Zarvan Tumboli

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APT Taipei 2024: Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier & Isaac Haxton Add to the Series’ Star Power With Maiden APT Wins; Hong Kong’s Ka Chun Yuan Champions Record-Breaking APT National Cup 

The record-breaking Asian Poker Tour (APT) Taipei 2024 is in its thrilling final week! This festival, the largest APT to date, has already seen over 40 champions crowned and is expected to hit the 50th winner mark by tomorrow. The star-studded festival has drawn legendary players like Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier and Isaac Haxton, both of whom etched their names in APT history with landmark maiden victories. Hong Kong’s Ka Chun Yuan also made headlines with a record-breaking triumph in the APT National Cup.

French poker legend and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier etched his name into APT history on Saturday, clinching his maiden APT trophy in Event #23: Superstar Challenge. In a field of 49, he outlasted the competition for the lion’s share of the TWD 36,930,000 prize pool, taking home a staggering TWD 11,632,810. This win also marks the highest first-place prize in Taiwanese poker history. Grospellier’s triumph came after an intense heads-up battle against two-time APT Main Event winner Lester Edoc, where he overcame a 3:1 chip disadvantage, with Edoc taking home an impressive TWD 8,402,000 runner-up prize.

Bertrand Grospellier
Bertrand Grospellier

 

“I wanted the Lion Trophy so badly since I joined the APT, it’s the last thing I’ve ever wanted in poker. So I am so happy. I’m so ecstatic I finally won it,” Grospellier declared after his triumph. He highlighted the emotional weight of the final table and his steady improvement within the APT, having come close to winning the trophy in Hanoi and Incheon. Grospellier expressed gratitude for his fans, especially those in Taipei and across Asia, and the joy of winning in such a welcoming environment.

The Superstar Challenge’s final table showcased the high calibre of the field, with significant payouts for Czech Republic’s Roman Hrabec (3rd for TWD 5,355,000), Hong Kong’s Biao Ding (4th for TWD 4,062,000), Austria’s Klemens Roiter (5th for TWD 3,139,000), Hong Kong’s Danny Tang (6th for TWD 2,401,000) and Sweden’s Mikael Andersson (7th for TWD 1,939,000).

Global poker superstar Isaac Haxton, ranked #8 on poker`s all-time money list and fresh off a blazing 2024 start with back-to-back PGT final tables, added another major title to his collection with a win in Event #33: APT Super High Roller. Haxton weathered a storm of 136 elite opponents in this record-breaking event, which boasted the largest prize pool in the 17-year APT Super High Roller history – a massive TWD 37,873,650.

Isaac Haxton
Isaac Haxton

 

Haxton unleashed his poker prowess in the epic heads-up clash against fellow American Tony Lin Ren to secure the TWD 9,089,650 top prize and his first APT title. He also takes home the impressive 24K Pewter Lion APT Super High Roller Trophy. Ren’s formidable effort earned him a TWD 6,173,000 runner-up payout.

“This is incredible! My foray into the APT has been a thrilling ride so far,” Haxton exclaimed after his win. Reflecting on the intense heads-up duel, he added, “It was a whirlwind of swings and massive pots!”

He acknowledged the substantial weight of the trophy with a touch of humour. “This is a serious piece of hardware! I might need some help getting this home – it won’t be a carry-on item.”

“Thank you to my supporters and everyone who tuned in. This has been an unforgettable experience,” he added.

The APT Super High Roller final table was a who’s-who of poker prowess. Notables included Hong Kong’s Edward Yam (3rd for TWD 4,071,000) and Anson Tsang (4th for TWD 3,363,000), Filipino WSOP bracelet winner Mike Takayama (5th for TWD 2,700,000), Thailand’s Punnat Punsri (6th for TWD 2,117,000), Malaysia’s Tien Loon Ling (7th for TWD 1,587,0 0), South Korea’s Sung Joo Hyun (8th for TWD 1,174,000) and Republika Srpska’s Andrija Robovic (9th for TWD 909,000).

Hong Kong’s Ka Chun Yuan also made APT history with his victory in Event #4: APT National Cup. Yuan battled through the largest opening event in APT history – a staggering 2,305 entries – to claim his first-ever APT title and a career-best TWD 2,949,065 payday. Yuan’s win was secured through a strategic three-way deal with opponents Cheng En Tsai (TWD 1,944,800) and Ting-Chieh Chen (TWD 1,607,626), who also achieved career-best scores.

