Daily Majors: Thursday Felts Heat Up with Subhojit Roy, Archit Garg, Siddharth Pandey, & Ashutosh Kumar

The second day of the new year on the virtual felts was every bit as electric as Day 1! PokerBaazi commanded center stage with a beefed-up schedule of marquee events, while Natural8 India, Adda52, and Junglee Poker kept the excitement flowing for poker lovers everywhere.

Natural8 India’s ‘SanWitcher’ was the talk of the town on Thursday! The night before, this mysterious player racked up a victory in the Bounty Hunters Special 32 along with a podium finish in the Bounty Hunters Special 10.80. Riding that wave of success, ‘SanWitcher’ blazed through a huge field of 1,318 entries in the Zodiac Main Event, claiming a whopping ₹8.47 Lakhs and topping the day’s earnings chart.

Subhojit Roy blazed his way to the top in PokerBaazi’s The Summit. He pocketed ₹5.22 Lakhs after a four-way deal—a triumphant return to form following a ten-month drought without a title. Hot on his heels, Archit Garg finished runner-up, bagging a personal-best ₹5.11 Lakhs and nearly snatching his first PokerBaazi win. The deal also boosted the bankrolls of Harsh Dembla (3rd for ₹4.84 Lakhs) and ‘kekda’ (4th for ₹4.75 Lakhs).

Siddharth Pandey also made a big splash by taking down PokerBaazi’s WTF, winning the title for the second time. He walked away with a career-best ₹4.02 Lakhs and snapped a month-long dry spell in the process. He kept the momentum going with a deep run in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance, pushing his total winnings for the day to ₹4.36 Lakhs and vaulting his lifetime earnings over the ₹9 Crore mark. Meanwhile, ‘TheBrave’ gave Pandey a run for his money, finishing runner-up for ₹2.87 Lakhs—their biggest score yet on PokerBaazi.

Three-time Player of the Year and Indian poker superstar Gaurav Sood showed everyone once again why he’s the one to beat. The Young Gun snagged his first Summit Lite title on PokerBaazi for a cool ₹2.15 Lakhs. But he didn’t stop there—two more deep runs plus a bounty sent his total Thursday winnings soaring past ₹2.59 Lakhs. Close on his heels was Jaikishan Jangid, who scooped up ₹1.42 Lakhs as the Summit Lite runner-up. With a grind across three different events, including a title win in Pocket52’s Soda for ₹32,160, Jangid piled up ₹2.12 Lakhs to wrap up a stellar day.

Fresh off last week’s win in Junglee Poker’s Tuesday Phoenix, Ashutosh Kumar kept the momentum alive with a dominating victory in Adda52’s Columbus, pocketing ₹3.53 Lakhs, pushing his day’s total to ₹3.76 Lakhs. Meanwhile, Paramjeet racked up ₹2.58 Lakhs for a hard-fought runner-up finish—his second-largest career payday

Ankit Wadhawan continued his hot streak by taking down Pocket52’s Pocket Magnets for ₹1.69 Lakhs—his third Pocket52 title and second-largest score on that platform. An additional deep run pushed his total haul to ₹1.81 Lakhs. Over on the runner-up side, Arjun Raghani locked in a platform-best ₹1.18 Lakhs. After adding two more deep runs, Raghani finished the day with a tidy ₹1.40 Lakhs.

Meanwhile, Venkatesh Mukundan made a thrilling comeback on Natural8 India. After nearly a year under the radar, he dived into the Bounty Hunters Daily Main 54 and finished 13th among 7,393 players, pocketing ₹1.43 Lakhs—his second-best score on the platform.

On Junglee Poker, Mandar Madaye took charge in the Thursday Thunder, bagging ₹1.11 Lakhs and boosting his day’s total to a hefty ₹1.20 Lakhs. Myron Pereira, the popular Goan pro, claimed ₹58,695 in second place. Adding six more deep runs to his credit, Pereira wrapped up Thursday with ₹1.36 Lakhs.

It was a night of champions all around! Avinash Koneru (2 Titles), Ambika Chowdhury (2 Titles), Tanay Kauntia, Parth Shah, Ankit Saurabh, Prakash Lalwani, Babu Ajay Kumar PN, Vishal Ojha, and Jaikishan Janid and all claimed titles, capping off a sensational Thursday on the virtual felts.

