This Week in Poker: Major Highlights from Indian Players
Welcome to This Week in Poker, your weekly digest of significant scores by Indian MTT players and the top stories from the live and online poker circuits. This past week has seen a staggering surge in action across the poker landscape, from India’s bustling tables in Goa to the royal poker settings of Cyprus and beyond.
Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) Grand Returns to Goa
The major spotlight this week was on the Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT), which made a grand comeback in Goa, rebranded as the DPT Grand. This event promises not just larger prizes but also more tournaments and the highly coveted DPT bracelets. The DPT Grand kicked off on October 22 at the luxurious Casino Deltin Royale, featuring an impressive lineup of 15 tournaments, including the highly anticipated ₹11K DPT Grand Rush and the ₹40K Mystery Bounty.
Sagar Raj Clinches Inaugural DPT Bracelet
The opening day saw Sagar Raj shine as he took down the DPT Grand Rush, bagging a career-high ₹18.31 Lakhs and claiming the first-ever DPT bracelet. This win is a testimony to Raj’s exceptional skills, which he has showcased throughout the year, accumulating over ₹2.50 Crores in online winnings already. He eventually emerged victorious after a tough heads-up against Ramji Kishore G, who also made a significant score with a personal-best of ₹13 Lakhs.
Caption: Sagar Raj
Thrilling Battles in the ₹40K Mystery Bounty
The ₹40K Mystery Bounty also drew substantial participation, with 137 entries on Day 1. Ashwin Vijayvergiya, the Young Gun of Poker, bagged the chip lead and dominated the final showdown, but it was Chirag Sodha who eventually triumphed, securing ₹5.18 Lakhs and the DPT Grand medallion after a thrilling three-way deal.
Caption: Chirag Sodha
EPT Cyprus: A Stage for Elite Poker
Meanwhile, the 2024 PokerStars EPT Cyprus concluded on October 20 at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. The German pro Oliver Weis emerged as a notable winner, capturing the $5,300 EPT Cyprus Main Event and bagging a stunning $1.03 Million—his third major title of the year. Local star Georgios Tsouloftas closely followed, securing a career-high of $642,300 for his runner-up position.
Caption: Oliver Weis
Santhosh Suvarna’s Stellar Performance
Indian poker sensation Santhosh Suvarna, the country’s all-time money leader, also made headlines in Cyprus. Despite starting Day 4 of the Main Event with a short stack, Suvarna displayed resilience and strategic gameplay, finishing 21st and earning $31,940 (~₹26.85 Lakhs). He also made three more impressive finishes in various events, accumulating a total of $113,640 (~₹95.94 Lakhs) from the series, boosting his career live earnings to over ₹122 Crores—accomplished within just two years.
Caption: Santhosh Suvarna
Breaking Records at APPT Manila Championship
As if the excitement in Goa and Cyprus weren’t enough, a contingent of Indian players also made waves at the PokerStars LIVE APPT Manila Championship 2024 at Okada Manila. Over the first five days, Indian players recorded remarkable success, with plenty of final table appearances and cashes.
Pranav Agrawal took home his maiden title in Event #13, winning ₱207,200 (~₹3.03 Lakhs). Another Indian standout, Siddharth Karia, finished sixth in the ₱10 Million GTD Okada Kickoff, securing ₱380,000 (~₹5.55 Lakhs).
Caption: Pranav Agrawal
Major Online Triumphs
Back in the online space, the poker scene sizzled with competitive action. Leading the charge was Akash Malik, who topped the charts as the week’s highest online winner, collecting a staggering ₹18.03 Lakhs across six deep runs. Malik made a dynamic debut on Natural8 India, including a sixth-place finish in the Sunday Grande Main Event.
The online sector has also been buzzing due to PokerBaazi’s ongoing 10th Anniversary celebrations. Among the top online scorers were “Shouryaanga” with ₹18.72 Lakhs from the Zodiac Sunday Main Event, and Uttam Gope, who raked in ₹15 Lakhs from the MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD.
Caption: Akash Malik
Top Online Winners of the Week
| Player | Prize Amount | Event | Poker Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shouryaanga | ₹18.72 Lakhs | Zodiac Sunday Main Event | Natural8 India |
| Uttam Gope | ₹15 Lakhs | The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD | PokerBaazi |
| Premnath Kasinatharao | ₹12.52 Lakhs | The Weekender Omaha Bounty 54 | Natural8 India |
| … | … | … | … |
New Regulatory Framework for Online Gaming in India
In a groundbreaking development for India’s real-money gaming sector, a new initiative called “The Skill Games Framework” has been launched. This welcoming move is spearheaded by esteemed statistician Dr. Bimal Roy, which aims to provide a standardized method of determining whether online games are skill-based or luck-driven. This framework could pave the way for rapid growth and structured regulation in India’s burgeoning gaming industry.
Caption: Dr. Bimal Roy
Conclusion
This week encapsulated a vibrant phase in the poker world, with incredible performances from Indian players both live and online. As we conclude our round-up, we look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation. Join us next week as we bring you more thrilling updates from the ever-evolving landscape of poker!