Ka Chun Yuan
Ka Chun Yuan

 

The Indian contingent made its presence felt in the event, with Natural8 India APT Taipei India Exclusive tournament finalists Vikaash Shah (58th for TWD 40,000) (~₹1.05 Lakhs) and Mahier Hora (93rd for TWD 35,000) (~₹92,000) among the 134 players who cashed in the event.

Vikaash Shah
Vikaash Shah

 

Taiwan’s Teng-Kuei Hsu has added another APT title to his trophy case! He outlasted a massive field of 1,053 players in Event #31: Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8. Hsu’s skill and determination earned him a hefty TWD 2,193,380 (TWD 290,000 in bounties). Thailand’s Phatsapong Thokaew put up a fierce battle but ultimately finished as runner-up, collecting a TWD 1,338,000 (TWD 70,000 in bounties) prize.

Teng-Kuei Hsu
Teng-Kuei Hsu

 

While Hsu won the champion’s title, the luckiest bounty draws went to Taiwan’s Chao Ting Cheng (TWD 1.50 Million bounty) and Romania’s Constantin Alexandru (TWD 1 Million bounty).

The Indian contingent, led by seasoned pro Sumit Sapra, made a strong showing in this event. He skillfully navigated the tournament, ultimately landing in 15th place and earning his first cash of the series – a significant TWD 110,000 (~₹2.89 Lakhs).

Sumit Sapra
Sumit Sapra

 

Fresh off his recent triumphs at Poker Dream Malaysia, Zarvan Tumboli continued his hot streak by placing in the money, securing TWD 33,000 (~₹87,000) for his 66th-place finish.

Zarvan Tumboli
Zarvan Tumboli

 

Mahier Hora, known for his consistent performance, added another cash to his APT Taipei 2024 tally. His 98th-place finish earned him TWD 25,000 (~₹66,000), bringing his total series winnings to a respectable TWD 60,000 (~₹1.58 Lakhs).

Mahier Hora
Mahier Hora

 

Here are the side event winners in the series so far:

  • Taiwan’s Yi Chen Lin won Event #22: PL Omaha High Mix – 4 Card, 5 Card, 6 Card – 7 Max for TWD 111,155.
  • Taiwan’s I-Chun Chiu won Event #24: Single Day High Roller for TWD 1,730,400.
  • Australia’s Mark Furniss won Event #25: 8 Game (Limit H-E-R-O-S, +PLO, NLH, 2-7 Triple Draw) for TWD 60,404.
  • Taiwan’s Fu Bang Huang won Event #27: Turbo – PL Omaha Hi-Lo – 5 Card (Big O) for TWD 64,155.
  • Singapore’s Bao Qiang Ho won Event #28: Hyper Turbo – High Roller for TWD 266,700.
  • Japan’s Kazuya Hyodo won Event #29: Hyper Turbo – NL Single Draw Mix (Badacey, Badeucy) for TWD 38,830.
  • Hong Kong’s Tsun Yin Ng won Event #30: Tick Tock BOOM! – Super Hold’em (Levels Decrease Every Hour 15/10/5/2 – Play 3,2,1, or 0 Cards) for TWD 115,706.
  • Taiwan’s Ming Chang Hsiao won Event #32: PL Omaha Hi-Lo Mix – 4 Card, 5 Card, 6 Card – 7 Max for TWD 98,090.
  • Taiwan’s Yu Tang Wang won Event #34: Limit Triple Draw 2-7 for TWD 53,667.
  • Japan’s Yuji Watanabe won Event #35: Turbo – NL Omaha High – Double Board – 2 Winners for TWD 48,458.
  • Singapore’s Bao Qiang won Event #36: Hyper Turbo – High Roller for TWD 341,950.
  • Hong Kong’s Lok Ming Chan won Event #37: Hyper Turbo – NL Single Draw 2-7 for TWD 64,755.
  • Philippines’ Christopher Mateo won Event #38: Tick Tock BOOM! (Levels Decrease Every Hour 15/10/5/2) for TWD 193,825.
  • Austria’s Klemens Roiter won Event #41: Baby Superstar Challenge for TWD 3,854,450.
  • Japan’s Kenju Wata won Event #42: Sunday Super Stack for TWD 1,196,040.

 

Content & Images Courtesy: Asian Poker Tour

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the APT Taipei 2024!

This Week in Poker: January 31 – February 6

In the PokerGuru feature, ‘This Week in Poker,’ we bring you the weekly roundup of the most significant online scores by Indian MTT players and the top stories from both the live and online poker circuits. Here are this week’s top stories!

