7 Minutes Read
As the clock ticked toward the final hours of the year, online poker platforms became the stage for one last round of intense action. Players across the country logged in for their shot at a closing triumph, chasing leaderboard glory and year-end bankroll boosts. PokerBaazi led the charge with a stacked lineup of tournaments, Natural8 India boasted some of the biggest winners of the day, and Adda52’s ₹2.50 Crores GTD Christmas & New Year Carnival kept the festive energy alive. Not to be left behind, Junglee Poker and Pocket52 brought their own flair, ensuring the year ended with no shortage of high-stakes drama.
In the heart of this electrifying frenzy, M Jimmy made a triumphant return on Natural8 India. Having captured attention earlier in July with a podium finish in the Sunday Crazy Eights Asia 8.88, Jimmy had been off the radar for five months. But his return was nothing short of spectacular. Facing a daunting field of 1,759 players in the GGMasters Asia 25, he maneuvered his way to the top, walking away with ₹5.13 Lakhs—his biggest win yet on the platform. This victory not only closed his year on a personal high but also pushed his total winnings on Natural8 past ₹14 Lakhs, making him the day’s standout performer.
Natural8 also saw platform newcomer ‘milky_way99’ making waves. After an impressive debut earlier this month, they once again proved their mettle. Taking on the massive 9,299-strong field in the Omaholic Mystery Ball 108, they secured a 31st-place finish, earning ₹5 Lakhs—another personal best. Their consistent run has already started turning heads in the community.
Meanwhile, PokerBaazi’s tournament tables saw their share of fireworks. The mysterious ‘J500PC,’ fresh off a Sunday win in the BSS, delivered yet another spectacular run. They claimed the top spot in The Big Show, clinching ₹4.10 Lakhs from a three-way deal. It was a career-defining moment for them, smashing their previous best score on the platform by nearly seven times. Joining the ranks of big winners was Arbaaz Ahmed, last year’s EndBoss 7.0 runner-up, who came in second. Ahmed’s payout of ₹3.48 Lakhs marked his best performance of the year and added another highlight to an already illustrious career. The podium was rounded out by another fresh face, ‘jumboSnaps97487,’ who earned ₹3.32 Lakhs—their largest payday yet on PokerBaazi.
Natural8 India witnessed an eventful day as Young Gun Siddharth Karia made a striking comeback after a four-month break. Jumping back into the action, Karia battled his way to a runner-up finish in the Daily Special 88, outlasting all but one of the 347 entries. The effort earned him ₹3.90 Lakhs, a reward that marked his re-entry into the online grind with style. Anant Purohit, currently ranked #2 in the Player of the Year race, demonstrated why he’s among the elites. Taking on a massive field of 9,299 entries in the Omaholic Mystery Ball 108, Purohit held his nerve to carve out a ₹2.04 Lakhs payday. The deep run added another impressive chapter to his ongoing poker journey.
Over at PokerBaazi, the enigmatic ‘Ikka5,’ known for their victory in May’s Mini HighRoller (Double Ante), claimed their first Daily Last Chance title. This win brought them ₹1.58 Lakhs, with another deep run pushing their total for the day past ₹1.72 Lakhs. Ankit Thakur, a regular feature in high-stakes tournaments, settled for second place but walked away with a respectable ₹1.07 Lakhs.
Sandeep Singh kept his momentum alive with a victory in The Big Show Lite on PokerBaazi. After a heads-up deal, Singh pocketed ₹1.58 Lakhs, reaffirming his consistency on the platform. Hot on his heels was Inzemaam Husain, who added another strong finish to his resume. Fresh off podium finishes in last week’s The Quest Lite and Sunday’s Gravitron, Husain claimed ₹1.46 Lakhs for his runner-up finish.
Pocket52 had its share of drama as well, with mid-stakes regular Mayank Maruka stealing the show. Known for his five previous Daily Last Chance wins, Maruka made his mark in the Pocket Jacks. This latest victory added ₹1.37 Lakhs to his bankroll, making it his biggest score on the platform and his first title on Pocket52 this year. Maruka also racked up three more deep runs, pushing his day’s tally to over ₹1.53 Lakhs. Online grinder ‘Hayabusaa’ came close but had to settle for second place, earning ₹95,865.
