked players of July.

Yearly Online Rankings

1. Gaurav Sood

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,54,51,676

Yearly Profit – ₹1,71,81,480

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 44,999

As a two-time Player of the Year (POY) champion, Sood is making impressive strides towards an unprecedented third POY title, extending his indomitable lead atop the annual leaderboard for a notable six consecutive weeks.

Sood’s total winnings for the current year stand at a solid ₹3.55 Crores, with a remarkable ₹1.72 Crores representing pure profits. These significant figures reflect Sood’s unparalleled expertise, cementing his status as one of the nation’s most accomplished online tournament players.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #82 Sunday High (6 Max) (High) for ₹15.29 Lakhs on June 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s The Millionaire for ₹14.82 Lakhs on February 26

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #85 Beast (6 Max) (High) for ₹14.53 Lakhs on June 11

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #35 Wednesday Grande (6 Max) for ₹10.91 Lakhs on March 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #12 Saturday Titan for ₹8.44 Lakhs on March 4

2. Ashish Munot

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,14,10,301

Yearly Profit – ₹1,75,10,583

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 18,324

Ashish Munot continues to hold the #2 position on the annual leaderboard, and the gap is widening, with the former POY leaderboard topper precisely ₹40.41 Lakhs away from reclaiming his lost lead.

Munot hasn`t been playing a lot of online tournaments, instead focussing on live tournaments in South East Asia and with much success. He recently clinched victory in Event #9: VN₫ 55 Million High Roller at the 2023 WPC Summer Series in Hanoi and has been actively participating in the APT Summer Series in Da Nang, Vietnam. He achieved a cash finish in Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8, finishing 54th for VN₫ 13.10 Million.

In the past week, his online presence was limited; hence, his scores remain unchanged. Despite this period of relatively lower earnings, the ripple effects of Munot’s outstanding performance earlier in the year keep him in contention. He holds a noteworthy ₹3.14 Crores in annual earnings and an even more impressive ₹1.75 Crores in net profits. These figures affirm his standing as the year’s most profitable player.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #46 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹45.65 Lakhs on March 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹31.94 Lakhs on January 26

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #115 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹24.83 Lakhs on February 2

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹16.17 Lakhs on June 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday High Roller for ₹13.75 Lakhs on February 26

3. Ankit Wadhawan

Yearly Cashes – ₹2,98,41,541

Yearly Profit – ₹97,54,011

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 29,732

Despite taking a hiatus from online tournaments to participate in the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, Ankit Wadhawan maintains a firm hold on the #3 position on the annual leaderboard. His unyielding performance and an impressive array of triumphs have secured his place among the elite contenders vying for the prestigious Player of the Year crown, even though he lags behind current frontrunner Gaurav Sood by a substantial ₹56.10 Lakhs.

A review of Wadhawan’s yearly scorecard highlights a remarkable ₹2.98 Crores in annual earnings and ₹97.82 Lakhs in net gains. However, the competition is intensifying, with his former stablemates Vishal Bajaj and Laksh Pal Singh hot on his heels.

Top Cashes This Year

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #58 G.O.D (Game Of Diamonds) for ₹27.79 Lakhs on March 12

– 2nd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹22.43 Lakhs on April 9

– 3rd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹16 Lakhs on May 14

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹15.02 Lakhs on June 2

Vishal Bajaj (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.94 Crores), Young Gun Laksh Pal Singh (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.78 Crores), and Young Gun Arsh Grover (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.77 Crores) are ranked #4, #5 and #6 on the annual leaderboard, respectively.

For a complete list of online rankings, check out our ‘Leaderboards’ page. If your name is not on our list, register and enter your screen names into your account to get ranked!

The post Online Rankings: Vishal Bajaj Tops the Weekly Charts, Haider Madraswala Dominates the July Leaderboard & Gaurav Sood Still Going Strong For a Record 3rd POY Win appeared first on PokerGuru.

In this weekly feature, we list down the most trending videos from the poker world. From the craziest to the funniest – from the interesting to the bizarre – you’ll find it all here every week!

Dynamic Duo – Chota Machhi & SharmaJI’s Epic MTT Streams

Now household names in the domestic poker scene, our dynamic streaming powerhouses Chota Machhi (Arpit Jain) and SharmaJI (Naman Sharma) have made a strong mark as frequent live session hosts, bringing poker action to the fans nearly daily.

Last Sunday, they upped the ante by joining forces on two dual streams. The dynamic pair kicked off their evening by jumping into Pocket52`s Big Pocket Series. They put their poker skills to the test in the ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS #9 Snacks, followed by the more challenging ₹25 Lakhs GTD BPS #10 Pocket Kings.

After their stint at Pocket52, they took their game to PokerSaint for an exciting showdown in the high-value ₹25 Lakhs GTD Grand Money Masters.

As Monday arrived, Chota Machhi took on the ₹4 Lakhs GTD Amethyst on PokerSaint.

On Tuesday, Chota Machhi switched to the ₹25/50 and ₹50/100 cash tables on PokerDangal.

The same day, SharmaJI took on the mightiest challenge yet at Pocket52’s ₹5 Crores GTD Big Pocket Series. He streamed his gameplay in three high-stakes events: ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS#21 Pocket Snacks, ₹15 Lakhs GTD BPS#22 Pocket Bullets, and ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS#23 Terminator.

On Wednesday, SharmaJI faced a stern test in Pocket52’s ₹5 Crores GTD Big Pocket Series as he joined three high-stakes events – ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS#27 Pocket Snacks, ₹15 Lakhs GTD BPS#28 Pocket Rockets, and ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS#29 Avenger.

Come Thursday, Chota Machhi was ready for glory in Pocket52’s Big Pocket Series, participating in the ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS #33 Snacks and the massive ₹35 Lakhs GTD BPS #34 MME – Pocket Masters.

Later, SharmaJI was back for more poker action, taking part in the ₹3.50 Lakhs GTD Steal Deal #28 Thursday Throwdown on MPL Poker.

Friday saw SharmaJI tackling Pocket52’s ₹5 Crores GTD Big Pocket Series, playing three exciting events: ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS #39 Snacks, ₹20 Lakhs GTD BPS #40 Pocket Knights, and ₹12 Lakhs GTD BPS #41 Dominator PLO5.

Later on Friday, Chota Machhi joined the action at MPL Poker’s ₹10 Lakhs GTD Steal Deal Series #38 Full Stack Friday, aiming for a strong finish.

To cap off the week, the dynamic duo came together on Saturday, playing the evening Big Pocket Series flagships on Pocket52 like the ₹10 Lakhs GTD BPS #45 Snacks, the ₹20 Lakhs GTD BPS #46 Pocket Queens, and the ₹12 Lakhs GTD BPS #47 Hercules.

Harshdev Jhirmiria Streams Pocket52`s Big Pocket Series Flagships

Harshdev Jhirmiria, a prominent poker streamer, thrilled his audience with three compelling live streams this past week.

On Wednesday, Jhirmiria jumped into Pocket52’s BPS flagships. This session showcased his innovative gameplay tactics and provided viewers with a deep-dive analysis of his thought process.

He returned to the virtual felts on Thursday, streaming Pocket52`s high-octane ₹35 Lakhs GTD BPS#34 MME – Pocket Masters and the ₹15 Lakhs GTD BPS#35 Elite Highroller.

Getting ready for the busy weekend grind, Jhirmiria participated in the ₹20 Lakhs GTD BPS#40 Pocket Knights and the ₹12 Lakhs GTD BPS#41 Dominator PLO5 on Friday.

Monster Poker Community’s Arpan Roy Choudhury Stream MTTs

Arpan Roy Choudhury, representing the Monster Poker Community, streamed his run in Pocket52’s Big Pocket Series Friday flagships.

IPPA’s Ashutosh Kumar, Sawan Kumar, Rahul Kumar & Prapti Singh Stream MTTs

The past week was a whirlwind of excitement for the streamers of the India Poker Players Association (IPPA)!

On Sunday, Ashutosh Kumar took to the digital felts, streaming his gameplay in PokerSaint’s ₹25 Lakhs GTD Money Masters Grand.

In a thrilling dual stream on Wednesday, Ashutosh Kumar joined forces with Sawan Kumar. The duo brought to the screens of poker enthusiasts Gamezy Poker’s Grand Chipmaster Series Day 5 flagships.

Thursday saw another engaging collaboration, this time between Ashutosh Kumar and Rahul Kumar. Together, they streamed the Day 6 attractions of Pocket52’s Big Pocket Series.

Throughout the week, Prapti Singh delivered a dazzling showcase of her skills, taking on tournaments in Gamezy Poker’s Grand Chipmaster Series and Pocket52’s Big Pocket Series.

Rahul Kumar, a notable The Player Hunt Season 2 participant, streamed his fascinating journey in Adda52’s ₹14 Lakhs GTD The Mint on Tuesday.

The rest of the week saw Rahul Kumar engrossed in the Big Pocket Series flagship tournaments on Pocket52.

On Friday, Sawan Kumar made a comeback for a second streaming session, taking on PokerSaint’s ₹5 Lakhs GTD Sapphire.