 

The first week of February has been a whirlwind of poker action, spanning both the global stage and the Indian circuit. The poker arena was buzzing with excitement, from Team India`s remarkable performances at Poker Dream Malaysia to intense online battles on platforms like Natural8 India and PokerBaazi and innovative industry developments.

Further adding to the fervour were Adda52’s 15 Crores GTD AOPS – Goa Edition and A23 Poker’s 1+ Crores GTD Stack-a-thon Series, offering poker aficionados thrilling opportunities to test their skills and win big.

The 2024 Poker Dream Malaysia at Resorts World Genting, Kuala Lumpur, stood out with its 28-event lineup, attracting a global talent pool. Zarvan Tumboli made headlines by becoming the first Indian to win the Main Event, navigating through 2,219 contenders to secure a colossal MYR 888,000 (~₹1.55 Crores) win, setting a new high for Indian poker achievements in 2024, surpassing the previous benchmark set by Amit Kaushik‘s fifth-place finish at the WPT Cambodia Championship. Tumboli`s victory in Event #22: MYR 1,500 NLH just two days prior to the Main Event victory added another MYR 37,200 (~₹6.54 Lakhs) to his earnings, totalling a jaw-dropping ₹1.61 Crores for the series and earning him the “PokerGuru Star of the Week” title.

Zarvan Tumboli
Zarvan Tumboli

 

Hong Kong’s Leung Ka Shing clinched the runner-up position in the Main Event, taking home MYR 492,396.

The online poker scene witnessed its own share of thrilling battles, with Advait Rajguru reigning supreme with an impressive haul exceeding ₹22.54 Lakhs. His week was a masterclass in consistency and skill, securing three title victories and three runner-up finishes across major platforms. His victories included PokerBaazi’s The Endeavour (₹4.01 Lakhs), PokerStars India’s Sunday Special (₹3.30 Lakhs), and PokerBaazi’s Daily Mini HighRoller (₹2.03 Lakhs). Demonstrating remarkable consistency, Rajguru also notched up runner-up finishes in Spartan Poker’s SPS Superstack (₹3.85 Lakhs), PokerStars India’s Bounty Builder HR (₹1.21 Lakhs), and The Big Bash (₹1.17 Lakhs). Adding to his list of achievements, he clinched third place in Adda52’s AOPS Monday Feature, bagging ₹1.98 Lakhs, alongside at least two more final table finishes, stamping his name on the top of the week`s online charts.

Advait Rajguru
Advait Rajguru

 

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s The Endeavour 4,00,724

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s SPS Superstack for 3,84,680

> 1st in PokerStars India’s Sunday Special for 3,30,001

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s Daily Mini HighRoller for 2,03,103

> 3rd in Adda52’s AOPS Monday Feature for 1,97,626

> 2nd in PokerStars India’s Bounty Builder HR for 1,20,894* (heads-up deal)

> 2nd in PokerStars India’s The Big Bash for 1,17,635

 

Millionaire IV champion Sreekanth Narayan, Nishaanth S, Shriram Varma, Sashank Chakravarthy, Young Gun Sanat Mehrotra, Praveen KR, Tarush Gupta, Young Gun Arsh Grover, Vaibhav Temani, Gaurav Didwania, Utkarsh Vaish, Hardik Nair, three-time POY Young Gun Gaurav Sood, Subhojit Roy, Tanmay Benara, and Vinay B were also among the week’s top online winners, each contributing to a highly competitive and thrilling week of poker.

 