Here are the Thursday highlights!

PokerBaazi

The Summit – ₹50 Lakhs GTD

Buy-in – ₹5,750

Entries – 351

Re-entries – 248

Prize Pool – ₹52,09,000

Places Paid – 94

The New Year vibes hit a high note on PokerBaazi last night, with ₹50 Lakhs GTD The Summit—the biggest guaranteed event of the day—stealing the spotlight. It was a showdown packed with skill, strategy, and surprises, and at the center of it all was Subhojit ‘Jellyfish99’ Roy, who ended his ten-month title drought with an electrifying victory.

Roy, a sales professional by day and a poker aficionado by night, had been chasing that elusive win since his NPS#99 Mini Main Event triumph in March. And what better way to kickstart the New Year than by taking down The Summit? Facing 599 entries (351 unique), Roy rose to the occasion, claiming ₹5.23 Lakhs after a tense four-way deal – his second-best score on PokerBaazi. It wasn’t just a win—it was the perfect comeback story to set the tone for 2025.

Subhojit Roy’s online stats (excluding Junglee Poker and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹1.88 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹29.30 Lakhs | Titles Won in 2025: #1

Hot on Roy’s heels was Archit ‘GroundHog’ Garg, who narrowly missed out on his maiden PokerBaazi title, securing a commendable runner-up finish and a personal best of ₹5.11 Lakhs, courtesy of the same deal. This performance also helped them move back into profitability on the platform.

Archit Garg’s PokerBaazi stats: Site Winnings: ₹17.47 Lakhs | Site Profits: ₹92,532

The four-way deal that concluded the tournament also shone a spotlight on the poker abilities of Harsh ‘100crdream’ Dembla, who secured third place for ₹4.84 Lakhs, and ‘kekda,’ who took fourth place and ₹4.75 Lakhs.

Tushar ‘Tp212121’ Panchal, a name synonymous with consistent performance on PokerBaazi, further solidified his reputation with a strong fifth-place finish, adding ₹2.54 Lakhs to his ever-growing poker bankroll.

With a ₹5,750 buy-in, The Summit didn’t just meet expectations—it smashed through its ₹50 Lakhs guarantee, amassing a prize pool of ₹52.09 Lakhs. The top 94 finishers reaped the rewards of their skillful play, with even the minimum cash a respectable ₹18,752, ensuring that the spirit of giving extended well into the night.

Final Table Results

1. Subhojit ‘Jellyfish99’ Roy – ₹5,22,870*
2. Archit ‘GroundHog’ Garg – ₹5,10,619*
3. Harsh ‘100crdream’ Dembla – ₹4,83,641*
4. kekda – ₹4,75,276*
5. Tushar ‘Tp212121’ Panchal – ₹2,53,674
6. jumboSnaps97487 – ₹2,08,356
7. mak007 – ₹1,64,081

*denotes a four-way deal

WTF – ₹25 Lakhs GTD

Buy-in – ₹3,300

Entries – 537

Re-entries – 463

Prize Pool – ₹28,70,000

Places Paid – 132

Amidst the lingering glow of holiday lights and the echo of New Year’s resolutions, the virtual felt of PokerBaazi’s Thursday night tables shimmered with an extra dose of competitive spirit. The marquee event, the ₹25 Lakhs GTD WTF, became a proving ground for ambition, where seasoned pros and rising stars alike battled for supremacy. And as the dust settled, it was Siddharth ‘Siddonuts’ Pandey who emerged victorious, adding another jewel to his already impressive poker crown. Pandey, a sports entrepreneur whose passion for poker burns bright, made a triumphant return a month after his last victory in The Pride Lite.

The 7:30 PM flagship was a battleground, with 537 players (1,000 total entries) vying for the top spot. For seven hours and twenty minutes, Pandey expertly navigated this maelstrom, firing four bullets with unwavering determination like a seasoned conductor leading his orchestra. His efforts bore fruit, sweet as a plum pudding. Pandey clinched the ₹4.31 Lakhs top prize, securing his second WTF title and a glorious start to the new calendar year. But the night held more in store for this poker maestro. A deep run in the Daily Last Chance, netting him ₹5,290, brought his total evening’s haul to a handsome ₹4.36 Lakhs. This also cemented his position in the upper echelons of the game, pushing his lifetime winnings past the ₹9 Crore mark.