Parth Jain Streams MTTs & Cash Games

Popular content creator Parth Jain, AKA Your Poker Guy, lined up four streams this week, grinding MTTs and cash games.

On Sunday, Jain dived into the Day 2 flagships of Pocket52`s Big Pocket Series.

The next day, he took on the challenge at MPL Poker`s ₹50/₹100 cash tables.

Jain returned on Tuesday, playing MPL Poker`s Steal Deal Series tournaments.

Much to the delight of his virtual rail, Jain made a killing in the Big Pocket Series Thursday tournaments, posting two final table finishes on stream for ₹1.80 Lakhs in total winnings. His standout finishes came in BPS#34 MME – Pocket Masters (6th for ₹1.40 Lakhs) and BPS#33 Snacks (6th for ₹40,000). Check out his run below.

Devvrat Singh Kaurav Streams For Pocket52

Devvrat Singh Kaurav posted three entertaining streams for Pocket 52 this week, playing the Big Pocket Series flagships. Check them out below.

Ginish Vadera Streams For PokerSaint

On Sunday, Ginish Vadera took a shot in PokerSaint’s ₹25 Lakhs GTD Money Masters Grand.

Jayant Alagawadi & Armaan Kochhar Streams Cash Games & MTTs

Jayant Alagawadi showed up on PokerStars India along with Armaan Kochhar, and they dual streamed their run, playing the ₹12 Lakhs GTD Sunday Special.

On Wednesday, Alagawadi streamed a cash game session on PokerStars India.

On Tuesday and Friday, Alagawadi dived into the Big Pocket Series flagships on Pocket52.

PokerGuru’s Daily Majors Recap with Saumya Paithankar: Weekly Highlights

Known for her detailed recap of the biggest online winners, PokerGuru’s Saumya Paithankar yet again graced us with a week teeming with insightful daily updates. Among her comprehensive recaps, the ones that particularly piqued our interest were her reviews for the Sunday, July 23, and Wednesday, July 26, tournaments.

“Bas Chalte Rehna Hai” – Hanuman Patel’s Inspirational Journey to a ₹78.74 Lakhs Win in PokerBaazi’s ₹5 Crores GTD EndBoss

In a compelling saga reminiscent of a rags-to-riches narrative, Hanuman Patel, hailing from a modest town in Rajasthan, seized second place at PokerBaazi’s ₹5 Crores GTD EndBoss, walking away with an incredible ₹78.74 Lakhs through a four-way deal.

Patel’s incredible journey highlights PokerBaazi’s potential to revolutionize lives and redefine the benchmarks of success for aspiring poker players in the country. His riveting personal account, shared during an interview with PokerBaazi, genuinely exemplifies the ethos of “Bas Chalte Rehna Hai.” You can watch the complete interview below.

GGMillion$ – S03E19

GGPoker`s weekly High Roller, the $5 Million GTD WSOP Summer Circuit Event #14, played out this week. With a steep buy-in of $10,300, the live stream of this high-stakes event captured widespread interest as Jeff Gross and WSOP bracelet winner Diego Ventura delivered expert analysis.

The event’s final table bore witness to a heated contest, with Russia`s ‘Army034’ triumphing. Following a riveting heads-up encounter against Lebanese competitor ‘youngmoney23,’ ‘Army034’ clinched the WSOP circuit ring and a staggering $943,582. Notably, ‘youngmoney23’ also bagged a hefty sum, securing winnings to the tune of $728,706. You can watch the replay of the final table live stream below.

2023 Triton Super High Roller Series London – Live Streams

The eagerly awaited Triton Super High Roller Series made a resounding comeback to London for its second edition at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on July 27. The series stormed back into the spotlight, flaunting some of the most remarkable poker talents from around the globe, including the sole Indian Triton champion Santhosh Suvarna.

Luc Greenwood claimed triumph in Event #1, the $25,000 buy-in GG Million$ Live, securing a staggering $897,000 in prize money.

Poker aficionados can view all the action from Event #1, as Triton Poker broadcasted the event on its YouTube channel. Relive the excitement by watching the replay of the live stream below.

APT Series Da Nang Live Streams

The 2023 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Series Da Nang, taking place at the plush Ariyana Convention Centre within the opulent five-star beachfront Furama Resort, is on its last legs.

The VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Event #19: VN₫ 35 Million APT Main Event set a new benchmark as the richest APT Main Event in Vietnam, registering 675 entries (381 unique) and generating a record-breaking VN₫ 20.625 Billion prize pool.

Singapore`s Shixiang Khoo wrote his name in the history books, capturing the title of the richest Vietnamese Main Event in Asian Poker Tour history, bagging a massive VN₫ 3.93 Billion and the coveted Golden Lion APT Main Event trophy! Japan’s Shinya Maeda followed closely behind, securing second place and a hefty sum of VN₫ 2.43 Billion.

Check out the replay of the APT Main Event live-streamed coverage below.

Top 5 Poker Skills Beginners Struggle With – Insightful Breakdown by Phil Galfond

Acclaimed high-stakes poker pro, Phil Galfond, offers an insightful dissection of the top five poker skills that often pose challenges to beginners. Tailored to assist novices in advancing their poker adeptness, Galfond’s masterful analysis pinpoints recurrent missteps and strategies for capitalizing on them, making it an essential viewing for anyone keen on refining their poker skills.

These insights are especially advantageous for anyone playing at the small stakes, assisting them in forging a sturdy game plan against less experienced poker opponents. Seize this opportunity to glean knowledge from one of the industry’s finest!

Stream Highlights – Lex Veldhuis

PokerStars Ambassador Lex Veldhuis released a highlight video of his final table run in the $109 Daily Kickoff, finishing runner-up for $1,777.

PokerStaples Spins Ultra Challenge – Jaime Staples

Watch partypoker Ambassador Jaime Staples take on a profit challenge by playing seven spin tournaments on Partypoker for $189. Can he hit a multiplier and post a profit? Find out in the stream below.

Live at the Bike – Real-Time Cash Game Thrills from Bicycle Casino

Watch the electrifying cash game action with Live at the Bike straight from the renowned Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.

Keep following PokerGuru for a compilation of the top poker videos each week!

The post Top Videos of the Week: July 23 – 29 appeared first on PokerGuru.

The poker circuit was abuzz with excitement as another captivating week of thrilling action unfolded. Surprisingly, the live poker scene took centre stage, overshadowing the usual online buzz.

Capturing the most attention was the much-anticipated 14th edition of the Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT), hosted onboard the opulent Casino Deltin Royale in Goa. Following a remarkable performance at the record-breaking 2023 World Series of Poker, several Indian regs landed in Vietnam for the 2023 Asian Poker Tour Summer Series Da Nang.

Vasu Bansal stole the spotlight at the 14th edition of the DPT. The week-long series featured a schedule of 12 thrilling tournaments. Bansal’s exceptional performance in the DPT Main Event saw him outclass a field of 642 competitive players. In a gripping final showdown, Bansal and Krishna Khaitan struck an ICM deal, securing ₹40 Lakhs each and leaving the trophy and ₹14 Lakhs to compete for. Ultimately, Bansal prevailed, walking away with an astounding ₹54 Lakhs. This remarkable achievement makes him our “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”

Khaitan finished as a noteworthy runner-up, winning ₹40 Lakhs.

In the DPT High Roller, Young Gun Arsh Grover made waves with an impressive victory. The event featured some of the finest Indian players, but Grover outlasted them all, bagging a substantial ₹30.62 Lakhs following a three-way deal with Nitin Rawat and Roshan Bharadwaj. Rawat earned an attractive runner-up payday of ₹32.95 Lakhs, while Bharadwaj settled for a third-place prize of ₹15 Lakhs.

Ranked #6 in the online POY race, Grover pocketed an additional ₹3.29 Lakhs from five online scores, bringing his total winnings for the week to a staggering ₹33.91 Lakhs.

Another bunch of Indians have come out with top results at the 2023 Summer Series Da Nang that kicked off at the Ariyana Convention Centre in Furama Resort Da Nang on July 21.

Deepak Vansil opened the country’s title scorecard in Event #23: VN₫ 3 Million Omaha Hi-Lo, claiming his maiden live tournament title and VN₫ 23.099 Million. Vansil also cashed Event #12: VN₫ 8 Million Sunday Super Stack (14th for VN₫ 26.25 Million) and Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8 (57th for VN₫ 12.10 Million).

Ramesh Rao Thotapalli stands tall as the top Indian scorer at the series. The Cards52 founder pulled off a 12th place finish in Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8, earning VN₫ 37.310 Million. He pocketed the jackpot mystery bounty worth VN₫ 300 Million, amassing VN₫ 337.310 Million overall.

Vivek Singh impressed with a seventh-place finish in the VN₫ 1.5 Billion GTD Event #1: VN₫ 10 Million APT Kickoff, banking VN₫ 92.94 Million. Singh also placed 56th in Event #6, notching up an additional VN₫ 12.10 Million.

Chirag Sodha, Young Gun Anuj Yadav, Amit Kaushik, Meherzad Munsaf, and Ashish Munot were the other Indians who posted scores in the opening week of APT Summer Series Da Nang.