Notable Online Winners of the Week

PlayerPrize AmountEventPoker Site
Sreekanth Narayan₹16.97 LakhsMillionaire IV ₹1 Crore GTDSpartan Poker
Shriram Varma₹13.31 LakhsThe MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTDPokerBaazi
Gaurav Didwania₹11.64 LakhsMystery MILLION$ Main EventNatural8 India
"JackN0tMa"₹10.62 Lakhs25 Mystery Million Mini ME Natural8 India
Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram₹9.70 LakhsMystery MILLION$ Main Event Natural8 India
"JackN0tMa"₹9.50 Lakhs44 Bounty Forty StackNatural8 India
"WholeLottaShove"₹8.31 LakhsAPL Series: Zodiac Main EventNatural8 India
Himanshu Arora₹7.87 LakhsAOPS Millions ₹35 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram₹7.04 LakhsZodiac Rabbit LuckyNatural8 India
Faiz Alam₹6.67 Lakhs(1000X) BSS SuperStack ₹50 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
"calmdev"₹6.02 Lakhs54 Bounty Hunters Daily MainNatural8 India
Shriram Varma₹5.66 LakhsSPS SuperStack ₹20 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Ramesh Pathipati₹5.31 LakhsThe Elite ₹15 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Pradeep Singh₹5.24 LakhsAOPS Friday Feature ₹25 Lakhs GTDAdda52
“rockstarpratik”₹5.01 LakhsAOPS Thursday Feature ₹30 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Tarush Gupta₹4.84 LakhsAOPS Tuesday Feature ₹20 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Praveen KR₹4.80 LakhsAOPS Bounty Championship ₹30 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Onas Malhotra₹4.18 LakhsEndeavour HighRoller ₹30 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Advait Rajguru₹4.01 LakhsThe Endeavour ₹20 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
“Violative”₹4 LakhsThe Summit ₹20 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Aditya Singh₹3.88 Lakhs54 Ultra Deepstack Bounty TurboNatural8 India
Aditya Singh₹3.62 LakhsWTF ₹25 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Sashank Chakravarthy₹3.43 LakhsSummit HighRoller ₹20 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
"yudie"₹3.42 Lakhs44 Omaholic Bounty Forty StackNatural8 India
"WholeLottaShove"₹3.41 LakhsMystery MILLION$ Main EventNatural8 India
Aditya Agarwal₹3.35 LakhsUltron ₹15 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Arsh Grover₹3.34 LakhsAOPS Monday Feature ₹15 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Satyam Verma₹3.32 LakhsSPS PKO ₹15 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Kashish Gupta₹3.31 LakhsBSS Big Bounty ₹18 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Advait Rajguru₹3.30 LakhsSunday Special ₹15 lakhs GTDPokerStars India
Sashank Chakravarthy₹3.21 LakhsAOPS Wednesday Feature ₹20 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Sanket Saxena₹3.06 LakhsPride HighRoller (KO) ₹18 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Anurag Kureel₹3.02 LakhsBSS Super Value ₹25 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
“abhi903”₹2.93 LakhsWTF ₹20 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Ashit Sharma₹2.90 LakhsAPL Series: Sunday MarathonNatural8 India
"WholeLottaShove"₹2.79 LakhsAPL Series: Hold'em 6-Max Natural8 India
"SirMucks@lot"₹2.75 LakhsAPL Series: Zodiac Monkey King BountyNatural8 India
Arpan Majhi₹2.68 LakhsDestiny ₹12 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Aniket Waghmare₹2.60 LakhsMega Stack ₹10 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Satyam Verma₹2.51 LakhsZodiac Tiger King Asia BountyNatural8 India
"pushnplay"₹2.49 Lakhs215 Daily Heater Special EditionNatural8 India
Sharad Haridasan₹2.39 LakhsAOPS PLO Championship ₹10 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Myron Pereira₹2.31 LakhsThe Pride ₹15 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Laksh Pal Singh₹2.29 LakhsThe Colosseum ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerStars India
Hardik Nair₹2.26 LakhsThe Weekly HighRoller ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
"SirMucks@lot"₹2.26 LakhsForty Stack 44Natural8 India
Mithun Mahesh₹2.22 LakhsBounty Builder ₹9 Lakhs GTDPokerStars India
Sanat Mehrotra₹2.17 LakhsWTF ₹15 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Praveen KR₹2.14 LakhsDaily Hyper 50Natural8 India
Areyann Gurbaxani₹2.12 LakhsThe Endeavour Lite ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
“Pokerboy07”₹2.11 LakhsSPS Tripling ₹10 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
"HiiiBarbie"₹2.07 Lakhs88 CRAZY EIGHTSNatural8 India
Advait Rajguru₹2.03 LakhsDaily Mini HighRoller ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Faiz Alam₹2.03 LakhsDaily Mini HighRoller ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Kamlesh Raul₹2.02 LakhsThe Big Show ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Myron Pereira₹1.98 LakhsWeekender ₹10 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
