This Week in Poker: Celebrating Indian Triumphs in Goa and Beyond
Welcome to ‘This Week in Poker,’ your go-to source for the latest happenings in the poker world, especially for Indian players making waves both online and offline. Buckle up as we dive into an exciting week filled with significant scores, thrilling tournaments, and commendable performances!
The Grand Return of Deltin Poker Tournament
This past week, the Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) made its much-anticipated comeback to Goa, rebranded as the DPT Grand. Held at the luxurious Casino Deltin Royale, this event promised bigger prizes, more tournaments, and prestigious DPT bracelets for winners. From October 22, the atmosphere was charged with excitement as players converged to compete for glory in this vibrant poker hub.
The inaugural DPT Grand featured an impressive lineup of 15 tournaments, including the headline events like the ₹11K DPT Grand Rush and the ₹40K Mystery Bounty. These tournaments attracted a considerable number of participants and showcased the growing interest in live poker among Indian enthusiasts.
Sagar Raj Crowned DPT Grand Champion
The spotlight on the opening day was shone brightly on Sagar Raj, who clinched the inaugural DPT bracelet with a stunning performance in the DPT Grand Rush. Facing off against a competitive field of 96 players, Raj emerged victorious, walking away with a career-best payout of ₹18.31 Lakhs.
In a thrilling heads-up battle, he defeated Ramji Kishore G who also shone brightly, finishing second with a remarkable payout of ₹13 Lakhs. Raj’s success at the DPT reflects his impressive online skill set, as he has already amassed over ₹2.50 Crores in winnings this year, placing him 16th in the Player of the Year (POY) rankings.
Caption: Sagar Raj, the proud winner of the first-ever DPT bracelet.
Thrilling Battles in Mystery Bounty
The ₹40K Mystery Bounty also attracted significant attention, pulling in 137 entries and showcasing a mix of strategy and luck. As the dust settled, Chirag Sodha triumphed after negotiating a three-way deal, taking home ₹5.18 Lakhs along with the coveted DPT Grand medallion. Debayan Das and Kishore Kumar rounded out the final three, with Kumar pocketing ₹6.64 Lakhs from the deal despite finishing third after some nail-biting action.
Caption: Chirag Sodha celebrating his victory in the ₹40K Mystery Bounty.
Achievements Abroad: APPT Manila Championship and EPT Cyprus
While the DPT Grand was heating up back home, a contingent of Indian players made their way to the APPT Manila Championship in the Philippines. Over the opening days, they made notable performances, including Pranav Agrawal, who captured his first live title in the NLH – 20/15/10 event, earning ₱207,200 (~₹3.03 Lakhs).
Additionally, Santhosh Suvarna, India’s all-time leading money winner, participated in the 2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus. Despite a challenging start, Suvarna fought valiantly, ultimately finishing 21st in the main event and securing $31,940 (~₹26.85 Lakhs). His consistent performance throughout the series brought his total earnings for the event to $113,640 (~₹95.94 Lakhs), solidifying his reputation as a powerhouse in the poker world.
Caption: Santhosh Suvarna showcasing his poker prowess at EPT Cyprus.
Dominance in Online Poker
Amidst all the excitement on the live circuit, the online poker scene continues to flourish in India. With PokerBaazi’s 10th Anniversary celebrations still in full swing, the platform has been buzzing with high-stakes action and fierce competition.
This week’s standout performer online was Akash Malik, who topped the charts with a remarkable ₹18.03 Lakhs in winnings from six deep runs. His incredible week included a sixth-place finish in the Sunday Grande Main Event 250, yielding ₹9.13 Lakhs. Meanwhile, ‘Shouryaanga’ took down the Zodiac Sunday Main Event for a jaw-dropping ₹18.72 Lakhs, making headlines among the online poker community.
Caption: Akash Malik, the undisputed king of online poker for the week.
A Landmark Moment for India’s Gaming Industry
In a progressive move for India’s gaming industry, a new framework has been established to analyze and classify skill-based games rigorously. Dubbed “The Skill Games Framework,” this initiative is the first of its kind in India and aims to provide an objective basis for distinguishing between games of skill and those of luck.
Developed by esteemed statistician Dr. Bimal Roy, this framework promises to shape the future of online gaming in India, a market poised for substantial growth.
The PokerGO Tour Returns
Internationally, the PokerGO Tour (PGT) made a spectacular comeback with the PGT PLO Series II in Las Vegas. This highly anticipated series saw poker’s elite battling over significant prize pools, with Matthew Wantman emerging as the series champion, earning a PGT Passport and captivating points.
Alongside Wantman, legends like Daniel Negreanu and Isaac Haxton added thrilling narratives to the series with their impressive victories, contributing to a week of unforgettable poker action.
Caption: Matthew Wantman, reigning champion of the PGT PLO Series II.
Conclusion
This week clearly demonstrated the vibrancy of the poker community, especially among Indian players on both live and online platforms. With exciting competitions, record-breaking performances, and significant developments in gaming regulations, the future of poker in India looks brighter than ever. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates in the coming week!
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