Adda52 saw an exciting day on the virtual felt as newcomer ‘Championsharma’ continued their impressive form. Just days after a Friday Bumper Car win, they grabbed the spotlight again in the Devils Wheel tournament. Navigating a challenging field, they walked away with ₹1.17 Lakhs—their second-largest score on the platform. Adding another deep run to their tally, their total earnings for the day came close to ₹1.20 Lakhs. The runner-up, ‘dwanivey,’ also had a day to remember, recording a personal best payout of ₹86,791.
The action didn’t stop there. Monday was packed with remarkable performances as players across the stakes fought for glory. Aditya Sharma (won two titles), Arpan Majhi, Ishaan Pandya, Paramjeet, Satyapal, and Sachin Rampal all made their mark as they took down marquee events, each adding a significant boost to their bankrolls.
Here are the Monday highlights!
PokerBaazi
The Big Show – ₹30 Lakhs GTD
Buy-in – ₹5,750
Entries – 377
Re-entries – 267
Prize Pool – ₹32,20,000
Places Paid – 101
With less than 24 hours remaining until the New Year, the virtual felt on PokerBaazi was ablaze with excitement, mirroring the anticipation of a grand New Year’s Eve celebration. Amidst a diverse offering of high-stakes tournaments, the ₹30 Lakhs GTD The Big Show stood out as the premier event, attracting a substantial field of players eager to conclude the year on a triumphant note. In this fiercely competitive environment, it was ‘J500PC’ who emerged as the champion, leaving an indelible mark on the evening’s proceedings.
Active on PokerBaazi since September 2018, ‘J500PC’ recently achieved success on Sunday, securing their first title of the year with a victory in the BSS. Building upon this momentum, they made a resounding statement by capturing their second title in as many days, demonstrating a remarkable ability to capitalize on their recent form.
The Big Show attracted a formidable turnout of 644 entries (377 unique), and after an intense seven-and-a-half-hour contest, ‘J500PC’ delivered a performance that distinguished them from the rest of the field. Their victory in this 8 PM headliner earned them an impressive ₹4.10 Lakhs, secured through a three-way deal. This win marked their biggest score on the platform, nearly seven times greater than their previous best, and established them as the third-biggest winner of the day, trailing only Natural8 India users M Jimmy and ‘milky_way99.’
J500PC’s PokerBaazi stats: Site Winnings: ₹11.66 Lakhs | Site Winnings: ₹10,587 | Titles Won in 2024: #2
While ‘J500PC’ celebrated their triumph, Arbaaz ‘Abbc’ Ahmed presented a formidable challenge. Renowned for his remarkable runner-up finish in EndBoss 7.0 last December, Ahmed has enjoyed a successful year. In September, he claimed the 1000X#12 title, followed by two more victories this month in the Daily Boost and WPT#77 Ultra Deepstack. Adding to his accolades, Ahmed has made an impressive eight final table appearances this month alone.
Building on these accomplishments, Ahmed was aiming for his seventh title of the year and his first The Big Show crown. He fought tenaciously but narrowly missed the top spot, finishing as the runner-up for ₹3.48 Lakhs as a result of the deal. This marked his best performance of the year and the fifth-highest payout of his career. With this impressive run, Ahmed appears poised to carry his winning form into the New Year, setting the stage for even more extraordinary achievements to come.