Anurag Srivastava dominated the online charts this week, amassing ₹11.45 Lakhs in total winnings. Srivastava secured twin victories in Pocket52’s Big Pocket Series – BPT#17 Gladiator (₹2 Lakhs), BPS#9 Snacks (₹1.60 Lakhs), and several other impressive finishes. Satyam Verma also stood out with an outstanding performance, raking in ₹11.31 Lakhs across the week.

Joining the ranks of top online scorers were Vishal Bajaj, Rising Star Ritwik Khanna, Neeraj Kumar, Saransh Garg, Pavankiran Bellamkonda, Guruprasad Gupta, Gaurav Sood, Atishay Samuel, Saurabh Rola, Suneeth Kalmady, Ayush Arora, and Pranav Baheti.

The online poker brands made several sizzling announcements for players.

PokerT20 is running the sizzling Rakeback Mania promotion, promising players an astonishing 30% Rakeback daily.

Pocket52 has taken the poker community by storm by launching its largest-ever MTT series, the Big Pocket Series, which runs from July 22 to 30 and boasts a colossal ₹5 Crores guaranteed prize pool across 54 tournaments. Running on the same network, Gamezy Poker is also hosting this series branded as the Chip Masters Series.

MPL Poker is back with its eighth and most ambitious Steal Deal Series. With a whopping ₹1 Crore prize pool spread across 130 tournaments from July 25 – August 6, the SDS is a playground for poker enthusiasts seeking high-stakes action at affordable buy-ins.

The issue of taxation on online gaming, casinos, and horse racing has ignited a fierce debate that has been brewing for months. However, the situation escalated dramatically in the past fortnight when the GST Council announced its decision to impose a hefty 28% tax on the full face value of contest entry amounts or bets made. Industry stakeholders raised concerns over the catastrophic impact of such a high GST rate.

Amid the turmoil, MoS for MeitY Rajeev Chandrasekhar supported the GST Council’s decision, although he mentioned that the ministry might request the Council to reconsider. Chandrasekhar clarified that there was no difference of opinion between MeitY and the Finance Ministry, countering previous reports.

Responding to the decision, a group of ministers addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Finance Ministry, expressing their apprehension. The Turf Authorities of India also added their voice to the protest, cautioning that the sport of horse racing could face extinction if the tax measure is enforced.

To address the ongoing conflict, the GST Council has scheduled a virtual meeting on August 2 to make a final decision. Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra revealed that the Council will determine whether the tax will apply at the deposit stage or for every bet or competition entry, leaving the gaming industry in suspense.

Despite the regulatory challenges posed by the GST Council’s recent pronouncements, India`s leading casino company Delta Corp remains resilient and ambitious. The company reported impressive first-quarter results for FY 2023-24, with a consolidated revenue rise of 9%, totalling ₹272.80 crores. The company also saw significant increases in EBITDA and net profit, growing by 9.50% and 18.90%, respectively.

Goa’s thriving casino industry has contributed substantially to the state’s economy, generating a staggering ₹936.64 Crores in revenue from April 1, 2019, to July 15, 2023. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant shared this financial achievement during the Goa Assembly’s monsoon session. He disclosed that the state earns a substantial ₹368.50 Crores in annual licensing fees from 17 casinos.

Online Railbird Report

Anurag Srivastava, a renowned poker pro and a former IOPC – The Millionaire Main Event champion, is running hot in Pocket52’s Big Pocket Series (BPS), having taken down Sunday’s BPS#9 Snacks and Monday’s BPS#17 Gladiator, this past week. Alongside his title successes, he made it to the final table in four other flagship tournaments. Most noteworthy was his second-place finish in Spartan Poker’s The Elite (6-Max) for ₹4.08 Lakhs. His total winnings for the past week reached an impressive ₹11.45 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s The Elite (6-Max) for ₹4,07,500

> 1st in Pocket52’s BPS#17 Gladiator for ₹2,00,000

> 4th in Adda52’s DPT Edition Adda52 Millions for ₹1,80,000

> 1st in Pocket52’s BPS#9 Snacks for ₹1,60,000

Satyam Verma was Sunday`s star performer, securing a personal best ₹6.15 Lakhs from his top finish in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship. Verma also delivered a strong runner-up finish in PokerStars India’s Sunday Special, winning ₹1.50 Lakhs. Verma posted seven more in-the-money (ITM) finishes, which included a notable third-place score worth ₹1.51 Lakhs in PokerStars India’s Highroller – Ticket Drop Edition. His exceptional performance saw him claim the #2 spot on the weekly leaderboard with total earnings of ₹11.31 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship for ₹6,15,384

> 3rd in PokerStars India’s Highroller – Ticket Drop Edition for ₹1,51,288

> 2nd in PokerStars India’s Sunday Special [8-Max, PKO] for ₹1,50,326

> 8th in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack for ₹72,750

Vishal Bajaj bagged a weekly total of ₹9.17 Lakhs. His successful week included title victories in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller and Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller for ₹5,02,200

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack for ₹2,63,339

> 8th in PokerBaazi’s BSS SuperStack for ₹60,400

Rising Star Ritwik Khanna made a strong statement this week, amassing ₹9.14 Lakhs in total earnings.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday Superstack for ₹5,75,558

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s Mega Stack for ₹2,27,865

Neeraj Kumar’s impressive record speaks volumes about his skill and consistency, and his weekly haul touched ₹9 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 3rd in Spartan Poker’s Destiny for ₹1,81,019

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) Daily SPRINT for ₹92,195

> 1st in Adda52’s Voyager for ₹70 ,200

> 3rd in Spartan Poker’s Futuristic – Triple Chance for ₹69,830

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s Daily Turbo (6-Max) for ₹61,148

> 4th in Adda52’s DPT Edition Iron Man for ₹59,500

> 3rd in Spartan The CashMaker – Triple Chance for ₹44,231

Saransh Garg, Pavankiran Bellamkonda, Guruprasad Gupta, Gaurav Sood, Atishay Samuel, Saurabh Rola, Suneeth Kalmady, Ayush Arora, and Pranav Baheti were the week`s other top online scorers.

Notable Winners of the Week

Player	Prize Amount	Event	Poker Site
Areyann Gurbaxani	₹6.60 Lakhs	WTF ₹50 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Satyam Verma	₹6.15 Lakhs	(7-Max) BSS Championship ₹35 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Goonjan Mall	₹6 Lakhs	The Elite ₹25 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
Ritwik Khanna	₹5.81 Lakhs	Sunday SuperStack ₹25 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
Pavankiran Bellamkonda	₹5.60 Lakhs	DPT Edition Adda52 Millions ₹25 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
Vishal Bajaj	₹5.02 Lakhs	BSS HighRoller ₹20 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Vinayak Bajaj	₹5 Lakhs	DPT Edition Godfather ₹20 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
Mithun Mahesh	₹4.78 Lakhs	BSS SuperStack ₹25 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Pavankiran Bellamkonda	₹4.68 Lakhs	DPT Edition The Ballers ₹18 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
Guneet Kwatra	₹4.65 Lakhs	The Summit ₹20 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“Haramzaada”	₹4.53 Lakhs	Money Masters Grand ₹25 Lakhs GTD	PokerSaint
“Ksc247”	₹4.41 Lakhs	WTF ₹40 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“rockstar9887”	₹4.37 Lakhs	BPS#10 Pocket Kings ₹25 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Ankit Agarwal	₹4.25 Lakhs	The Endeavour ₹20 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“CalmLikeABomb”	₹3.99 Lakhs	Destiny 27.0 ₹18 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
“siraf”	₹3.58 Lakhs	IMPS#114 Main Event ₹50 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“gogogo333”	₹3.50 Lakhs	The Mint ₹14 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
Shreyansh Sharma	₹3.32 Lakhs	DeepStack Turbo (6-Max) ₹15 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
Yash Jaiswal	₹3.25 Lakhs	WTF ₹30 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Raghav Chauhan	₹3.23 Lakhs	Ulron ₹18 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
“mohit2706”	₹2.96 Lakhs	The Weekly HighRoller ₹12 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Shagun Jain	₹2.70 Lakhs	HighRoller - TDE ₹10 Lakhs GTD	PokerStars India
Rajat Sharma	₹2.68 Lakhs	The Colosseum [6-Max] ₹12 Lakhs GTD	PokerStars India
Vishal Bajaj	₹2.63 Lakhs	Mega Stack ₹12 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
Atishay Samuel	₹2.62 Lakhs	DPT Edition Maverick ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
“limpbohthard”	₹2.62 Lakhs	BPS#16 Pocket Jacks ₹15 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Manpreet Singh	₹2.62 Lakhs	BPS#22 Pocket Bullets ₹15 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Yash Goel	₹2.55 Lakhs	The Pride ₹15 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Anant Chaudhary	₹2.32 Lakhs	Sunday Special PKO ₹12 Lakhs GTD	PokerStars India
“k1369”	₹2.21 Lakhs	Bounty Builder HR - TDE ₹9 Lakhs GTD	PokerStars India
“jppj”	₹2.16 Lakhs	BPS#11 Ragnarok ₹12 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Anurag Srivastava	₹2 Lakhs	BPS#17 Gladiator ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Mohit Savargaonkar	₹1.99 Lakhs	The CashMaker - Triple Chance ₹9 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
Prashanth Chandrasekhar	₹1.86 Lakhs	(7-Max) SPRINT ₹12 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“844##.757##_14247”	₹1.85 Lakhs	BPS#23 Terminator ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
“GamingRaja_4i1TnUkVCB”	₹1.80 Lakhs	Pocket Knights ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
“TheCrazyGuy”	₹1.79 Lakhs	DPT Edition Iron Man ₹7 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
“Aayush1989”	₹1.78 Lakhs	The Big Show ₹10 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“baazigar000”	₹1.68 Lakhs	IMPS#98 HighRoller ₹8 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“RushiD1”	₹1.64 Lakhs	BPS#15 Snacks ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Anant Chaudhary	₹1.60 Lakhs	DPT Edition Sunday Showdown ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
“CultOfPersonality”	₹1.60 Lakhs	BPS#9 Snacks ₹10 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
Dhinesh Kumar	₹1.51 Lakhs	Futuristic - Triple Chance ₹7 Lakhs GTD	Spartan Poker
“PokerPandit"	₹1.44 Lakhs	Pocket Magnets ₹8 Lakhs GTD	Pocket52
”Studdedasdfghjkl”	₹1.41 Lakhs	Monster Turbo ₹5 Lakhs GTD	Adda52
Siddharth Gangwar	₹1.26 Lakhs	Monster Stack - TDE ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerStars India
“naman0808”	₹1.07 Lakhs	(7-Max) SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“amitrai112000”	₹1 Lakh	(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“shraban56”	₹96K	(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Neeraj Kumar	₹95K	(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Neeraj Kumar	₹92K	(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Ganesh Durgade	₹92K	(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Sagar Raj	₹89K	Eliminator - TDE ₹3 Lakhs GTD	PokerStars India
Jatin Rathod	₹75K	IMPS#85 ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
“Ghatakforce”	₹74K	IMPS#84 ₹5 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Mohsin Shaikh	₹74K	IMPS#93 ₹4 Lakhs GTD	PokerBaazi
Gaurang Bhatti	₹65K	Bounty Madness ₹5 Lakhs GTD	Adda52

