Heads-Up With the First-Ever PokerBaazi EndBoss Champion – Abhishek Maheshwari

Heads-Up With Abhishek Maheshwari
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  • Attreyee Khasnabis April 21, 2020
  • 8 Minutes Read

The story of how Chris Moneymaker converted a $86 satellite ticket into a $2.5 Million windfall at the 2003 WSOP Main Event is now poker folklore. While it is an inspiring story, reality dictates that it was a one-off thing. If that is what you were thinking as well, then think again. In the wee hours on April 20, history repeated itself when a recreational player Abhishek Maheshwari (cover image) championed India’s biggest online tournament to-date, PokerBaazi’s EndBoss ₹5 Crores GTD, becoming the first player to win ₹1 Crore on a domestic platform!

The latest trend of lesser-known, recreational, or even amateurs shipping flagship tournaments, has been quite a revelation. Mahima Walia Das and Saurabh Rohila, both of whom won Spartan Poker’s Millionaire flagship recently, are prime examples here.

Even though Maheshwari is a recreational player, he is still well-versed with the fundamental concepts of the game since he has been playing poker from when he was in high school. He has dabbled in both live and online poker before, although this was his first online title and what an incredible win it was!

To many, it may seem like this 27-year-old Pune based player just got lucky. But the truth is, while ‘lady luck’ was undoubtedly on his side, he gave it all he had to clinch the EndBoss title! At a time when the online felts are packed with pros, it definitely takes more than just luck to take down a tournament of such magnitude. In fact, he even candidly admitted that he still needs to improve his gameplay further.

This Pune University graduate, who is currently in the process of setting up a food pulp business, is proof that if you believe in yourself, no mountain is too high to scale. Obviously elated at the life-changing score, Maheshwari intends to generously donate 10% of his winnings towards the COVID-19 relief efforts.

We had an engaging telephonic conversation with Maheshwari, where we talked about his introduction to poker, his EndBoss journey, and even his dream of winning the WSOP Main Event someday. Here are the excerpts of the chat.

 

Hi Abhishek! Congratulations on winnings the EndBoss! This was India’s most massive tournament to-date. How does it feel to win such a prestigious tournament and that too for an eight-figure cash prize?

I don’t think I can truly express how I felt after winning the tournament! I could not believe my eyes, and I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was going to puke. And at that time, Varun (Varun Ganjoo) called me and I told me I couldn’t believe what had happened. I wasn’t able to sleep till 10 in the morning, and yeah, it was some experience. A life-changing day is what you can say!

 

Before we get into the details of what transpired on Sunday night, let’s start at the beginning. Can you tell us when and how were you first introduced to poker?

I started playing poker during my school days when I was in the 11th or 12th standard and was introduced to it through one of my juniors. We used to play small house games. Before that, I used to watch my relatives playing Teen Patti during family functions.

 

When did you start playing online poker? What were your experiences like?

I came to know about online poker when I was in college. I heard that one of the sites was giving a sign-up bonus, so I started with that. I converted ₹25 to ₹500 or ₹750 rupees. So, I was pretty happy that time and then I lost it all. After that, I didn’t play much. This happened in 2016. But we used to play house games once or twice a year.

Then another friend of mine, he started playing very low stakes on Adda52, like 10/20 and 5/10. So, I deposited ₹500 and started playing on Adda52. That did not go well for 2-3 months. Then there was a tournament called Poison or something, and in that tournament, I stood fourth for ₹60K. So that was my first biggest win. Before yesterday, that was my biggest win in poker.

I finished ITM in a few tournaments where I made, ₹15K or ₹20K or something like that. I used to play cash games also, I used to sometime earn or lose. Whatever profits I made, I used to lose them all and then had to play from my own pocket. I think I have over ₹200K in winnings on Adda52 in tournament winnings. My screen name was Biluph on Adda.

I also won a satellite for WPT that was happening in Goa on Adda52. So that was another big thing for me. I went there, it was a ₹50K buy-in event. I got out in the third hand that I played where my Ace-King ran into Aces. WPT did not go so well. Then I played a few cash games at the Deltin casino. I got out with a profit of around ₹20K or something like that. Then I partied with my friends in Goa.

 

How did you find out about the EndBoss? Tell us about your journey from Day 1D till the end.

A friend of mine plays on PokerBaazi, and he told me that PokerBaazi is organizing some good tournaments, and you should look into it. I got to know from an advert that PokerBaazi was organizing a ₹5 Crores guaranteed tournament. I thought, ok, I should give it a shot. Then I came to know about this offer that if you deposit ₹5K, then you get a ticket to the satellite, where you dont have to pay ₹11,000. So, I deposited that, played the satty and made it to the final 35.

They were paying the top 35 places a seat to the event. So, I got a ticket to Flight 1D of the EndBoss. I think I ended Day 1D with a stack of 1.5 Lakhs. 5/6 hands before that I had 2.5 Lakhs, but one hand didn’t go so well, and a player got a double-up through me, and I ended up with a stack of 1.5 Lakhs.