Arbaaz Ahmed’s online stats (PokerBaazi, Adda52 and Spartan Poker): Lifetime Winnings: ₹1.54 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹81.03 Lakhs | Titles Won in 2024: #6 | Annual Winnings: ₹48.51 Lakhs | Annual Profits: ₹6.08 Lakhs
Platform newcomer ‘jumboSnaps97487’, active since October, fired two bullets and rounded out the podium in The Big Show. Their strong performance earned them ₹3.32 Lakhs from the deal, marking their best payout on PokerBaazi to date.
jumboSnaps97487’s PokerBaazi stats: Site Winnings: ₹4.45 Lakhs
The Big Show’s final table brought together an impressive lineup of talent. Among the standout players were last month’s (7-Max) Afternoon Boost champion, Nikhil ‘chrisnikhil’ Krishna, who finished 4th for ₹1.93 Lakhs; last week’s The Pride runner-up, Rahul ‘slowroller’ Melwani, who took 6th place for ₹1.16 Lakhs; and WPT#10 SuperStack finalist, Samarth ’tiltsingh’ Bhandari, who claimed 7th place with ₹94,024.
The Big Show lived up to its name, delivering excitement and rewards in equal measure. With a ₹5,750 buy-in, the tournament shattered its guarantee, amassing an impressive ₹32.20 Lakhs prize pool. For the top 101 finishers, even a min-cash brought festive cheer, as they pocketed ₹10,304 each.
Final Table Results
*denotes a three-way deal
Daily Last Chance – ₹10 Lakhs GTD
Buy-in – ₹2,500
Entries – 277
Re-entries – 176
Prize Pool – ₹10,00,000
Places Paid – 65
The start of the week on PokerBaazi was characterized by a surge of activity, with a series of high-octane flagship tournaments maintaining an elevated level of excitement. The action culminated in the ₹10 Lakhs GTD Daily Last Chance, a late-night event that brought Monday to an electrifying close on India’s premier poker platform.
Emerging triumphant from the intense competition was ‘Ikka5’ (anonymity requested), a dedicated player since 2017. They had been pursuing a significant victory since their win in the Mini HighRoller (Double Ante) in May. Despite consistent performances, including a notable seventh-place finish in the WPT#87 Championship just last week, the top spot had remained elusive – until last night. Demonstrating focused determination and a calculated approach, they secured their first Daily Last Chance title and their third victory of the year.
As the 10:30 PM tournament commenced, ‘Ikka5’s’ concentration was palpable. Over six hours and 18 minutes, they navigated a substantial field of 453 entries (277 unique), ultimately surpassing the tournament’s guarantee. Their strategic plays proved effective, culminating in a well-deserved victory. ‘Ikka5’ claimed the title and a prize of ₹1.58 Lakhs after utilizing two entries. Their success extended beyond this single event, as they also achieved a deep run in The Big Show, bringing their total Monday winnings to over ₹1.72 Lakhs.
> 1st in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹1,58,000
> 41st in PokerBaazi’s The Big Show for ₹13,524
While ‘Ikka5’ celebrated a landmark win, Ankit ‘NOTILTING’ Thakur also made a significant impact. Navigating a challenging field, this emerging talent came remarkably close to capturing the Daily Last Chance title, ultimately securing a commendable second-place finish and earning ₹1.07 Lakhs.
Ankit Thakur’s online stats (PokerBaazi and Spartan Poker): Lifetime Winnings: ₹66.24 Lakhs | Lifetime Profits: ₹13.61 Lakhs
The Daily Last Chance final table featured a strong contingent of regulars, including Amit Kumar ‘philivey007’ Jha (3rd for ₹82,000), Nithin ‘GGPokerAJ’ Gowda (5th for ₹48,000), and Janish ‘janish1998’ Jain (8th for ₹22,500).
Despite the excitement and impressive lineup, the Daily Last Chance fell short of its advertised guarantee, resulting in a minor overlay of ₹15,178. However, this created enhanced value for the 65 players who cashed in, each pocketing at least ₹5,500—more than double the ₹2,500 buy-in. It marked a profitable and rewarding start to the poker week for many participants!
Final Table Results
The Big Show Lite – ₹10 Lakhs GTD
Buy-in – ₹2,000
Entries – 398
Re-entries – 293
Prize Pool – ₹12,02,340
Places Paid – 111
As the year approached its conclusion, the virtual felt witnessed a surge of activity, culminating in a thrilling penultimate day of competition. In PokerBaazi’s ₹10 Lakhs GTD The Big Show Lite, it was Sandeep ‘PoKcey’ Singh who ultimately claimed the spotlight.