Pocket52’s Most Spectacular MTT Series, ₹5 Crores GTD Big Pocket Series, Runs From July 22 – 30

Pocket52’s most ambitious MTT Series yet, the Big Pocket Series, featuring an astounding ₹5 Crores GTD prize pool, is in full swing. Scheduled from July 22 – 30, the series packs in 54 thrilling tournaments across nine action-packed days. With buy-ins ranging from ₹220 to ₹11,000, there’s an event for every poker enthusiast.

Non-stop poker action is guaranteed with tournaments lined up at 2 PM, 4:30 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM & 11 PM daily, with three tournaments offering ₹10 Lakhs or more in prizes daily! Remember to catch the spectacular BPS #52 Pocket Royale, featuring a ₹50 Lakhs prize pool guarantee on July 30, 7 PM!

Read the complete report here

Gamezy Poker’s Grand Chipmaster Series In Full Swing, Featuring an Incredible ₹5 Crores GTD (July 22 – 30)

Gamezy Poker’s largest-ever MTT series, the Grand Chipmaster Series, is currently underway, boasting a staggering ₹5 Crores GTD prize pool! The series, running from July 22 to 30, includes 54 adrenaline-pumping tournaments!

Keep an eye on the series’ headliner: the Castle of Clubs, on July 30. Here’s your chance to compete for a share of a fantastic ₹50 Lakhs prize pool for a buy-in of just ₹5,500.

Read the complete report here

Brace Yourself For Poker T20’s Rakeback Mania; Claim a Massive 30% in Rakeback Daily

PokerT20’s Rakeback Mania is ramping up the excitement by offering players an astounding 30% Rakeback daily. Yes, that’s correct! The more you play, the more you gain, taking your winnings to new heights.

Whether you’re a master of Texas Hold’em or a guru at Omaha, every game you play gets you 30% in Rakeback.

Read the complete report here

MPL Poker`s Biggest-Yet ₹1 Crore GTD Steal Deal Series Runs From July 25 to August 6

MPL Poker’s eighth and most ambitious Steal Deal Series is already in full swing! Scheduled from July 25 to August 6, this phenomenal series is set to smash all previous records with its astounding ₹1 Crore prize pool.

This 13-day poker spectacle is currently unfolding with 130 pulse-quickening tournaments – a dream playground for poker aficionados. With buy-ins beginning at a humble ₹9, it’s a golden chance for players at the micro and low stakes!

Read the complete report here

Deltin Poker Tournament July 2023

The 14th edition of the highly anticipated Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) came to a thrilling conclusion on July 24 after an eventful week of intense poker action at the majestic Casino Deltin Royale in Goa. Organized by Adda52, this year’s DPT proved to be the longest and grandest instalment of the live tournament series, featuring a schedule of 12 exhilarating events.

One of the key highlights of the tournament was the introduction of three new tournament formats – the Teams Event, Flip and Ship, and the Mini Main Event.

Vasu Bansal emerged as the undisputed star of the series, dominating the Main Event and claiming his first-ever live tournament trophy. A total of 642 players competed fiercely in the Main Event, with four starting flights filtering the field. In an intense heads-up battle, Bansal locked horns with Krishna Khaitan. The duo locked up ₹40 Lakhs as part of an ICM deal, leaving the trophy and ₹14 Lakhs to play for. Ultimately, Bansal’s poker prowess prevailed as he lifted the coveted title and an incredible top prize of ₹54 Lakhs. His trailblazing performance makes him the week’s top scorer and our “PokerGuru Star of the Week!” Khaitan, the worthy runner-up, took home a commendable ₹40 Lakhs.

Young Gun Arsh Grover snapped the ₹1.10 Lakhs buy-in DPT High Roller trophy. After a tense competition that saw some of the best players in action, Grover emerged victorious. He bagged a whopping ₹30.62 Lakhs following a three-way deal with Nitin Rawat and Roshan Bharadwaj. Rawat earned a runner-up payday of ₹32.95 Lakhs, and Bharadwaj settled for a respectable ₹15 Lakhs in third place.

Vijay Revankar showcased exceptional poker skills as he triumphed in the highly anticipated DPT Mini Main Event. Outperforming a field of 198 entries, Revankar secured the champion`s purse of ₹10.81 Lakhs. In a thrilling heads-up showdown, he defeated Goldi Babbar to claim his first-ever DPT title. Babbar secured a runner-up payday of ₹7.21 Lakhs, while Himanshu Chhikara collected ₹4.50 Lakhs in third place.

Vaibhav Temani added a live tournament conquest to his glittering poker resume by topping a field of 256 entries in the DPT Superstack Warmup, claiming the grand prize of ₹6.67 Lakhs. In an intense battle, Temani struck an ICM deal with Shivam Shukla and Manas Kalita. Shukla secured a better ₹7.36 Lakhs in second place, and Kalita earned ₹5.55 Lakhs in third place. The trio then battled it out for the title, and in the end, Temani emerged as the champion, lifting his maiden DPT trophy.

Udit Baid showcased his poker prowess in the Turbo Closer, triumphing over a 155-player field to claim his inaugural DPT trophy. Baid struck a heads-up deal with Harshit Kamawani, with both players locking in an equal payday of ₹4.25 Lakhs, leaving the trophy to play for. Ultimately, Baid emerged victorious.

Vishrant Goyal secured his first DPT trophy in the Super Hold’em, besting the competition in a 90-strong field (18 re-entries). Goyal and Tejas Mode agreed on a heads-up deal, locking equal payouts. In the final showdown, Goyal defeated Mode to emerge as the champion.

Bharat Vasan won the first-ever Flip & Ship event at the DPT, claiming the top prize of ₹2.29 Lakhs. Dishant Soni finished as the runner-up, earning ₹1.56 Lakhs.

Rising Star Pratibh Saluja achieved an impressive victory in the Big Bounty PLO, securing the top prize of ₹2.88 Lakhs. He struck a heads-up deal with Digvijay Lamba, who secured the runner-up prize of ₹2.46 Lakhs.

Shivam Shukla took down the Big Bounty NLH Event, earning ₹4.72 Lakhs and his career-first DPT trophy. He struck a three-way ICM deal with Rajesh Shukla (2nd for ₹4.52 Lakhs) and Prabhat Kumar (3rd for ₹3.78 Lakhs).

Vipul Mittal seized his first-ever DPT trophy and a ₹3 Lakhs top prize in the ₹15 Lakhs Adda52 DPT Freeroll tournament.

The DPT Teams Event was championed by Karan Kamat and Anish Juwarkar, who made away with ₹2.84 Lakhs. The Ladies Event crowned Manju Sablok as the winner, who earned the coveted DPT title and a top prize of ₹72,000.

APT Summer Series Da Nang 2023

The Ariyana Convention Centre, set within the magnificent five-star Furama Resort Da Nang, buzzed with excitement on July 21 with the launch of the highly anticipated 2023 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Summer Series Da Nang.

Indian team is off to a roaring start with a tally of an astonishing 16 scores, boasting of a final table appearance and a resounding title victory in the first week of proceedings.