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹4,30,500

> 85th in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹5,290

Siddharth Pandey’s online stats (excluding Natural8 India, Junglee Poker and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹9.01 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹1.37 Crores | Titles Won in 2025: #1

The final table was a festive gathering of talent, a veritable potluck of poker prowess. ‘TheBrave,’ a player who has shown consistent growth over the past 16 months, came tantalizingly close to their first title victory. Firing three bullets, they finished as the runner-up, taking home ₹2.87 Lakhs—their highest score on PokerBaazi. This performance also helped them move back into profitability on the platform, a milestone likely to boost their confidence moving forward.

TheBrave’s PokerBaazi stats: Site Winnings: ₹8.16 Lakhs | Site Profits: ₹92,796

Alongside Siddharth Pandey & ‘TheBrave’ were a constellation of other skilled players, Wednesday’s The Pride Lite runner-up ‘mrtj7808’ (3rd for ₹2.12 Lakhs), ‘Jaind’ (4th for ₹1.61 Lakhs), ‘Shark85’ (5th for ₹1.22 Lakhs), yesterday’s Daily Morning SPRINT runner-up Samarth ’tiltsingh’ Bhandari (6th for ₹98,441), ‘chotachatrii’ (7th for ₹74,620), and ‘Yashthakur1’ (8th for ₹53,382), each contributing to the electric atmosphere of the WTF final table.

The ₹3,300 buy-in WTF tournament, a perennially popular event, exceeded expectations with a generous prize pool of ₹28.70 Lakhs. The top 132 finishers were rewarded for their efforts, with even the minimum cash prize standing at a respectable ₹7,175, more than double the initial buy-in. It was, by all accounts, a rewarding Thursday for a multitude of players and a fitting start to the new year for those fortunate enough to secure a portion of the prize pool.

Final Table Results

1. Siddharth ‘Siddonuts’ Pandey – ₹4,30,500
2. TheBrave – ₹2,87,000
3. mrtj7808 – ₹2,12,380
4. Jaind – ₹1,60,720
5. Shark85 – ₹1,21,975
6. Samarth ’tiltsingh’ Bhandari – ₹98,441
7. chotachatrii – ₹74,620
8. Yashthakur1 – ₹53,382

Summit Lite – ₹12 Lakhs GTD

Buy-in – ₹3,000

Entries – 334

Re-entries – 192

Prize Pool – ₹13,72,334

Places Paid – 82

The poker world held its breath as the indomitable Gaurav ‘gaug17’ Sood stepped onto the virtual field last night. A three-time Player of the Year and a living legend in the Indian poker scene, Sood wasted no time in reminding everyone why his name is synonymous with dominance. Taking on PokerBaazi’s ₹12 Lakhs GTD Summit Lite, he clinched his first title of 2025 in spectacular fashion.

It’s been an action-packed few weeks for the Young Gun. For the past three weeks, Sood has been on a mission. Ever since his triumphant victory at the WPT#41 Megastack, he’s been on a tear, racking up an incredible nine final-table finishes. This past Sunday alone, he navigated deep runs in Junglee Poker’s Countdown Knockout and Countdown Highroller, along with Adda52’s Topple Tower and Gravitron. But the top spot had remained elusive—until last night.

Last night, Sood put on a clinic, demolishing a field of 526 entries (334 unique) in the 7:30 PM flagship event. He battled it out for a grueling six hours and 23 minutes, showcasing his incredible stamina and strategic prowess. When the dust settled, he stood victorious, claiming ₹2.15 Lakhs and etching his name onto the Summit Lite trophy for the very first time.

But Sood wasn’t satisfied with just one victory. His Thursday grind was nothing short of extraordinary, with three deep runs and a cascade of bounties propelling his total winnings for the day to a commanding ₹2.59 Lakhs.