“archer26601246”₹1.96 LakhsSunday Special Knockout ₹10 Lakhs GTDJunglee Poker
"Eye See Em"₹1.91 Lakhs25 Sunday Heater Special EditionNatural8 India
Ritwik Khanna₹1.90 LakhsThe Big Bash ₹9 Lakhs GTDPokerStars India
Gaurav Sood₹1.84 LakhsDaily Mini HighRoller ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Debneil Mukherjee₹1.82 LakhsDaily Mini HighRoller ₹10 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Saransh Garg₹1.80 LakhsAPL Series: Sunday DeepstackNatural8 India
Shailesh Kumar Patel₹1.71 LakhsWinter ChampionshipNatural8 India
"Rageskill"₹1.59 Lakhs8.88 CRAZY EIGHTSNatural8 India
Sagar Raj₹1.52 LakhsAOPS Warhammer ₹7 Lakhs GTDAdda52
"10BigsAllin"₹1.50 LakhsAPL Series : Holdem MarathonNatural8 India
Ashit Sharma₹1.50 LakhsAPL Series: Zodiac Dragon High RollerNatural8 India
"10BigsAllin"₹1.45 LakhsZodiac Rabbit Lucky [Mystery Bounty]Natural8 India
"JackN0tMa"₹1.39 LakhsSpeed Racer Bounty 21.60Natural8 India
"10BigsAllin"₹1.34 LakhsAPL Series: Hold'em BountyNatural8 India
Ashit Sharma₹1.33 LakhsAPL Series: Sunday DeepstackNatural8 India
Saransh Garg₹1.32 LakhsAOPS Warhammer ₹7 Lakhs GTDAdda52
"yudie"₹1.28 Lakhs25 GGMasters Bounty Special EditionNatural8 India
Prafull H₹1.28 LakhsAOPS Fastlane ₹6 Lakhs GTDAdda52
Sam Anand₹1.26 Lakhs200 Speed Racer POWER HOURNatural8 India
Prashanth Sekar₹1.21 LakhsMonster Stack ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerStars India
Abdul Aziz₹1.16 LakhsThe Pride Lite ₹7.50 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram₹1.16 LakhsAPL Series: Speed Racer Bounty CloserNatural8 India
Rohan Sharma₹1.05 Lakhs(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
“Blackguard”₹1.05 Lakhs(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
"WholeLottaShove"₹1.05 LakhsAPL Series: Hold'em DeepstackNatural8 India
Bharath Kumar₹1.04 Lakhs105 Sunday Secret KONatural8 India
Swapnil Uttarwar₹1.03 LakhsThe Big Show Lite ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Praveen KR₹1.02 LakhsFifty Stack 55Natural8 India
Furukawa Shimpei₹1.01 LakhsDaily Hyper 50Natural8 India
Praveen KR₹1.01 LakhsSunday Superstack 8.88Natural8 India
"Yesboss77"₹1 LakhAPL Series: Zodiac Dog Ultra Deepstack TurboNatural8 India
"yudie"₹99KAPL Series: Zodiac Rat OpenerNatural8 India
Himanshu Arora₹99KMystery MILLION$ Main Event Stage 1Natural8 India
Sam Anand₹99K150 Speed Racer POWER HOUR Natural8 India
“David29”₹98K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
"HiiiBarbie"₹97KWinter ChampionshipNatural8 India
Praveen KR₹95KDaily Hyper 8Natural8 India
Vinay B₹91K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Siddhant Singh₹91K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
“mayso18”₹89K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Gopal Bajaj₹87KMoney Hunt PKO ₹5 Lakhs GTDSpartan Poker
Shravan Chhabria₹82KAPL Series:Midnight MadnessNatural8 India
Simardeep singh Uppal₹81KMystery MILLION$ Main Event Stage 1Natural8 India
Praveen Rana₹78K(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Puneeth B N₹78K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Gurpal Singh₹74K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
“Whoarewe”₹73K(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Suraj N Yadav₹72K(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Rajiv Ramudamu₹72K(7-Max) Daily SPRINT ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Kunal Duggal₹72K(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Neeraj Kumar₹67K10.80 4-MAX HYPERNatural8 India
Vaibhav Temani₹67KEliminator 3 Lakhs GTDPokerStars India
Nikhil Kedia₹66KMystery MILLION$ Main Event Stage 1Natural8 India
Lavi Ahuja₹64KSunday Hyper 15Natural8 India
Gaurav Didwania₹64K525 Bounty Hunters Main Event Natural8 India
"10BigsAllin"₹63KAPL Series: Zodiac Monkey King BountyNatural8 India
Animesh Thakur₹62K(7-Max) Afternoon Boost ₹5 Lakhs GTDPokerBaazi
Arjun Singh Bhadauriya₹62KMystery MILLION$ Main Event Stage 1Natural8 India
Neeraj Kumar₹58KDaily Hyper 10Natural8 India
“guddu”₹56KPocket Magnets ₹3 Lakhs GTDPocket52
“STRAEGY_GODss”₹56KPocket Kings ₹3 Lakhs GTDPocket52
“raccoon_feroz_9624925”₹56KPocket Kings 3 Lakhs GTDPocket52
Shailesh Kumar Patel₹56KMystery MILLION$ Main Event Stage 1Natural8 India
Vikram Batra₹56K8.55 Bounty SuperstackNatural8 India
Aritra Hazra₹56KPocket Bullets ₹3 Lakhs GTDPocket52
Aman Parakh₹55KSunday Monster Stack 25Natural8 India
Tarsh Mehrotra₹54KSuperstack Turbo Special 8.80Natural8 India
Aniruddha Joshi₹48KPocket Rockets ₹2.50 Lakhs GTDPocket52
“crocodile_rana70_14285795”₹48KPocket Jacks ₹2.50 Lakhs GTDPocket52
“gamefire27398192”₹35KPrimetime Wish ₹1.50 Lakhs GTDJunglee Poker