Indian player Deepak Vansil inaugurated the team’s title scorecard, seizing the win in Event #23: VN₫ 3 Million Omaha Hi-Lo. His triumph marked both his first live tournament title and maiden APT trophy and earned him a cash prize of VN₫ 23.099 Million! He skillfully outplayed 21 opponents, ultimately defeating Australia’s Ratheshan Kulenthirarasa, who finished second for VN₫ 15.400 Million.

Vansil’s strong presence was felt in other tournaments as well. Just days before his notable victory, Vansil posted cash finishes in Event #12: VN₫ 8 Million Sunday Super Stack (14th for VN₫ 26.25 Million) and Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8 (57th for VN₫ 12.10 Million).

Indian pro Vivek Singh, the 2022 IPC 15K Mystery Bounty champion, came close to picking up his first APT title in the VN₫ 1.5 Billion GTD Event #1: VN₫ 10 Million APT Kickoff but finished in a respectable seventh place. His commendable performance earned him VN₫ 92.94 Million, marking his debut score at the APT. Singh also placed 56th in Event #6, pocketing an additional VN₫ 12.10 Million.

Ramesh Rao Thotapalli accomplished a notable 12th place finish in Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8, outperforming seven other Indian competitors who cashed in the tournament. Thotapalli secured a massive VN₫ 300 Million mystery bounty in the event, taking his total earnings to a staggering VN₫ 337.310 Million, almost equalling the runner-up’s prize!

An additional trio of Indian players also made their presence known on Day 1A of the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD VN₫ 35 Million Main Event. Young Gun Anuj Yadav (328,600 chips) ended the day with the most chips, leading the Day 1A survivors.

Amit Kaushik, too, secured his spot for Day 2 through Day 1A, ranking tenth among the qualifying players with a stack of 192,000, while Chirag Sodha bagged the 37th largest stack of 90,000.

Six Indian competitors entered Day 1B, but only Sumit Sapra weathered the day’s competition. Although he secured a spot for Day 2, he was left grappling with the shortest stack of 14,000.

Indian scores kept popping up almost on all the days of the series. Chirag Sodha cashed in Event #1: APT Kickoff (12th for VN₫ 41.43 Million), Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8 (42nd for VN₫ 13.10 Million) and Event #29: 10 Million NLH – Freezeout (11th for VN₫ 23.92 Million).

Young Gun Anuj Yadav notched up scores in Event #1: APT Kickoff (19th place for VN₫ 28.83 Million), Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8 (45th for VN₫ 13.10 Million).

Amit Kaushik posted cash finishes in Event #6: VN₫ 11 Million Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8 (55th for VN₫ 13.10 Million) and Event #29: 10 Million NLH – Freezeout (17th for VN₫ 17.58 Million).

Other Indian players who scored in Event #6 include Meherzad Munsaf (51st for VN₫ 13.10 Million) and the 2022 APT Hanoi Loyal Main Event runner-up Ashish Munot (54th for VN₫ 13.10 Million).

List of Winners

With this, we conclude this week’s roundup of the latest news updates and developments from the poker world. We will return again next week with another weekly report. Stay tuned.

The post This Week in Poker: July 19 – 25 appeared first on PokerGuru.

Last Sunday saw the successful wrap-up of Spartan Poker’s India Turbo Masters and Pocket52’s largest-ever Pocket Poker Championship. Even without a major ongoing series, it was an active week for online poker enthusiasts. PokerBaazi’s Indian Micro Poker Series catered to the micro-to-low stakes players, while Pocket52 concluded the week with the inauguration of its high-value Big Pocket Series.

Young Gun Gaurav Sood (annual winnings – ₹3.48 Crores) leads the yearly leaderboard with earnings of ₹3.48 Crores as he steadfastly pursues an unprecedented third Player of the Year (POY) title. Ashish Munot (annual winnings – ₹3.14 Crores) and Ankit Wadhawan (annual winnings – ₹2.98 Crores) are in hot pursuit of Sood.

In July, Haider Madraswala (monthly winnings – ₹74.66 Lakhs) shone, courtesy of his extraordinary performance in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition. Noteworthy performances in the same event secured Pratik Manjrekar (monthly winnings – ₹71.62 Lakhs) the second spot on the monthly leaderboard. Rising Star Aman Parakh (monthly winnings – ₹39 Lakhs) clinched the third spot, thanks to his trifecta of title wins on Sunday.

For the week, Aman Parakh (weekly winnings – ₹32.43 Lakhs) proved dominant following his decisive victory in Sunday’s Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event, Pocket52’s PPC#44 Ragnarok, and Adda52’s Nano Highroller. Closely following him were Pradeep Sharma (weekly winnings – ₹12.53 Lakhs) and Akshat Sharma (weekly winnings – ₹11.73 Lakhs), rounding out the top three for the week!

Weekly Online Rankings (July 16 – July 22)

Player	Weekly Cashes	Weekly Profit
Aman Parakh	₹32,42,953	₹29,24,180
Pradeep Sharma	₹12,53,000	₹12,20,768
Akshat Sharma	₹11,73,257	₹9,57,642

Monthly Online Rankings (July 1 – July 22)

Player	Monthly Cashes	Monthly Profit
Haider Madraswala	₹74,65,567	₹68,03,020
Pratik Manjrekar	₹71,62,048	₹68,98,155
Aman Parakh	₹39,00,209	₹29,12,006

Yearly Online Rankings (January 1 – July 22)

Player	Yearly Cashes	Yearly Profit
Gaurav Sood	₹3,48,79,097	₹1,68,38,173
Ashish Munot	₹3,14,10,301	₹1,75,18,228
Ankit Wadhawan	₹2,98,41,541	₹97,54,011

Weekly Online Rankings

1. Aman Parakh

Weekly Cashes – ₹32,42,953

Weekly Profit – ₹29,24,180

Weekly Leaderboard Points – 104

This week, the spotlight shines brightly on Rising Star Aman Parakh, the burgeoning talent of the online poker world, who delivered a stunning triple-crown performance last Sunday. Parakh’s thrilling achievement encompasses major victories in Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event, Pocket52’s PPC#44 Ragnarok, and Adda52’s Nano Highroller.

These notable victories solidify Parakh’s dominance on the weekly leaderboard, proudly displaying his staggering total winnings of ₹32.43 Lakhs. Parakh’s net profits for the week also make a significant statement, standing at an admirable ₹29.24 Lakhs.

Top Cashes This Week

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event for ₹25.97 Lakhs

– 1st in Adda52’s Nano Highroller for ₹2.82 Lakhs

– 1st in Pocket52’s PPC#44 Ragnarok for ₹3,10,000 (excluded from tracking)

2. Pradeep Sharma

Weekly Cashes – ₹12,53,000

Weekly Profit – ₹12,20,768

Weekly Leaderboard Points – N/A

A relatively less-known Pradeep Sharma skillfully carved his path to the #2 spot on this week’s leaderboard through his outstanding performance in Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event. This achievement represents a landmark in Sharma’s career, as he pocketed a personal best score of ₹12.42 Lakhs for his third-place finish.

Sharma’s accumulated winnings for the week amount to an impressive ₹12.53 Lakhs, with net profits reaching a commendable ₹12.21 Lakhs.

Top Cashes This Week

– 3rd Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event for ₹12.42 Lakhs

3. Akshat Sharma

Weekly Cashes – ₹11,73,257

Weekly Profit – ₹9,57,642

Weekly Leaderboard Points – N/A

Akshat Sharma demonstrated an extraordinary performance this past Sunday, amassing an impressive sum of ₹11.62 Lakhs. Although Sharma did not secure a title victory this week, a series of final table finishes contributed to his significant weekly earnings of ₹11.73 Lakhs, yielding net profits worth ₹9.58 Lakhs.

Sharma’s remarkable performances this week encompass second-place finishes in Spartan Poker’s ITM #123 Sunday Supersonic and PokerBaazi’s BSS SuperStack. Additionally, he clinched a sixth-place finish in Adda52’s Big Whale.

Top Cashes This Week

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s ITM #123 Sunday Supersonic for ₹6.41 Lakhs

– 2nd in PokerBaazi’s BSS SuperStack for ₹3.36 Lakhs

– 6th in Adda52’s Big Whale for ₹1.35 Lakhs

Kunal Agrawal (Weekly Cashes – ₹11.20 Lakhs), Kushal Jain (Weekly Cashes – ₹10.75 Lakhs), and Sandeep Singh (Weekly Cashes – ₹10.50 Lakhs) were the week`s other top scorers.

Monthly Online Rankings

1. Haider Madraswala

Monthly Cashes – ₹74,65,567

Monthly Profit – ₹68,03,020

Monthly Leaderboard Points – 1,984

Securing a victory in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss is not just about the substantial prize money; it’s also about attaining a level of prestige in the poker world. In this respect, Haider Madraswala has truly outdone himself. Madraswala claimed the EndBoss Special Edition title, a feat many compete for, thereby inscribing his name in the annals of poker history as the fifth player to clinch this esteemed title. This victory gifted him a career-best win of ₹68.48 Lakhs! Adding to his momentous triumph, Madraswala also delivered a solid runner-up finish in PokerStars India’s Bounty Builder HR.