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s Summit Lite for ₹2,15,319

> 83rd in PokerBaazi’s The Summit for ₹18,752

> 16th in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹11,421

> Won bounties worth ₹13,125 in Junglee Poker’s Thursday Mini Highroller

Gaurav Sood’s online stats (excluding Junglee Poker and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹22.61 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹11.65 Crores | Titles Won in 2025: #1

On the other side of the table, Jaikishan ‘royalking7424’ Jangid had a thrilling night of his own. Fresh off a seventh-place finish in Wednesday’s Wipeout, Jangid came tantalizingly close to his first title of the year. He fired two bullets in the Summit Lite and ultimately settled for the runner-up spot, pocketing ₹1.42 Lakhs. But Jangid didn’t stop there. Later in the night, he secured a seventh-place finish in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹37,870.

But the night didn’t end there for Jangid. Over on Pocket52, he braved 124 entries (73 unique) in the ₹1.20 Lakhs GTD Soda at 9:30 PM, walking away with the top prize of ₹32,160. His hard-fought Thursday grind netted him a cool ₹2.12 Lakhs across three events.

The Summit Lite final table was a veritable who’s who of the poker world. Alongside Sood and Jangid, we saw some serious talent, including last week’s The Big Show finalist Sameer ‘tandoori’ Agarwal (3rd for ₹1.07 Lakhs), Sunday’s (7-Max) SPRINT podium finisher Akshay ‘Akki16’ Choudhary (4th for ₹78,635), Tuesday’s Daily Last Chance podium finisher Imran ‘Kamran777’ Anwar (5th for ₹66,695), and online beast Guruprasad ‘fish_calling’ Gupta (8th for ₹32,250).

The ₹3,000 buy-in Summit Lite drew a packed crowd, smashing expectations with a ₹13.72 Lakhs prize pool. The top 82 finishers doubled their buy-ins, with payouts starting at ₹6,587—a sweet reward for those who braved the competition.

Final Table Results

1. Gaurav ‘gaug17’ Sood – ₹2,15,319
2. Jaikishan ‘royalking7424’ Jangid – ₹1,42,037
3. Sameer ‘tandoori’ Agarwal – ₹1,07,042
4. Akshay ‘Akki16’ Choudhary – ₹78,635
5. Imran ‘Kamran777’ Anwar – ₹66,695
6. OpPanda – ₹54,893
7. pokerchick – ₹43,366
8. Guruprasad ‘fish_calling’ Gupta – ₹32,250

‘krishnabodra’ (Won ₹10 Lakhs Daily Last Chance for ₹1.47 Lakhs), ‘killerace56321’ (Won ₹5 Lakh 7-Max Afternoon Boost for ₹78,926), Avinash ‘ladda’ Koneru (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD PLO-5 Boost for ₹38,470), Tanay ‘tanay0405’ Kauntia (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD Daily Boost for ₹27,000), Parth ‘PapuLasith’ Shah (Won ₹1.50 Lakhs 7-Max SPRINT for ₹18,130), Ambika ‘IroneThrone’ Chowdhury (Won ₹1 Lakh Evening SPRINT for ₹17,550), Ankit ‘starnaruto’ Saurabh (Won ₹1 Lakh 6-Max SPRINT for ₹10,500), ‘UTG1998’ (Won ₹1 Lakh Boost for ₹9,840) won the other Thursday marquees on PokerBaazi.

Junglee Poker

Thursday Thunder – ₹5 Lakhs GTD

Buy-in – ₹2,875

Entries – 154

Regular Prize Pool – ₹3,07,500

Bounty Prize Pool – ₹1,92,500

Total Prize Pool – ₹5,00,000

Places Paid – 17

The New Year vibes weren’t just in the air—they lit up the virtual felt on Junglee Poker! The ₹5 Lakhs GTD Thursday Thunder transformed an ordinary Thursday night into an epic poker battleground. Drawing 154 eager contenders, the 9:30 PM marquee event roared on for hours, finally wrapping up in the early hours of Friday.

When the dust settled at 2:40 AM, Mumbai’s Mandar ‘MAMA4000’ Madaye had risen to the top. A familiar name in the mid-stakes circuit, Madaye kicked off 2025 in style. Hot off his Pocket52 Pocket Queens victory, he pocketed ₹11.11 Lakhs for the #ThursdayThunder win, plus ₹55,820 in bounties. But Madaye didn’t stop there. Two more deep runs on PokerBaazi pushed his Thursday haul to an impressive ₹1.20 Lakhs. His game is sharp, and his momentum is unmistakable.