I was mentally prepared for Day 2. I have been meditating for the last 6-7 months. I think that has helped a lot on this journey. Yesterday, I had this clear mindset that I am going to do my best no matter what, and I am not going to tilt, and that is all. I am going to keep my calm, and I am going to act accordingly. I am not going to look at the previous hand and just focus on the current hand. Usually, what happens is I am distracted a lot. So, between hands, I would go out to read the news or something like that. But yesterday, I decided that I am going to be focused and be observing every player like how they are playing, what they are betting, how much they are raising, when they are raising, what positions they are playing. And then, I decided after mapping up the table that I am going to target this person, and as the table kept changing, my strategies also kept changing.

I tried not to go all-in and play the best without having to risk my entire stack. That was my primary strategy. I think I got lucky a few times. Though luck is not a major factor, at least 10% of it matters. In fact, in tournament poker, it matters a lot, 20% or more. I don’t remember those hands, but one hand I clearly remember, I was on the final table, it was nines v/s tens all-in, and I hit my nine!

I did not expect that I was going to win it, I was just focused on playing well, and I was expecting a rather small payout because my stack was not so much. So, I was expecting a payout of ₹50,000 and not more than that. Then as the game progressed, I decided to go step by step, I adjusted my plays according to the next pay jump, so I was playing according to that. I think from the 53rd place they paid ₹1 Lakh or more, so I tried to get into the top 50 first. So, I played in a certain way that I get into the top 50, In fact, I folded king-queen and ace-jack under-the-gun which I would never do, but then I had to fold them as other players on the table had 9 or 12 big blinds, so if they went all-in and I had to fold then that would have been a waste of chips. So, I played very rationally yesterday and played my positions pretty well.

I think what helped me a lot is the support. I believe the support that I got from my friends and all, they were very supportive, and they were like give it your best, and we know that you have it in you and you concentrate and all. I think that helped a lot in staying focused and giving my best.

 

You were the third shortest stack at the start of the final table – what was your strategy then? And how did it change throughout the final table?

On the final table, I saw that there were 2-3 players behind me, and I applied the same strategy of looking at pay jumps and playing accordingly. I saw the numbers, and it was ₹8 to ₹10 Lakhs to ₹12.5 to ₹15 lakhs. That was the kind of money I had never made in poker. Even the difference in the pay jumps was something I had never earned in poker. I tried to stay calm and positive, and unless I had 12-15 big blinds, I was not looking to go all-in, and it worked out pretty well.

 

You had a roller-coaster final table journey where you managed to double up several times but also kept losing large pots to get short stacked a few times. Considering the massive pay jumps, what was your mental state and strategy during all those huge pots?

There were a lot of ups and downs. There was this user ‘kedar’ and in one hand, he moved all-in with queen-five, and I called with ace-jack. He hit two pairs on the river, and after that hand, I just tried to calm myself that it’s ok, this is poker.

Another great thing was that a lot of players were supporting me on the final table chat. I was the only amateur on the final table. I was reading the chat sometimes during the final table and saw that a lot of players were supporting me. So that gave me a lot of confidence.

I also told in the chat that I was playing on PokerBaazi for the first time. I tried to ask them how I can deal because I wanted to make a deal and lock up ₹40-₹50 Lakhs through the deal. The best I did was that I listened to my intuition. I was observing everyone and I got a few intuitions from them. I caught a few spots. ‘Worm’ (Neel Joshi) was raising a lot, he kept opening. I went with my intuition at that time and went all-in with risk, and it turned out to be right.

You know that you will get bullied by the big stacks and the pros, so sometimes you have to give back. Every single pay jump was huge, and it was very important for me to hold my ground and not do anything stupid.

Abhishek Maheshwari

 

Heads-up, you started as a huge underdog (3:1) and got a double up with King seven to get almost even in stacks. You soon took over the chip lead. You gradually won enough pots to grab a 3:1 chip lead but then lost a huge pot when Neel Joshi hit the miracle nine on the river. How did you process the massive swings, and did ICM pressure ever get to you, especially since no deals were allowed on the FT?

During the heads up, everything was happening so fast, and we did not play heads-up for more than 5 mins. I decided that I will not let this guy bully me as I had nothing to lose. I entered the tournament to make ₹40-₹50K and went with my intuition.

 

What do you plan to do with the prize money?

Now that I have got the bankroll that a lot of people wish for, I am going to be very smart about it and talk to a lot of people who have managed this kind of money. I am also going to talk to a lot of people in the poker circuit and take guidance from them about bankroll management. In general, I have an idea of what to do about the finances, but in poker, I will need help.

 

Was this your first poker win? What were your initial reactions after you realized that you had won the tourney?