Madraswala’s overall performance in July has been nothing short of astounding, with a total winning sum of ₹74.66 Lakhs, resulting in profits amounting to ₹68.03 Lakhs. This achievement positions him at the apex of the monthly scorers’ charts, further underlining his growing reputation in the online poker realm.

Top Cashes This Month

– 1st in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition for ₹68,47,980* (three-way deal)

– 2nd in PokerStars India’s Bounty Builder HR – Ticket Drop Edition for ₹1,18,484

2. Pratik Manjrekar

Monthly Cashes – ₹71,62,048

Monthly Profit – ₹68,98,155

Monthly Leaderboard Points – 1,448

Even though Pratik Manjrekar didn’t secure a title victory in July, his stealthy ascent to the #2 position on the monthly leaderboard was nothing short of remarkable. With cumulative winnings amounting to ₹71.62 Lakhs, and a substantial monthly profit worth ₹68.98 Lakhs, Manjrekar certainly made his mark.

Manjrekar’s highest career score of ₹67.98 Lakhs was earned through a noteworthy second-place finish in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition. He also demonstrated a strong performance in Adda52’s Nano Highroller, where he secured another runner-up position. Despite not holding a title this month, Manjrekar’s impressive earnings and placements prove his tenacity and skill in the competitive world of online poker.

Top Cashes This Month

– 2nd in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss Special Edition for ₹67,98,392* (three-way deal)

– 2nd in Adda52’s Nano Highroller for ₹2,06,530* (heads-up deal)

3. Aman Parakh

Monthly Cashes – ₹39,00,209

Monthly Profit – ₹29,12,006

Monthly Leaderboard Points – 3,108

Rising Star Aman Parakh, who notably secured victories in three flagship tournaments this past Sunday, has ascended to the monthly top scorers’ podium with considerable flair. Parakh, a distinguished winner of Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event, Pocket52’s PPC#44 Ragnarok, and Adda52’s Nano Highroller has truly showcased his prowess this month.

This adept poker maestro has skillfully maneuvered his way to the second position on the July leaderboard, recording an impressive ₹39 Lakhs in total winnings and ₹29.12 Lakhs in net profits. Parakh’s exceptional achievements reflect his skill and strategy and his consistent performance in the competitive world of online poker.

Top Cashes This Month

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s ITM #127 Main Event for ₹29,28,014* (heads-up deal) (from two stacks)

– 1st in Pocket52’s PPC#44 Ragnarok for ₹3,10,000 (excluded from tracking)

– 1st in Adda52’s Nano Highroller for ₹2,81,761* (heads-up deal)

– 4th in Adda52’s Maverick for ₹1,08,750

– 8th in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹1,00,000

Young Gun Gaurav Sood (Monthly Cashes – ₹35.03 Lakhs), Pradip Ghosh (Weekly Cashes – ₹32.11 Lakhs), and Myron Pereira (Weekly Cashes – ₹28.88 Lakhs) are the other top-ranked players of July.

Yearly Online Rankings

1. Gaurav Sood

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,48,79,097

Yearly Profit – ₹1,68,38,173

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 44,272

The most decorated player in our recorded database, the Young Gun Gaurav Sood’s impressive record speaks volumes about his skill and consistency. A two-time Player of the Year (POY) champion, Sood is making formidable strides towards a record-setting third POY title, maintaining his unassailable lead at the top of the annual leaderboard for an impressive five weeks straight.

While his weekly earnings of ₹3.38 Lakhs might appear modest by his lofty standards, they were achieved through seven deep runs, including two final table scores (with seven In-The-Money finishes). Sood’s unwavering determination and consistency place him as a serious contender in the race for the monumental achievement of a third POY title victory.

Sood’s total winnings for the current year stand at a robust ₹3.48 Crores, of which a remarkable ₹1.68 Crores represents pure profit. These substantial figures reflect Sood’s unparalleled prowess in the game of poker, further establishing him as one of the nation’s most accomplished online tournament players.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #82 Sunday High (6 Max) (High) for ₹15.29 Lakhs on June 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s The Millionaire for ₹14.82 Lakhs on February 26

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #85 Beast (6 Max) (High) for ₹14.53 Lakhs on June 11

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #35 Wednesday Grande (6 Max) for ₹10.91 Lakhs on March 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #12 Saturday Titan for ₹8.44 Lakhs on March 4

2. Ashish Munot

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,14,10,301

Yearly Profit – ₹1,75,18,228

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 18,324

Ashish Munot currently stands at the second position on the annual leaderboard, just a slim margin away — precisely ₹34.69 Lakhs — from seizing the highly coveted top position. Munot has been occupied with the 2023 World Poker Championship (WPC) Summer Series in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he secured a notable victory for the Indian team in Event #9: VN₫ 55 Million High Roller.

The past week saw him tally four cash finishes, accruing a modest ₹1.96 Lakhs in winnings. Despite what could be considered a period of lesser earnings, Munot’s stellar performance throughout the year continues to reverberate significantly. He boasts of ₹3.14 Crores in total earnings and a staggering ₹1.75 Crores in net profits, thereby retaining his title as the year’s most profitable player by a significant distance.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #46 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹45.65 Lakhs on March 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹31.94 Lakhs on January 26

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #115 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹24.83 Lakhs on February 2

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹16.17 Lakhs on June 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday High Roller for ₹13.75 Lakhs on February 26

3. Ankit Wadhawan

Yearly Cashes – ₹2,98,41,541

Yearly Profit – ₹97,54,011

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 29,732

Despite taking a break from online tournaments to participate in the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, Ankit Wadhawan’s position in third place on the annual leaderboard remains firmly intact. His consistent gameplay and series of notable victories ensure that he remains among the tight circle of top contenders vying for the prestigious Player of the Year title, lagging by a substantial ₹50.38 Lakhs behind the front-runner, Gaurav Sood.

A detailed review of Wadhawan’s performance throughout the year reveals an extraordinary total of ₹2.98 Crores in winnings and ₹97.82 Lakhs in net profits. These commendable figures serve to reassert his standing among the elite in the world of poker.

Top Cashes This Year

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #58 G.O.D (Game Of Diamonds) for ₹27.79 Lakhs on March 12

– 2nd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹22.43 Lakhs on April 9

– 3rd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹16 Lakhs on May 14

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹15.02 Lakhs on June 2

Vishal Bajaj (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.81 Crores), Young Gun Laksh Pal Singh (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.78 Crores), and Young Gun Arsh Grover (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.74 Crores), are ranked #4, #5 and #6 on the annual leaderboard, respectively.

For a complete list of online rankings, check out our ‘Leaderboards’ page. If your name is not on our list, register and enter your screen names into your account to get ranked!

The post Online Rankings: ITM Main Event Champion Aman Parakh Tops the Weekly Charts, EndBoss Special Edition Victor Haider Madraswala Commands the Monthly Standings, Gaurav Sood Maintains Steady Momentum For 3rd POY Title appeared first on PokerGuru.

Reliable reports indicate that the robbery attempt materialized around 6 AM at the Spring, Texas branch of the Texas Card House on Spring Cypress Road. The diligent security guard on watch, Officer Jackson, suddenly found himself in the heart of danger when he was ambushed by a gang of four men seeking to loot the poker room. Despite the odds being stacked against him, the brave officer did not flinch and engaged in a chilling shootout with the perpetrators, managing to disarm one of them. His staunch resistance triggered a hail of gunfire, during which Officer Jackson sustained multiple injuries. Yet his swift and fearless actions guaranteed the security of the poker players and other staff members present during the incident.

Andrew, a visibly unsettled card dealer at the Texas Card House, who had entered the premises mere moments before the gunfire broke out, recounted the horrifying instant. “I walk back in, 40 seconds later, pop, pop, pop. All I saw was bullets coming through the window,” he narrated. Andrew credited Officer Jackson’s heroic intervention as the pivotal factor for everyone’s survival.

Tommy Wilson, CEO of God’s Armour Security and Officer Jackson’s supervisor, confirmed that the brave guard had been hit seven times during the shootout. “They attacked him from the back. He fired his weapon as they fired upon him and he was hit seven times,” he stated.

Miraculously, all bullets except one have exited Officer Jackson’s body, and he is currently awaiting potential foot surgery. “I’ve been with him all morning. He has good spirits. All of the bullets exited his body except one and we’re waiting to see now if he has to have foot surgery,” Wilson explained.

The sheriff’s office said it has surveillance video from the shooting, which has not been released at this time.

The poker room suspects that the failed robbers might be part of a group that has targeted other card rooms in the area, but this hypothesis remains unverified. Investigations by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are ongoing, and the assailants are still at large.

This is not the first time a poker club in Houston has been targeted by criminals. Back in January 2022, the Legends Poker Room also faced an attempted armed robbery, where the on-site security guard successfully neutralized the threat.

In light of this incident, the poker community breathed a sigh of relief, especially considering the TCH’s popularity across Texas. Texas Card House, which operates six clubs across the state including in Dallas and Austin, follows a private social club model, accepting players via a membership scheme. The Spring location is one of two within the Houston area.