Singh’s path to victory had been characterized by perseverance. Since his Daily Last Chance win in September, he had consistently registered deep runs, including six final table appearances. Notably, he secured a podium finish in The MoneyMaker 89.0 in October and narrowly missed the top spot in The Endeavour in November. Yet, the top spot had remained just beyond his grasp.
In the 7:30 PM flagship event, Singh’s resolve was evident. After investing two bullets, he navigated a substantial field of 691 entries (398 unique), engaging in a demanding battle that extended beyond six hours. The culmination of his efforts saw him reach the heads-up stage, where a strategic deal was brokered, ensuring substantial payouts for both remaining players. Singh secured his inaugural The Big Show Lite title and a first-place prize of ₹1.58 Lakhs.
Sandeep Singh’s online stats (excluding Junglee Poker, PokerStars India, and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹5.41 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹11.41 Lakhs | Titles Won in 2024: #10 | Annual Winnings: ₹1.32 Crores
Inzemaam ‘Shavzz’ Husain also delivered a noteworthy performance. Following podium finishes in last week’s The Quest Lite and Sunday’s Gravitron, Husain entered The Big Show Lite with the objective of ending a title drought that had persisted for over 27 months. Like Singh, Husain also opted for two bullets in his pursuit of victory. While he ultimately fell short of the title, his runner-up finish, bolstered by the heads-up deal, earned him a commendable ₹1.46 Lakhs.
Inzemaam Husain’s online stats (excluding Natural8 India, Junglee Poker and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹86.78 Lakhs | Lifetime Profits: ₹8.42 Lakhs
Aditya ‘adi1108’ Sharma, meanwhile, enjoyed an evening of exceptional success. He secured victories in three separate tournaments – PokerBaazi’s PKO, Daily Boost, and (PLO-5) Afternoon BOOST. Combined with his final table appearances in n The Big Show Lite and (6-Max) SPRINT, Sharma’s Monday earnings totaled an impressive ₹1.16 Lakhs from seven deep runs.
> 1st in PokerBaazi’s PKO for ₹31,612
> 1st in PokerBaazi’s Daily Boost for ₹27,000
> 8th in PokerBaazi’s The Big Show Lite for ₹26,572
> 1st in PokerBaazi’s (PLO-5) Afternoon BOOST for ₹22,921
> 7th in PokerBaazi’s (6-Max) SPRINT for ₹4,243
> 46th in PokerBaazi’s (7-MAx) SPRINT for ₹1,927
> 11th in PokerBaazi’s (5-Max) Hyper for ₹1,768
Aditya Sharma’s online stats (PokerBaazi, Adda52 and Spartan Poker): Lifetime Winnings: ₹1.85 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹39.60 Lakhs | Titles Won in 2024: #28 | Annual Winnings: ₹1.14 Crores | Annual Profits: ₹16.64 Lakhs
The Big Show Lite final table was replete with skilled players, including Hareesh ‘messifox’ Challa (4th for ₹69,014), last week’s The Quest Lite champion Sandeep ‘Effuno’ Varma RS (6th for ₹46,170), and Swapnil ‘sswapnil1904’ Sawant (7th for ₹36,190).
With a prize pool of ₹12.02 Lakhs, exceeding its guarantee, The Big Show Lite provided a fittingly competitive arena for the penultimate day of the year. The top 111 finishers secured a minimum payout of ₹4,328, more than double the initial buy-in of ₹2,000, highlighting the value and excitement generated by this flagship event.