> 1st in Junglee Poker’s Thursday Thunder for ₹1,11,139* (₹55,820 in bounties)

> 81st in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹5,920

> 44th in PokerBaazi’s Daily Boost for ₹2,610

Mandar Madaye’s online stats (excluding Junglee Poker, Natural8 India and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹2.25 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹52.72 Lakhs

Meanwhile, Myron ‘khAAbib’ Pereira, a well-known Goan poker professional, delivered yet another stellar performance. Known for his consistency, Pereira has been on fire, starting the year on a high after finishing runner-up in Sunday’s Countdown Highroller. Last night, he gave Madaye a run for his money in a nail-biting heads-up clash, finishing second for ₹58,695, including ₹3,438 in bounties. Pereira didn’t rest on his laurels, diving into six other events and racking up an impressive ₹1.36 Lakhs by the night’s end. The Goan pro’s relentless drive shows why he’s one of the most dependable players in the game.

> 2nd in Junglee Poker’s Thursday Thunder for ₹58,695* (₹3,438 in bounties)

> 81st in PokerBaazi’s The Summit for ₹18,752

> 16th in Junglee Poker’s Thursday Mini Highroller for ₹13,293* (₹3,938 in bounties)

> 16th in PokerBaazi’s Summit Lite for ₹13,037

> 39th in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹12,341

> 53rd in Adda52’s Columbus for ₹11,185

> 21st in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹8,416

Myron Pereira’s online stats (excluding Junglee Poker, Natural8 India and Pocket52): Lifetime Winnings: ₹13.62 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹2.45 Crores

The Thursday Thunder final table was packed with stars, including this past Sunday’s Countdown Party and (7-Max) Deepstack Turbo champion Anurag ‘GutshotHaiBro’ Srivastava (3rd for ₹38,170), last month’s The Ballers runner-up Aditya ‘The Paper House’ Kulkarni (4th for ₹57,940), and yesterday’s Bullet and Evening SPRINT winner Ambika ‘IronThronee’ Chowdhury (7th for ₹19,434).

The ₹2,875 buy-in Thursday Thunder faced a ₹1.15 Lakhs overlay on its ₹5 Lakhs guarantee, making it a value-packed opportunity for players. The top 17 finishers shared in the spoils, with even the smallest payouts delivering a sweet boost to their bankrolls.

Final Table Results (Including Bounties)

1. Mandar ‘MAMA4000’ Madaye – ₹1,11,139
2. Myron ‘khAAbib’ Pereira – ₹58,695
3. Anurag ‘GutshotHaiBro’ Srivastava – ₹38,170
4. Aditya ‘The Paper House’ Kulkarni – ₹57,940
5. striker36723536 – ₹32,866
6. rajvinod123 – ₹24,433
7. Ambika ‘IronThronee’ Chowdhury – ₹19,434
8. guns4655 – ₹10,947

₹15 Lakhs GTD Blockbuster Party – Qualifier 2

Q2> Entries – 89 | Survivors – 9 | Chip Leader – Ambika ‘IronThronee’ Chowdhury (326,278)

‘reginld’ (Won ₹8 Lakhs GTD Thursday Mini Highroller for ₹2.34 Lakhs) and ‘RockerRajesh’ (Won ₹90K GTD Thursday Sunsetter for ₹18,591) won the other Thursday marquees on Junglee Poker.

Adda52

Columbus – ₹17 Lakhs GTD

Buy-in – ₹5,750

Entries – 205

Re-entries – 166

Rebuy – 9

Prize Pool – ₹19,00,000

Places Paid – 55

Ashutosh ‘akp125602’ Kumar (opted out of our tracking) is on fire, and there’s no stopping him. The Lucknow-based poker streamer and IPPA community manager has been tearing through tournaments with pinpoint precision, delivering one stellar performance after another. December was a month to remember, with Kumar racking up a runner-up finish in Junglee Poker’s Blockbuster Highroller on the 1st, followed by a victorious run in the same tournament just a week later—streamed live for all to witness! As if that wasn’t enough, he also made the final table of PokerBaazi’s WPT#41 Megastack before clinching his first-ever WPT title in the WPT#55 Superstack. And for a Christmas Eve treat, Kumar bagged Junglee Poker’s Tuesday Phoenix.