Yes, this was my first title. Everyone was very excited. Few of my family members were aware of my poker scene, but a lot of them thought that I was just gambling, you know how people are. I didn’t tell many people as I am superstitious, and things do no go well when I tell people that I am playing tournaments. This time I decided that I am not going to tell a lot of people. I am not usually that superstitious, but this time I kind of acted that way because the fourth-place ₹60K win time I had not told my family before, but after the win, I had told them.

 

Has this win motivated you to take poker more seriously?

Yeah, definitely. I think I was already taking poker seriously, but my family wasn’t. They thought it was just gambling as they don’t think poker is a sport. We don’t realize that it’s not a game of luck, it’s a game of skill.

I think 90% of people in India don’t know about this. Now my family understands that what I do is serious. Poker has always been a passion, and since we were children, we used to play Teen Patti just to see how our luck was that day. I usually play a lot of card games with my friends and family and it has always been entertaining for me. Poker became a passion when I started to understand the game that there is a much deeper thing going here. I started watching Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu and realized that they aren’t playing cards, they are playing the other person. That’s how I got a hold of it, and that’s how it all started. I watch almost everything that is there on the internet.

And my passion for poker is such that I don’t get bored even after watching it at a stretch for 12 hours. I may forward a few bits, but I try to observe everything.

 

Tell us about the reaction of your family and friends once they came to know of the win.

My mom has been very supportive. She has told me to do my thing, I know you will do something great and all, like how Indian moms are. My mom is very supportive, I must say.

My friends could not believe what I was saying, and I had to send the screenshot of my winnings to make them believe that bro it has really happened. Everyone was overwhelmed, and no one could understand what had happened. Many of my family members don’t know that poker is becoming so huge in India now. So, when I told them that I have won ₹1 Crore in poker, they could not believe it.

I called my close friends and my brother after the win and called my mother in the morning at six. I have two sisters. I called them in the morning. Everyone is like after the lockdown we want a party, and I said sure man for sure. I also plan to send gifts to all of them. And even before the tournament had started, I had decided that I would donate 10% of my winnings to the COVID-19 relief fund. I did not know that I will make so much money I thought I will win ₹50,000 or something and I would happily donate 10%. Now, this is good that the charity will get a lot.

I don’t want to upset the gods that have showered at me. This I had decided before the tournament started, that if I win some money, I will donate because I am sitting at home doing nothing. I have been reading news about what is happening in the country, and a lot of people are hungry and all, so I wanted to do something for them also. I think this is an excellent opportunity that God has given me to do something.

Abhishek Maheshwari With His Mother
Abhishek Maheshwari With His Mother

 

What and how have things changed for you personally/professionally/ financially after such a massive score?

Right now, respect has changed for what I am doing in my family’s eyes. I feel that they are satisfied. And it has been only one day, so I can’t say what has changed much.

 

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought the live poker scene to a standstill, while the online domain has witnessed a tremendous spike in attendance. How has the COVID-19 lockdown affected you, both in terms of your daily life and your grinding routine? Did the lockdown have anything to do with the win, or would you have played the EndBoss regardless?

Lockdown has really affected my life since I am an outgoing guy and don’t like to stay home much. But I am taking this lockdown very seriously and not going out. Just watching a lot of series and a lot of poker as well. I was recently watching Charlie Carrel’s bankroll challenges. If you really want to learn poker then there is a lot of material available on the internet for free but one thing that is required is the passion for poker. If you don’t have the passion, you can’t watch something for 12 hours straight, you need some drive.

These big events give you an opportunity to get back the money that you have lost or sometimes just make a lot of money. I am more of a tournament player and don’t play much cash. I like it when there is an ending and a trophy at the end or something. So, that is really mesmerizing for me. I really wish I received a trophy for this. I don’t want to be greedy, though. A trophy is a constant reminder that you can do better in life and can achieve more things.

 

When the COVID-19 is eventually resolved, and the live scene is back on track, do you intend to participate in live tournaments? If yes, would you ever consider going to international stops, maybe even attending the WSOP at some point?

WSOP has been the dream since I started taking poker seriously. I wish to play the WSOP Main Event and win it also. I might attend WSOP the next time.

 

Any parting words or anything you would like to mention.

The poker scene in India is continuously growing, and I am very glad to see that a lot of people are coming out and taking poker seriously. I want this stigma of gambling to leave poker, and I want people to realize that it’s a sport and a game of skill. In the US, people have already realized this. I used to watch Doyle Brunson, and the game has improved so much since then. The Moneymaker (Chris Moneymaker) Effect completely changed it, and the poker boom happened.

One thing I want to communicate to everyone is not to gamble here. If you’re going to play poker, learn the art, and actually watch other people play, understand, get a hold of it and then start playing. Just don’t come and go all-in on random cards as I have done that. If anyone is looking to get into poker, they should really learn the game, watch a lot of online stuff, there is Master Class by Daniel Negreanu and Phil Ivey. Just don’t get into this for gambling, don’t give poker a bad name. Learn the art first, and it will be better for your bankroll!

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