Final Table Results
*denotes a heads-up deal
‘alpacino0029’ (Won ₹5 Lakhs GTD 7-Max Afternoon Boost for ₹54,360), Aditya ‘adi1108’ Sharma (Won ₹1 Lakh PKO for ₹31,612), Ishaan ‘ideatheater11’ Pandya (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD PLO-5 Boost for ₹29,540), Aditya ‘adi1108’ Sharma (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD Daily Boost for ₹27,000), ‘chesam’ (Won ₹1.50 Lakhs 7-Max SPRINT for ₹19,940), ‘vegetaa’ (Won ₹1 Lakh Evening SPRINT for ₹16,600), ‘rajveer30210’ (Won ₹1 Lakh 6-Max SPRINT for ₹10,980), and Sachin ‘usernameishigh’ Rampal (Won ₹1 Lakh Boost for ₹10,000) won the other Monday marquees on PokerBaazi.
Junglee Poker
‘rah’ (Won ₹4.50 Lakhs GTD Monday Monster for ₹86,342), ‘gaug17’ (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD Monday Battleground for ₹51,365), ‘wildshark100’ (Won ₹75K GTD Monday Sunsetter for ₹19,316) won the Monday marquees on Junglee Poker.
Adda52
Devils Wheel – ₹6 Lakhs GTD
Buy-in – ₹2,750
Entries – 153
Re-entries – 95
Prize Pool – ₹6,00,000
Places Paid – 35
On the penultimate day of the year, Adda52’s digital arena buzzed with activity, fueled by the ongoing Christmas & New Year Carnival. The marquee event of the evening, the ₹6 Lakhs GTD Devils Wheel, drew a competitive field of 248 entries (153 unique), each player seeking to claim a portion of the guaranteed prize pool and the prestigious title. In an intriguing turn of events, a relatively new player to the platform, ‘Championsharma,’ who joined in August of the previous year, found themselves at the heart of the action.
‘Championsharma,’ fresh off a victory in Friday’s Bumper Car tournament, maintained their winning form. After a demanding six-hour battle, ‘Championsharma’ emerged as the victor, securing their 12th title of the year and a payout of ₹1.17 Lakhs, marking their second-largest score on the platform. They also secured a seventh-place finish in the Morning Adda, earning ₹2,434, resulting in cumulative winnings of nearly ₹1.20 Lakhs for the day.
> 1st in Adda52’s Devils Wheel for ₹1,17,333
> 7th in Adda52’s Morning Adda for ₹2,434
Championsharma’s Adda52 stats: Site Winnings: ₹17.26 Lakhs | Site Profits: ₹10.62 Lakhs | Titles Won in 2024: #12
The micro-to-low stakes player ‘dwanivey’ came remarkably close to claiming the Devils Wheel title, ultimately finishing as the runner-up and securing a platform-best ₹86,791.
dwanivey’s Adda52 stats: Site Winnings: ₹4.76 Lakhs | Site Profits: ₹1.98 Lakhs | Titles Won in 2024: #2
Prakash ‘pfeiffer’ Lalwani, who had secured a fourth-place finish in the Sunday Bounty the preceding day, continued his strong performance, striving to end an over four-year title drought. Lalwani ultimately secured a third-place finish, earning ₹64,199, marking his sixth-largest score and his best of the year.
Prakash Lalwani’s online stats (Adda52 and Spartan Poker): Lifetime Winnings: ₹24.60 Lakhs | Lifetime Profits: ₹2.74 Lakhs
The Devils Wheel final table featured a strong lineup of skilled players, including Sharad ‘zimbawe’ Haridasan (4th for ₹47,488), ‘dragon55’ (5th for ₹35,127), and ‘paa’ (6th for ₹25,983).
The Devils Wheel, with its ₹2,750 buy-in, experienced a minor overlay of ₹4,800. Nevertheless, the event offered intense action to its participants, with the top 35 finishers receiving a minimum payout of ₹5,746 – more than twice the buy-in. The tournament highlighted Adda52’s dedication to providing high-value events, even amidst the festive season, offering a fitting penultimate day of poker action for the year.