Rolling into the new year, Kumar has wasted no time in setting the tone for 2025. On just the second day of January, he etched his name onto the winner’s list with a commanding victory in Adda52’s ₹17 Lakhs GTD Columbus. The 8 PM flagship was a battlefield, drawing 380 entries (205 unique) and stretching over 8.5 hours of grueling play. Kumar marched in like a force of nature, dismantling the competition and claiming every chip in sight. For his efforts, he walked away with a handsome ₹3.53 Lakhs. Not content with just one win, Kumar went on to cash in PokerBaazi’s WTF (14th for ₹22,960) later in the night, pushing his total haul for the day to an impressive ₹3.76 Lakhs.

Every compelling narrative requires a worthy rival, and in this instance, it was Paramjeet ‘culuxtum’ who stepped into that role. An Adda52 loyalist since April 2024, Paramjeet, despite his sporadic appearances, has demonstrated a knack for deep runs, boasting a third-place finish in Adda52 Millions and a victory in the Head Shot Bounty last November. In the Columbus, he once again showcased his skills, finishing a close second and earning a career-second-best ₹2.58 Lakhs.

Paramjeet’s Adda52 stats: Site Winnings: ₹29.37 Lakhs | Site Profits: ₹23.27 Lakhs

The Columbus final table was stacked with talent, featuring seasoned players like Ashish ‘lazyfish’ Kumar (3rd for ₹1.89 Lakhs), Sunday’s Roller Coaster champion Ram ‘mowgumotu’ Kakkar (4th for ₹1.39 Lakhs), Sunday’s Pocket Kings runner-up Gopal ‘TheAceCrown’ Bajaj (5th for ₹1.02 Lakhs) and Kashish ‘Fletcher03’ Gupta (6th for ₹74,601).

With a ₹5,750 buy-in, Columbus comfortably smashed its ₹17 Lakhs guarantee, amassing a prize pool of ₹19 Lakhs. The top 55 finishers made it into the money, each taking home at least ₹11,185—a sweet profit for anyone who made the cut.

Final Table Results

1. Ashutosh ‘akp125602’ Kumar – ₹3,52,562
2. Paramjeet ‘culuxtum’ – ₹2,58,427
3. Ashish ‘lazyfish’ Kumar – ₹1,89,426
4. Ram ‘mowgumotu’ Kakkar – ₹1,38,849
5. Gopal ‘TheAceCrown’ Bajaj – ₹1,01,776
6. Kashish ‘Fletcher03’ Gupta – ₹74,601
7. deathstroke458 – ₹54,683
8. Meanie24 – ₹40,082

Avinash ‘avinkon’ Koneru (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD Bumper Car for ₹46,452), ‘pohajalebi’ (Won ₹1.50 Lakhs GTD Nighttide DST Adda for ₹32,772), Prakash ‘pfeiffer’ Lalwani (Won ₹1 Lakh GTD Afternoon Bounty for ₹18,411), Babu ‘Babuajaykumar’ Ajay Kumar PN (Won ₹55K GTD Bounty Adda for ₹18,223), ‘LazzyHyena’ (Won ₹50K GTD Sundown Adda for ₹12,852), and ‘jumbotoppair1988’ (Won ₹50K GTD Morning Adda for ₹12,718) won the other Thursday marquees on Adda52.

Pocket52

Pocket Magnets – ₹6.50 Lakhs GTD

Buy-in – ₹3,300

Entries – 137

Re-entries – 113

Prize Pool – ₹7,17,500

Places Paid – 27

Thursday night was a high-octane spectacle as heavy hitters gathered for Pocket52’s ₹6.50 Lakhs GTD Pocket Magnets. The 8 PM flagship drew a spirited crowd of 137 players (250 total entries), turning the event into a festive frenzy where everyone aimed to kickstart their 2025 poker journey with a bang!