As the search for the culprits continues, the poker community and locals laud Officer Jackson’s bravery, labeling him as a “real-life hero”. Meanwhile, Texas Card House is now a testament to his valiant defense, and continues to operate under normal circumstances.

The post Gossip Column: Heroic Security Guard Thwarts Robbery at Houston Poker Room appeared first on PokerGuru.

Hustler Casino Live (HCL) shifted focus to PLO this week. While not as renowned as no-limit hold’em, PLO ensured gripping action. Enthusiasts witnessed an engaging series of matches all week, with live streams planned for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Tuesday’s $500/500/1,000 PLO session drew a massive audience, with over 11,000 concurrent viewers consistently tuning in. At peak times, viewership even eclipsed 14,000, stirring conversation among poker fans on social media.

Renowned poker vlogger Joey Ingram provided commentary on the heated game. The lineup featured big names, including the iconic Tom Dwan and Indian high roller Santhosh Suvarna, a rising star in the live-stream community.

However, for Arcot, the night proved to be challenging.

HCL tweeted bytes of the session.

$563,000 POT!!@TomDwan @nikairball
Professor

Tune in NOW for SUPER HIGH STAKES $500/500/1,000 POT LIMIT OMAHA: https://t.co/xXhjqNaZRE pic.twitter.com/27D3xuo5ZR

— Hustler Casino Live (@HCLPokerShow) July 19, 2023

While Arcot has previously seen significant winnings on HCL, his fortune seemed to change since May. The memorable $1 Million buy-in games resulted in a staggering loss of $997,000, and his ill-fated streak continued with a $260,000 loss on Bally’s Big Bet Poker LIVE.

Last week, TrackingPoker.com reported that over 80 HCL sessions, Airball was down by $44,594. Although he subsequently managed a $90,000 winning session, his difficulties heightened after a shocking $519,000 loss on Tuesday night. Collectively, his losses now total approximately $474,000, excluding the losses he incurred in a high-stakes heads-up grudge match against Matt Berkey earlier this year.

You can watch the $500/500/1,000 PLO session below.

Arcot’s Latest Setback

Throughout the PLO session on Hustler Casino Live, Nik Airball was repeatedly besieged by ill-fated hands. He frequently went all in preflop, only to be outdone each time he opted for a double run.

The blinds were set at an exorbitant $500/$500/$1,000, accompanied by a $2,000 big blind ante, prompting the formation of immense pots preflop. Players engaged in unrelenting three, four, and occasionally five-betting, contributing to the game’s electrifying intensity.

Despite the formidable competition, Tom Dwan stood victorious, collecting a neat $160,000 during the stream. However, the grand winner was Anthony, amassing a little over $400,000 in winnings.

India’s Santhosh Suvarna On the Table

Also part of the show was India’s Santhosh Suvarna, a player who has established himself as a force to be reckoned with. The Dubai-based player’s journey began in October 2022 with a runner-up finish in the EPT London Event #30: £2,000 NLHE Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty. Building on that success, he continued to impress by securing a notable fourth-place position in the 2023 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Vietnam Event #7: $75,000 NLHE 8-Handed in March.

Suvarna’s prowess only grew in 2023, where he emerged victorious in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Cyprus Event #1: $25,000 NLHE GG Super Million$ Live. Notably, he achieved three additional final table finishes during this period, including a runner-up spot in Event #12: $50,000 NLHE Turbo.

Keeping the winning momentum alive this summer, Suvarna recently claimed a fifth-place finish in the 2023 ARIA High Roller Series $11,000 PLO ARIA High Roller on June 24. Additionally, in the 2023 WSOP Event #84: $50K High Roller (8-Handed), he secured an impressive 11th place, bagging $132,181 in winnings.

The action-packed showdown will continue on Wednesday night, promising more high-stakes pot-limit Omaha action that’s sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The post Gossip Column: High-Stakes Drama Unfolds on Hustler Casino Live as Nik Airball Suffers Crushing Loss of $519,000 appeared first on PokerGuru.

A new record was set this year with an astounding 10,043 entries, leaving the previous 2006 milestone in the dust. Jamie Gold, remember him? Well, he’s no longer the titleholder with his $12 Million win, as the WSOP decided to spice things up by adding an extra $100,000 to the top prize for the player who walks away as the 2023 WSOP Main Event champion, bringing it to a whopping $12.10 million. Some skeptics called it a mere marketing ploy, but hey, record-breaking numbers can’t be ignored!

The poker fandom expressed their dissatisfaction with the Main Event`s payout structure. The champion’s $12.10 Million prize is undeniably impressive, but heads turned when second place was assured $6.50 Million. What a drastic plunge! It’s a mere 53.7% of the winner’s spoils, a far cry from the typical expectations of players. Another glaring problem is that the ninth place will receive less than $1 million.

What’s the Problem?

In the past, winners like Espen Jorstad and Koray Aldemir received a more generous chunk of the prize pool, with their earnings representing 12.4% and 12.9% of the total prize pool, respectively. This time around, the champion’s cut amounts to 12.9%. Sure, the WSOP wanted to make headlines with an extra $100K on top of the previous record, but some fans were left fuming at the uneven distribution of the wealth among the other finalists.

The champion’s share of $12.10 Million seems reasonable, but eyebrows were raised when second place was revealed to take home a relatively measly $6.5 Million. It’s only 53.7% of the champion’s haul, which is far lower than what players are accustomed to from the world`s most prestigious poker tournament.

The real bone of contention, though, was ninth place taking home less than $1 million. Imagine being one spot away from the final table and not even breaking the million-dollar mark! It’s a far cry from 2006, when even the twelfth-place finisher received a cool million.

Poker Community Reacts

Numerous heavyweights from the poker world have joined the chorus of disapproval. Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 WSOP Main Event champion, didn’t hold back, openly criticizing the tournament’s payout structure.

Wish the @WSOP would reconsider the payout structure overnight. It’s not too late. We will one day get over 12 million for first. Doesn’t need to be this year.

— Chris Moneymaker (@CMONEYMAKER) July 9, 2023

So did Mike Matusow, sharing the payouts structure table.

When I final tabled in 2005 all 9 players made 1 m and 4 th was more than 3 m! That was 18 yrs ago! Maybe they should let people register another day so more money will go to the top? #criminal https://t.co/1DzNTaI1Ew

— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) July 9, 2023

Several other top players chimed in, adding their voices to the growing chorus of discontent.

Kevin Martin joked – “All or nothing. 1st gets 93 million, nobody else gets a cent.”

Andreas Froehl sarcastically said, “It seems good for very few people. Who cares if it’s the biggest first prize ever in the main event? We should have more million-dollar payouts.”

Alex Christian commented, “Why is this an arbitrary surprise every year? Let’s agree on a formula, publish it, and move on. This silly nonsense needs to stop.”

Isaac Haxton argued that a tournament as prestigious as the Main Event should have flatter payouts. “If there were ever a tournament to have flatter payouts, it’s gotta be the main event. For most of the field a few hundred thousand is life-changing money and a couple million is hitting diminishing returns. Really no need to pay 13% to first and 25% to top 4.”

Eric Froehlich, never one to shy away from a scathing critique, didn’t mince words when he called the payout structure “really, really bad in just about every way.”

“Loling @ FIVE POINT FIVE MILLION dollar difference between 1st and 2nd. Way flatter at the top. 9th at least 1mm. Way more people need to cash for 100k+. Etc,” Froehlich said, highlighting the mind-boggling $5.50 Million chasm between first and second place, advocating for a more balanced distribution of rewards. In his opinion, more players should be able to cash in for six-figure sums and beyond.

Patrick Leonard also tweeted about the issue.

100k off first and give it to 9th, making all final table millionaires is good. 12.1 makes no difference https://t.co/stSJ5oNl4M

— Patrick Leonard ???? (@padspoker) July 9, 2023

The 2023 WSOP Main Event has ignited a fiery debate over its outrageous payout structure. Will the tournament organizers take heed of the poker community’s grievances, or will the controversy continue to simmer? Only time will tell. In the meantime, keep your eyes on those poker tables and stay tuned for more poker gossip!

Cover Image Courtesy: Danny Maxwell

The post Gossip Column: Controversy Surrounds 2023 WSOP Main Event Payout Structure – Players Voice Outrage! appeared first on PokerGuru.

This week the online poker scene was pulsating with thrilling high-stakes action as the Spartan Poker India Turbo Masters 4.0 took center stage. Its fast-paced gameplay had both seasoned pros and hobbyists on their toes. Kicking off on Saturday, the grandest Pocket Poker Championship yet from Pocket52 added an extra dash of excitement, initiating a week filled with high-intensity poker showdowns. Other notable platforms, such as PokerBaazi, PokerStars India, and Adda52, consistently delivered their signature events, ensuring an unending poker thrill ride.

Today is set to be an epic Sunday as PokerBaazi’s ₹5 Crores GTD End Boss Special Edition races towards its conclusion. The triumphant player will walk away with a mind-blowing ₹1 Crore guaranteed prize, potentially skyrocketing them to the pinnacle of the weekly and monthly charts. If any of the top 10 contenders on the Player of the Year (POY) rankings win the End Boss title, they will make a dramatic leap to the top, dethroning the current leader, Gaurav Sood.

