First Live Tournament Series Since Lockdown Announced: DPT Xpress Set to Run From March 11-14 at Deltin Royale

It’s been almost a year since a major live tournament series was held in Goa, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted what promised to be a golden year for live poker.

With the vaccination campaign already underway in India, we have wondered when live tournaments would be making a comeback. Well, the wait seems to be finally over. Deltin Royale has taken the initiative by announcing the first live series since the lockdown last year, its low-mid stakes series Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) Xpress.

Touted to be “India’s Most Buzzing Poker Tournament,” DPT Xpress is slated to run from March 11 to 14, onboard the floating Deltin Royale in Goa. The series has traditionally featured a four-event schedule spread across five days headlined by a two-day-long Main Event. This edition will also be following the same format.

The last DPT Xpress series ran from February 27 to March 1, 2020, and was the last live event before the lockdown.

DPT Xpress 2021 Schedule

Just like previous DPTX editions, the upcoming series will run four tournaments. The star attraction will most definitely be the ₹15,000 entry buy-in Main Event that kicks off on March 13. The Main Event comprises two starting flights, with Day 2 slated for March 14.

> Day 1A – March 13 at 5 PM
> Day 1B – March 13 at 9 PM
> Day 2 – March 14 at 5 PM

DPT Xpress 2021 Satellite Schedule

Satellites for the upcoming series have been running on Adda52 since February 26 and will continue until March 10.

The DPT Xpress 2021: What to Expect!

PokerGuru had a quick chat with the Business Head of Poker at Deltin Royale, Manish J. Adnani. Keeping in mind that the pandemic is still at large, Adnani assured us that strict safety precautions are being maintained onboard all three Delta Corp. vessels currently anchored on the Mandovi river. All the casino vessels have been operational since November.

“We have a strict entry procedure which is followed across all 3 vessels which we have been following since November 20,” Adnani said.

Talking about his expectations regarding the participation of players, given that many tournament regs might not be willing to travel to Goa under the prevailing circumstances, Adnani shared, “DPT Xpress serves as the learning ground for striving poker players. Given that we have not had a live event for almost a year, (I) am expecting between 75-100 players for the event, which will be a great start to the live poker environment.”

The Goa government had given the green light to casinos to reopen on November 1 last year. While there have been some hiccups along the way, Adnani revealed that the cash game scene has been steadily picking up over the past few months. “Cash games have been running since we opened on November 20. Surprisingly the no of tables and action has been quite amazing for both the vessels Deltin Royale and Deltin JAQK.”

The DPT Xpress: A Short Recap

The DPT Xpress was inaugurated in 2018 at the picturesque Deltin Denzong in Gangtok, Sikkim. Being the first-of-its-kind series, the inaugural edition was well-received, with Bhola Sharma championing the 67 entries in the ₹15K Main Event to win ₹3.40 Lakhs.

However, the second edition received a lukewarm response, with the ₹15K Main Event registering a slight dip with 63 entries. Ankit Jajodia championed the Main Event for ₹3.25 Lakhs.

The lack of attendance in the second edition prompted the series to shift its location to the coastal state of Goa. The third edition took place at the Deltin JAQK, and the results were immediately visible. The center of attraction, the ₹15K Main Event, registered its largest-ever field of 205 entries. MTT specialist Anant Purohit clinched his career-first live title in the Main Event, pocketing ₹7.40 Lakhs in prize money.

The fourth edition, which took place early last year, witnessed healthy participation. Though the ₹15K Main Event wasn’t able to surpass the record set by its predecessor, it still managed to register a commendable 192 entries. Deepak Raina took down the event, claiming his third live title and second DPT Xpress title, along with an impressive ₹7 Lakhs in prize money.

DPT Xpress 2020 List of Winners

There is no doubt that the 2021 DPT Xpress will act as a litmus test for India’s live tournament scene. The turnouts at the series will likely decide how soon the other brands bring back their respective live events.

This article has been updated with the 2021 DPT Xpress Schedule on 9.03.21.

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the 2021 DPT Xpress!