Leading the charge was none other than Ankit ‘Ankit-W’ Wadhawan, the #5 finisher in the 2023 Player of the Year standings. Known for his winning streaks, November saw Wadhawan dominate the tables with at least four title wins, three podium finishes, and multiple final table appearances. December saw Wadhawan spreading even more holiday cheer, making deep runs like it was no one else’s business. Runner-up in WPT#9 Warm-Up, final tables in WPT#15 (7-Max) Turbo, WPT#55 SuperStack, and WPT#79 Premiere (PLO-6) – this guy was on a roll! He recently dashed his way to a second-place finish in PokerBaazi’s WTF and championed last Friday’s Adda52 Ferris Wheel as well.

True to form, the Chandigarh-based poker powerhouse unwrapped his first title of the new year, clinching ₹1.69 Lakhs—the third title of his Pocket52 career and his second-best score on the platform. He also posted a 35th-place finish in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹12,341, bringing his total haul for the day to over ₹1.81 Lakhs.

> 1st in Pocket52’s Pocket Magnets for ₹1,68,828

> 35th in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹12,341

Ankit Wadhawan’s online stats (excluding Pocket52, Natural8 India and Junglee Poker): Lifetime Winnings: ₹17.12 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹5.72 Crores

However, Wadhawan’s path to victory was not without its challenges. Arjun ‘ar86’ Raghani, eager to secure his second title on the platform, put up a valiant fight. Coming off a victory in November’s (7-Max) Deepstack Turbo, Raghani came agonizingly close to another win, ultimately finishing as the runner-up in the Pocket Magnets. Despite falling short of the top spot, he secured a platform-best score of ₹1.18 Lakhs, a significant step towards recovering nearly 30% of his previous losses on the site. Raghani’s Thursday night wasn’t limited to the Pocket Magnets; he also cashed in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance (10th for ₹18,274) and Adda52’s Bumper Car (17th for ₹3,315), bringing his total earnings for the day to over ₹1.40 Lakhs.

> 2nd in Pocket52’s Pocket Magnets for ₹1,18,459

> 10th in PokerBaazi’s Daily Last Chance for ₹18,274

> 17th in Adda52’s Bumper Car for ₹3,315

Arjun Raghani’s online stats (PokerBaazi, Adda52 and Spartan Poker): Lifetime Winnings: ₹1.55 Crores | Lifetime Profits: ₹78.36 Lakhs

The Pocket Magnets final table was brimming with talent, featuring big names like Tuesday’s Mechanical Bull champion Debneil ‘ShawnMichaels’ Mukherjee (3rd for ₹76,199), Young Gun Anmol ‘Anzzzzz’ Mehta (4th for ₹56,396), and last night’s (7-Max) Deepstack Turbo champion Vishal ‘darky012’ Ojha (8th for ₹22,530).

The ₹3,300 buy-in Pocket Magnets surpassed its listed ₹6.50 Lakhs guarantee by ₹67,500, delivering exceptional value. The top 27 finishers each received a minimum of ₹7,534 – more than double their buy-in! This kind of value, combined with the thrill of the competition, is what makes Pocket52 a haven for tournament grinders.

Final Table Results

1. Ankit ‘Ankit-W’ Wadhawan – ₹1,68,828
2. Arjun ‘ar86’ Raghani – ₹1,18,459
3. Debneil ‘ ShawnMichaels’ Mukherjee – ₹76,199
4. Anmol ‘Anzzzzz’ Mehta – ₹56,396
5. Abhay9939 – ₹42,333
6. M777 – ₹33,866
7. AK555 – ₹28,126
8. Vishal ‘darky012’ Ojha – ₹22,530

Vishal ‘darky012’ Ojha (Won ₹4 Lakhs GTD 7-Max Deepstack Turbo for ₹95,750), Jaikishan ‘royalking7424’ Janid (Won ₹1.20 Lakhs GTD Soda for ₹32,160), and ‘starbhai420’ (Won ₹80K GTD Brunch for ₹24,665) Thursday marquees on Pocket52.

Spartan Poker

Ambika ‘sonju’ Chowdhury (Won ₹2 Lakhs GTD Bullet for ₹44,400), ‘dawnjay143‘ (Won ₹1 Lakh GTD Monster Turbo for ₹22,200), and ‘fatkidpoker‘ (Won ₹1 Lakh GTD Monster Turbo for ₹22,200) won the Thursday marquees on Spartan Poker.

Keep following PokerGuru for daily updates on the biggest winners across the major domestic networks!