 

In a major hit to the RMG industry, the sector’s hopes for GST relief in the Interim Budget 2024-25 were dashed, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman keeping all the direct and indirect taxes unchanged.

Nirmala Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman

 

Despite the headwinds, the fantasy sports segment, led by Dream11, managed to record a remarkable 66% revenue spike, contributing significantly to the staggering six-fold jump in GST collections from the sector, which increased from 200 Crores to 1,200 Crores monthly since the new regime came into force on October 1, 2023. Moreover, the government reported collecting over 1,260 Crores in TDS from online gaming and crypto trading this financial year.

Dream11

 

In a headline-grabbing story, Metaverse and tech innovation company OneVerse announced a complete buy-out of Spartan Poker, a leading Indian poker platform, while retaining the management team, reflecting a strong belief in India’s gaming potential. This partnership, amidst challenging economic conditions and the 28% GST hike, emerges as a beacon of innovation and growth. OneVerse plans to merge Spartan Poker’s 2 Million players into an immersive metaverse, setting sights on global expansion with a $120 Million investment earmarked for more strategic acquisitions.

One Verse - Spartan Poker - Cover - 06022024

 

Junglee Poker‘s launch of a groundbreaking desktop client for its player-focused platform promises a transformative experience with enhanced security, in-game features, and a smooth experience for 64-bit Windows users (with a Mac version on the horizon). Additionally, their Money Magnet 4.0 offers the chance to turn a mere ₹1 into a windfall of LAKHPATI fortune in the thrilling 7 PM Money Magnet showdown for ten consecutive days from February 5 to 14, boasting a daily prize pool of a massive ₹1.50 Lakhs with ₹1 Lakh reserved for the ultimate victor.

Junglee Poker Deals a Royal Flush With New Desktop Client

 

A23 Poker’s Stack-a-thon series promises over ₹1 Crore in prizes across 40 tournaments and cash game leaderboards from February 2 to March 10, welcoming players of all levels to compete. From freerolls to qualifiers leading up to the grand finale, excitement awaits.

A23 Poker's ₹1 Crore Stack-a-thon

 

Natural8 India’s new APT Taipei – India Exclusive Tournament brings a unique blend of high stakes and high rewards, with a buy-in of just ₹12,000 and the chance to win not only from the substantial prize pool but also additional giveaways worth ₹13 Lakhs. The thrill reaches fever pitch as the top six finalists in the event will be awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Taipei to compete in the upcoming APT festival, with the champion bringing home the prestigious APT Trophy. Mark your calendars for February 11 at 8 PM!

N8IN - Cover

 

Nodwin Gaming steps up with a bold €8 Million investment in Germany’s Freaks 4U Gaming for a 13.51% stake, signalling a strong push for global esports dominance.

 

Games24x7‘s GameTech Accelerate program at GAFX 2024 is set to ignite the gaming industry by supporting 15 startups fostering groundbreaking developments.

Games24x7

 

In a watershed moment for Indian poker, Santhosh Suvarna will take a seat at PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker Season 12! As the first Indian on this iconic show, Suvarna will be joining poker legends Phil Laak, Andrew Robl, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Jennifer Tilly in a season brimming with nail-biting action. Tune in every Monday through May, starting February 19, for a poker experience you won’t forget.

HSP Cover 06-02-24

 

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

Poker Dream Malaysia: Zarvan Tumboli Makes History, Claims Record-Breaking Victory in Main Event For a Career-Best ₹1.55 Crores!

India’s poker star Zarvan Tumboli (cover image) has cemented his place in history, becoming the first Indian to conquer the prestigious Poker Dream Malaysia Main Event and securing a career-high MYR 888,000 (~₹1.55 Crores) payday! This momentous victory marks not only the highest live tournament win by an Indian player in 2024, surpassing Amit Kaushik‘s WPT Cambodia Championship fifth-place finish for ₹98.88 Lakhs, but also a personal best for Tumboli himself.