Final Table Results
Arpan ‘distroyer’ Majhi (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD Bumper Car for ₹41,650), ‘janhavi5685’ (Won ₹1.50 Lakhs GTD Nighttide DST Adda for ₹34,671), ‘rknolove’ (Won ₹1 Lakh GTD Afternoon Bounty for ₹25,487), ‘Callmerockets7’ (Won ₹50K GTD Morning Adda for ₹17,832), ‘sonu0303’ (Won ₹70K GTD Iron Man Lite for ₹15,435), ‘ErRada’ (Won ₹55K GTD Bounty Adda for ₹15,405), Paramjeet ‘culuxtum’ (Won ₹45K GTD Sundown Adda for ₹14,771), and Satyapal ‘zoca’ (Won ₹30K GTD Freeze Out Adda for ₹12,536) won the other Monday marquees on Adda52.
Pocket52
Pocket Jacks – ₹5.50 Lakhs GTD
Buy-in – ₹3,300
Entries – 95
Re-entries – 71
Prize Pool – ₹5,50,000
Places Paid – 21
The Indian online poker scene is currently experiencing a period of intense activity, and Pocket52 is at the forefront of this exciting trend. Last night, the ₹5.50 Lakhs GTD Pocket Jacks served as a focal point for competition, and a familiar name emerged victorious. Mayank ‘muckforvalue’ Maruka, the highly regarded mid-stakes crusher from Jodhpur, continues to demonstrate his exceptional skill, securing the Pocket Jacks title and further augmenting his already impressive poker resume.
This five-time Daily Last Chance winner, fresh off his Thursday Thunder triumph just last week, claimed his second marquee title in a mere four days. He fired two bullets and outlasted a competitive field of 166 players (95 unique) in the 8 PM flagship event. After seven and a half hours of demanding play, Maruka proved his mettle, securing a well-deserved victory. This win earned him a substantial ₹1.37 Lakhs, representing his most significant score on Pocket52 and his first title on the platform this year (fourth overall).
Maruka’s success extended beyond this single event, as he also secured scores in three additional tournaments across various platforms. By the end of the day, his cumulative winnings exceeded ₹1.53 Lakhs.
> 1st Pocket52’s Pocket Jacks for ₹1,36,785
> 6th Pocket52’s Pocket Soda for ₹6,756
> 46th in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹5,500
> 64th in PokerBaazi’s The Big Show Lite for ₹4,328
Mayank Maruka’s online stats (excluding Junglee Poker, Natural8 India and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹7.51 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹1.84 Crores | Titles Won in 2024: #26 | Annual Winnings: ₹2.49 Crores | Annual Profits: ₹37.84 Lakhs | Ranked #5 in the 2024 TLB (Points) Leaderboard Standings
Online stalwart ‘Hayabusaa’ (anonymity requested) finished the Pocket Jacks in second place, and this feat earned them a cool ₹95,865.
The Pocket Jacks final table also featured notable players such as PokerBaazi team pro Laksh ‘BoomTilt23’ Pal Singh (5th for ₹34,265), Sunday’s Daily Last Chance champion Amit ‘SachinTendulkar’ Kumar Sahu (6th for ₹27,390) and Omkar ‘Khalnayak9852’ Kumar (7th for ₹22,770).
The ₹3,300 buy-in Pocket Jacks experienced an overlay of ₹73,580 against its advertised ₹5.50 Lakhs guarantee. The top 21 finishers shared the prize pool, with even the minimum cash amounting to ₹6,105, representing nearly double the buy-in. The tournament provided a strong start to the week, offering significant rewards to players across the board and highlighting the vibrant activity currently characterizing the Indian online poker scene.
Final Table Results
‘zokomo’ (Won ₹2.50 Lakhs GTD 7-Max Deepstack Turbo for ₹62,670), ‘shivajsp2505’ (Won ₹1.20 Lakhs GTD Soda for ₹33,780), and ‘dennycrane’ (Won ₹80K GTD Brunch for ₹24,000) Monday marquees on Pocket52.
Spartan Poker
‘daddyyoda’ (Won ₹1 Lakh GTD Monster Turbo for ₹17,491) and ‘Ajeet89’ (Won ₹1 Lakh GTD Monster Turbo for ₹17,089) won the Monday marquees on Spartan Poker.
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