Having crossed the halfway point of the year, it would have been a safe bet at the beginning of the year that Young Gun Gaurav Sood (annual winnings – ₹3.24 Crores) would be leading the POY race at this point. Indeed, all those bets would pay off as the dentist-turned-poker pro is currently in pole position in his quest to secure the esteemed title for an unprecedented third time. After back-to-back POY title victories in 2020 and 2021, Sood’s attempt at a hat trick in 2022 was interrupted by his wedding and subsequent travels around Asia.

Trailing closely behind Sood is Ashish Munot (annual winnings – ₹3.12 Crores). He has been somewhat quiet lately, with his last title victory occurring four weeks ago and his most recent six-figure score approximately twenty days ago.

Completing the top trio on the annual leaderboard is Ankit Wadhawan (annual winnings – ₹2.98 Crores). Currently in Las Vegas for the 2023 WSOP and away from online action for nearly three weeks, Wadhawan is expected to return to his high-scoring streak upon his return.

As it’s still early July, the weekly leaders also significantly influence the monthly leaderboard, which we will canvass next Sunday.

This week’s spotlight shines on Pradip Ghosh (weekly winnings – ₹14.43 Lakhs), who displayed exceptional performance on Sunday and claimed another title victory on Friday. Dhinesh Kumar (weekly winnings – ₹13.44 Lakhs), and Manish Lakhotia (weekly winnings – ₹13.20 Lakhs), wrap up the top weekly scorers.

Weekly Online Rankings (July 2 – July 8)

Yearly Online Rankings (January 1 – July 8)

Weekly Online Rankings

1. Pradip Ghosh

Weekly Cashes – ₹19,37,850

Weekly Profit – ₹13,03,921

Weekly Leaderboard Points – 2,174

This week, the ‘Sprint King,’ Pradip Ghosh, commands the limelight with an extraordinary performance, amassing an impressive 23 cash finishes within a mere span of seven days. This exceptional tally includes two exhilarating title victories, a nail-biting near-miss runner-up finish, and three other commendable final tables scores.

These significant accomplishments have reinforced Ghosh’s position at the zenith of the weekly leaderboard, boasting total winnings of ₹19.37 Lakhs and net profits standing at ₹13.04 Lakhs.

Top Cashes This Week

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s ITM #4 Sunday Supersonic for ₹7,29,677* (heads-up deal) on July 2

> 1st in Adda52’s The Ballers for ₹4,42,707* (heads-up deal) on July 7

> 2nd in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller for ₹3,80,211 on July 2

2. Dhinesh Kumar

Weekly Cashes – ₹13,43,878

Weekly Profit – ₹7,79,423

Weekly Leaderboard Points – 2,347

Dhinesh Kumar, the reigning Legend Poker Series Main Event champion, seized a prestigious spot among the week`s top scorers, finishing second in the standings with ₹13.43 Lakh in recorded winnings, complemented by ₹7.79 Lakhs in profits.

Kumar’s exemplary performance is demonstrated by his 16 cash finishes this week, with a title victory and an additional six high-ranking final table scores to his name.

Top Cashes This Week

> 1st in PokerStars India’s Sunday Special [8-Max, PKO] for ₹2,96,339 on July 2

> 3rd in PokerBaazi’s BSS HighRoller for ₹2,91,720 on July 2

> 4th in Spartan Poker’s ITM #40 Thursday Big Turbo (6 Max) for ₹1,85,592 on July 6

> 4th in PokerBaazi’s The Summit for ₹1,72,150 on July 6

> 4th in PokerBaazi’s The Pride for ₹1,19,193 on July 5

3. Manish Lakhotia

Weekly Cashes – ₹13,19,905

Weekly Profit – ₹8,23,860

Weekly Leaderboard Points – 1,914

Familiar with leaderboard dominance, Manish Lakhotia, a multiple-time POY contender, continues to make his presence felt. Currently holding the #7 position in the POY rankings, the Siliguri-based professional showcased his skills with a commendable 15 in-the-money (ITM) finishes over the week. Despite securing only one title, Lakhotia asserted his poker dominance by reaching the final table in five additional tournaments.

His total winnings for the week amounted to ₹13.20 Lakhs, and he amassed net profits of ₹8.24 Lakhs. These remarkable accomplishments have led Lakhotia to claim the third spot on this week’s highest earnings leaderboard.

Top Cashes This Week

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s ITM #20 Tuesday Supersonic for ₹3,68,667 on July 4

> 3rd in Adda52’s Godfather for ₹2,50,000 on July 6

> 4th in Spartan Poker’s ITM #38 Thursday Supersonic for ₹2,18,233 on July 6

> 3rd in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) SPRINT for ₹1,24,236 on July 5

> 6th in Adda52 Millions for ₹1,06,250 on July 2

Vishal Bajaj (Weekly Cashes – ₹10.19 Lakhs), Young Gun Arsh Grover (Weekly Cashes – ₹9.29 Lakhs), and Young Gun Gaurav Sood (Weekly Cashes – ₹7.65 Lakhs) were the week`s other top scorers.

Yearly Online Rankings

1. Gaurav Sood

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,29,19,096

Yearly Profit ~ ₹1,57,40,951

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 41,282

The most accomplished player on our tracked database, Young Gun Gaurav Sood’s scorecard speaks for itself. The two-time POY champion is going strong toward a record-extending third POY title, having retained his commanding presence at the top of the annual leaderboard for three consecutive weeks.

Even though his earnings this week might seem modest at ₹12.53 Lakhs, considering his usually high standards, it resulted from 14 deep runs that encompassed a title victory, two second-place finishes, and an additional final table score. Sood’s unflinching determination makes him a formidable contender for achieving the towering task of a third POY title victory.

The cumulative earnings for Sood in the current year stand at a formidable ₹3.29 Crores, of which an impressive ₹1.57 Crores (approx) represents pure profit. These substantial figures reflect Sood’s unmatched skill in the game of poker, thereby solidifying his candidacy as the country’s finest online tournament player.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #82 Sunday High (6 Max) (High) for ₹15.29 Lakhs on June 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s The Millionaire for ₹14.82 Lakhs on February 26

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #85 Beast (6 Max) (High) for ₹14.53 Lakhs on June 11

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #35 Wednesday Grande (6 Max) for ₹10.91 Lakhs on March 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #12 Saturday Titan for ₹8.44 Lakhs on March 4

2. Ashish Munot

Yearly Cashes – ₹3,11,82,572

Yearly Profit – ₹1,77,46,270

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 17,698

Ashish Munot currently holds the second position on the annual leaderboard, just a stone’s throw away — precisely ₹12.49 Lakhs — from clinching the much-coveted top spot. This gap could be bridged by a single day’s scores, thus putting Munot within striking distance of reclaiming the leadership position.

The past week saw him post six cash finishes, accruing a modest ₹1.38 Lakhs in winnings and recording a slight dip with a loss of ₹77,751. Despite this minor setback, Munot’s impressive performance throughout the year continues to resonate powerfully. He boasts of ₹3.12 Crores in total winnings and a staggering ₹1.77 Crores in net profits, retaining his tag as the year’s most profitable player by a considerable margin.

Top Cashes This Year

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s FTS #46 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹45.65 Lakhs on March 11

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹31.94 Lakhs on January 26

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #115 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹24.83 Lakhs on February 2

– 4th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #62 Mega High Roller (6 Max) for ₹16.17 Lakhs on June 8

– 1st in Spartan Poker’s Sunday High Roller for ₹13.75 Lakhs on February 26

3. Ankit Wadhawan

Yearly Cashes – ₹2,98,41,541

Yearly Profit – ₹97,54,011

Yearly Leaderboard Points – 29,732

Despite taking a hiatus from online tournaments to participate in the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, Ankit Wadhawan‘s third-place standings in the annual leaderboard remains unshaken. His consistent gameplay and string of notable victories have ensured he stays in the tight circle of leading contenders battling for the prestigious Player of the Year title, trailing only by ₹25.90 Lakhs behind the front-runner, Gaurav Sood.

A closer examination of Wadhawan’s yearly performance unveils an extraordinary total of ₹2.98 Crores in winnings and ₹97.82 Lakhs in net profits. Such impressive figures reaffirm his position among the poker elites.

Top Cashes This Year

– 2nd in Spartan Poker’s FTS #58 G.O.D (Game Of Diamonds) for ₹27.79 Lakhs on March 12

– 2nd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹22.43 Lakhs on April 9

– 3rd in Adda52’s MHW Colossus for ₹16 Lakhs on May 14

– 3rd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹15.02 Lakhs on June 2

Vishal Bajaj (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.70 Crores), Young Gun Laksh Pal Singh (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.63 Crores), and Young Gun Arsh Grover (Yearly Cashes – ₹2.62 Crores) are ranked #4, #5 and #6 on the annual leaderboard, respectively.

For a complete list of online rankings, check out our ‘Leaderboards’ page. If your name is not on our list, register and enter your screen names into your account to get ranked!

The post Online Rankings: Pradip Ghosh Dominates the Weekly Leaderboard, Gaurav Sood Maintains Steady Momentum For Third POY Title appeared first on PokerGuru.