This distinguished player has been on an impressive streak over the last two years, and 2024 has seen him extend his success with two additional titles in just the first five weeks, both at the Poker Dream Malaysia.

 

Tumboli’s triumphant journey began in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Resorts World Genting, where the Poker Dream Malaysia series unfolded. While he narrowly missed out on success at the WPT Cambodia shortly before, he more than made up for it in Malaysia, striking gold not once but twice.

He quickly made his mark by winning Event #22: MYR 1,500 NLH on Saturday for MYR 37,200 (~₹6.54 Lakhs). Just a day before the win, he had amassed a formidable 267,000 chips on Day 1G of the Main Event, advancing from a field of a staggering 2,219 entries across 14 starting flights.

The Main Event generated a massive MYR 5,073,896 prize pool, attracting a shark-infested field of talented players. Tumboli navigated the challenging tournament with the skill and composure of a seasoned veteran. He battled his way through Day 2, eliminating opponents and steadily rising towards the top of the leaderboard. By the time he reached the final nine, he was perched atop the chip leaderboard, a position of power he wouldn’t relinquish easily.

While details of the thrilling final table are still emerging, it’s known that Tumboli faced a formidable opponent in Hong Kong’s Leung Ka Shing in the heads-up battle. Entering with a commanding 5:1 chip advantage, Tumboli displayed remarkable poise and strategic acumen. Despite Shing’s valiant effort and two quick double-ups, Tumboli held his ground. The tension was palpable as the final hand unfolded. Tumboli held pocket deuces while Shing pushed all in with A-9. The flop revealed the drama: A-9-2, giving Tumboli a set and getting Shing a two-pair. Even in the heat of the moment, Tumboli’s sportsmanship shone through as he encouraged Shing’s supporters to cheer on for an ace or a nine. The turn (c10) and river (d7) bricked, sealing Tumboli’s fate as the champion. Shing secured MYR 492,396 for his impressive second-place finish.

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All 242 competitors who reached Day 2 were guaranteed a minimum payout of MYR 5,800.

Further amplifying the Main Event success, the Indian contingent made their presence felt with Pocket52 Team Pro Dhaval Mudgal (52nd for MYR 14,200; ~₹2.48 Lakhs), Vikaash Shah (127th for MYR 7,200; ~₹1.26 Lakhs), Chirag Shah (239th for MYR 5,800; ~₹1.01 Lakhs), and WPT Cambodia PLO Hyper Turbo winner Shivam Shukla (240th for MYR 5,800; ~₹1.01 Lakhs) all finishing in the money.

But beyond the title and the impressive payout, Tumboli’s victory holds immense significance for Indian poker. He didn’t just become the first Indian to conquer the Poker Dream Malaysia Main Event; he shattered the record for the highest live tournament win by an Indian player in 2024, inspiring legions of aspiring poker players back home.

Poker Dream Malaysia Main Event Final Table
Poker Dream Malaysia Main Event Final Table

 

Final Table Chip Counts

  1. Zarvan Tumboli – 18,020,000
  2. Leung Ka Shing – 11,240,000
  3. Ng Melvin Wei Zong – 5,910,000
  4. Lim Chin Yu – 5,500,000
  5. Liu Chen – 3,220,000
  6. Thoo Ming Ken – 3,080,000
  7. Liew Kai Sheng – 2,000,000
  8. Wong Kuok Siew – 1,520,000
  9. Chan Chin Yaw – 1,490,000

 

Final Table Recap

Not much information is available regarding the final table play. Zarvan Tumboli (18.02 Million) entered the final table as the chip leader, with Leung Ka Shing (11.24 Million) hot on his heels in second place. Both players were in a league of their own, boasting stacks exceeding 10 million chips. As expected, these two poker titans clashed in the ultimate heads-up duel.

Sources reveal Tumboli started heads-up with a commanding 5:1 chip advantage. While Shing displayed grit, securing two crucial double-ups, it wasn’t enough to overcome Tumboli’s dominance.

Zarvan Tumboli & Leung Ka Shing
Zarvan Tumboli & Leung Ka Shing

 

The final hand saw Shing push his remaining 11 big blinds with . Tumboli, holding the formidable , confidently called. The flop brought , gifting Tumboli a set and leaving Shing with two pair.

