DPT Grand 2024: JD Bhaiya’s Victory Lap: Poker Veteran Jaydeep Dawer Snags Long-Awaited Maiden Live Title in ₹40K NLH Re-Entry (₹4.43 Lakhs)

The closing day of the Deltin Poker Tournament Grand was packed with intensity as three tournaments raced towards their grand finales at Casino Deltin Royale. And against the backdrop of the high-stakes DPT Grand Championship, another battle raged on the felt, and a veteran finally claimed his due! For years, Jaydeep Dawer (cover image), affectionately known as ‘JD Bhaiya,’ has been a driving force in the Indian poker scene. But one achievement remained elusive: a live tournament victory. That all changed at the DPT Grand.

Dawer’s dedication to poker transcends the role of a player; he’s a true ambassador for the game. As co-owner of the Gujarat Falcons in the Poker Sports League, a former poker room operator, and co-founder of The Indian Poker Series, he tirelessly contributed to the growth of poker in India, and now, his dedication has paid off. At the DPT Grand ₹40K NLH Re-Entry, Dawer stood victorious amongst a field of 36 entries, seizing his first-ever live title, the esteemed DPT gold medal, and a cash prize of ₹4.43 Lakhs after a three-way deal.

Nine warriors returned for Day 2 of the ₹40K NLH Re-Entry, each with their eyes on the prize. The tension was thick as they battled for poker supremacy. But one by one, they fell, until only three remained. With the stakes sky-high, the final three contenders opted for a strategic truce, ensuring each a substantial reward. Anand Babu, the ₹50K Freeze Out Championship fourth-place finisher, earned ₹3.24 Lakhs for his second-place finish. Anil “The Machine” Gulati, a well-known force at Casino Deltin Royale, locked up ₹2.63 Lakhs for third place. And for Jaydeep Dawer, the deal paved the way for his long-awaited victory.

Speaking on his maiden win, Dawer shared, “ It felt elated and surreal but I am still in search of that big one.”

Dawer’s run at the DPT Grand was remarkable. With a 17th-place finish in the ₹50K Freeze Out Championship for ₹1.19 Lakhs and a seventh-place payday of ₹68,674 in the ₹35K NLH Bounty, his total winnings reached an impressive ₹6.31 Lakhs.

The two-day event drew a small but formidable field, including Zarvan Tumboli and Young Gun Devang Yadav, poker room operator Bhavit Parekh, and online crusher Nandan Pugalia. The competition was fierce, but ultimately, only five players would reach the promised land of the money.

Milena Mezhuieva had already made her mark with a strong fifth-place finish in the ₹25K PLO 5 Bounty. She carried that momentum into the ₹40K NLH Re-Entry, battling her way through a tough field. But her impressive run came to an end just shy of the final table, bowing out in 10th place, marking the end of Day 1.

Returning to Day 2 were the nine finalists, led by chip leader Uday Kwatra, each one with eyes firmly set on the title.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Uday Kwatra – 326,500
2. Jaydeep Dawer – 298,500
3. Deepak Agarwal – 258,500
4. Arun Punjabi – 197,500
5. Anand Babu Pallikona – 185,000
6. Gaurav Idnani – 171,000
7. Gaurav Sood – 164,000
8. Vishrant Goyal – 111,500
9. Anil Gulati – 91,500

Final Table Recap

Young Gun Gaurav Sood, the online crusher and three-time Player of the Year, entered the final table with a below-average stack, and unfortunately, his run ended early. He moved all-in with and needed help against Anil Gulati’s . The board, however, had other plans, delivering and sending Sood to the rail in ninth place.

The action continued with a clash between Arun Panjabi and Anand Babu. Panjabi’s faced off against Babu’s , and the board gave Babu top pair, eliminating Panjabi in eighth place.

Anand Babu was on a roll, and his next victim was Deepak Agarwal. Babu raised to 22,000 from the button, and Agarwal, in the small blind, shoved all-in for 70,000 with . Babu snap-called with , and the board ran out , giving Babu two pair and sending Agarwal out in seventh.

The tension mounted as the bubble approached. After two levels of intense play, Uday Kwatra, who started the final table as the chip leader but saw his stack dwindling, found himself in a blinds-versus-blinds battle with Anand Babu. Babu shoved all-in with , and Kwatra called for his tournament life with . The dealer revealed the board: . Babu flopped trips, bursting the bubble and eliminating Kwatra in sixth place.

Vishrant Goyal, the ₹40K Megastack Hyper Turbo runner-up, was the first in-the-money finish, falling in fifth place. Jaydeep Dawer opened with a raise to 32,000 from under the gun, and Goyall called from the big blind. The flop came , and Goyal moved all-in for 94,000 with . Dawer instantly called with , putting Goel at risk. Goel was ahead with a pair of threes, but Dawer had flush outs. The turn changed nothing, but the on the river completed Dawer’s flush, sending Goel packing.

Dawer continued his surge, eliminating Gaurav Idnani, the ₹40K Megastack Hyper Turbo finalist, in fourth place in the next level. Dawer raised to 50,000 from the button, and Idnani shoved all-in for 540,000 with . Dawer called with , and the board ran out . Dawer’s king kicker played, ending Idnani`s run.

With three players remaining, Anand Babu, Anil Gulati, and Jaydeep Dawer agreed to a deal, though the specifics were not reported.

Anil Gulati was the next to fall. He moved all-in for 216,000 from the button with , and Babu called from the small blind with . The board came , giving Babu a set of tens and eliminating Gulati in third place.

The heads-up duel between Anand Babu and Jaydeep Dawer was a tense affair, spanning two levels. But in the end, Dawer reigned supreme.

The final hand saw Babu raise to 60,000 from the button, and Dawer called from the big blind. The flop came . Babu bet 40,000, and Dawer, sensing his opportunity, shoved all-in. Babu called, putting himself at risk.

Anand Babu

Jaydeep Dawer

Dawer was ahead with a pair of nines, and the on the turn improved his hand to trips. The river was inconsequential, and Jaydeep Dawer, “JD Bhaiya,” claimed his maiden live title with a triumphant flourish!

Complete Payouts (INR)

1. Jaydeep Dawer – ₹4,43,310.37*
2. Anand Babu – ₹3,23,676.19*
3. Anil Gulati – ₹2,62,895.44*
4. Gaurav Idnani – ₹1,31,419
5. Vishrant Goyal – ₹98,699

*denotes a three-way deal

Content & Images Courtesy: Poker Pro News and Adda52