In a remarkable display of sportsmanship, Tumboli even encouraged Shing’s rail to cheer for an Ace or nine, hoping for a dramatic third double-up. However, the turn and river sealed Shing’s fate, crowning Tumboli the champion.

Zarvan Tumboli
Zarvan Tumboli

 

Final Table Results (MYR)

  1. Zarvan Tumboli – 888,000.00
  2. Leung Ka Shing – 492,396.00
  3. Thoo Ming Ken – 344,600.00
  4. Ng Melvin Wei Zong – 249,700.00
  5. Liew Kai Sheng – 196,900.00
  6. Wong Kuok Siew – 155,000.00
  7. Lim Chin Yu – 118,000.00
  8. Liu Chen – 82,800.00
  9. Chan Chin Yaw – 62,900.00

 

Content & Images Courtesy: Poker Dream

Poker Dream Malaysia: India’s Zarvan Tumboli Clinches His 1st Live Title of 2024 & ₹6.54 Lakhs

The buzz of the WPT Cambodia 2024 might have subsided, but the poker action in Southeast Asia continues to sizzle, this time at the 2024 Poker Dream Malaysia unfolding at the opulent Resorts World Genting in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian series, which began on January 25 and culminates on February 5, has seen many Indians transitioning from the recently concluded WPT Cambodia. Fueled by the convenient visa-on-arrival policy, they’ve added vibrancy and fierce competition to the series, with Mumbai’s Zarvan Tumboli (cover image) emerging as the first Indian champion.

Tumboli, no stranger to the Asian circuit, navigated a field of 110 determined players in Event #22: MYR 1,500 NLH with his trademark skill and composure. His sharp play culminated in a resounding victory, securing him the top prize of MYR 37,200 (~₹6.54 Lakhs) from the MYR 144,100 prize pool. Local player Keong Kok Eng finished a close second, taking home MYR 25,600. More importantly, this triumph marks Tumboli’s first-ever Poker Dream title and his maiden live title win of 2024, kickstarting his season on a high note.

Tumboli’s victory isn’t a mere flash in the pan. He’s established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Asian poker scene, having achieved notable feats like winning the prestigious 2022 BPT ₹100K Highroller and the inaugural WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event. Recognizing his talent, Spartan Poker appointed him as their brand ambassador in July 2022, a role he shared with WSOP bracelet winner Nikita Luther.

During his tenure with Spartan Poker, Tumboli further cemented his reputation by adding five more live titles to his name, showcasing his consistent performance and strategic brilliance.

 

However, his collaboration with Spartan Poker ended in December last year, making his Poker Dream Malaysia victory his first live title since the split.

While Tumboli’s triumph deserves the spotlight, it’s not an isolated success story. The Indian contingent at the series is making strong waves. Pocket52 Team Pro Dhaval Mudgal came close to sharing the podium, finishing a commendable fourth in Event #22 and taking home MYR 13,500 (~₹2.38 Lakhs). Chirag Shah finished 13th in the event, adding MYR 2,700 (~₹47,504) to the Indian tally. Their performances raise exciting hopes for Team India to continue their success in the remaining days of the series.

With two days left in the series, the Indian contingent at Poker Dream Malaysia is brimming with confidence and hungry for more success. Tumboli’s triumph has served as a source of inspiration, and all eyes are on the remaining players to continue their impressive run and add more chapters to the Indian success story unfolding in Malaysia.

Zarvan Tumboli, Dhaval Mudgal & Victor Chong
Zarvan Tumboli, Dhaval Mudgal & Victor Chong

 

Complete Payouts (MYR)

  1. Zarvan Tumboli – MYR 37,200
  2. Keong Kok Eng – MYR 25,600
  3. Haoyang Tian – MYR 16,700
  4. Dhaval Mudgal – MYR 13,500
  5. Thomas Ray Liffick – MYR 10,900
  6. Yizhong Lim – MYR 8,500
  7. Shakhinabonu Makhmudova – MYR 6,700
  8. Keong Choon Toh – MYR 5,100
  9. Grant Gardner – MYR 3,700
  10. Jongwon Lee – MYR 3,000
  11. Hin Chan Cho – MYR 3,000
  12. Samson Hiu Zuo Kai – MYR 2,700
  13. Chirag Shah – MYR 2,700
  14. Hao Tin Jun – MYR 2,400
  15. Foong Soo Sing – MYR 2,400

 

Content & Images Courtesy: Poker Dream

Keep following PokerGuru for more exciting updates from Poker Dream Malaysia 2024!

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5.Vinay B Vinay B
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6.M L M L
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43,040
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26,548
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