Online Rankings: Tarun Goyal Leads on ALL Fronts Just 10 Days Before His POY Coronation!

In this feature, we bring you to the top three weekly, monthly, and yearly performers every Sunday. These rankings are based on cumulative winnings (cashes). However, the rankings only include players registered to our online ranking system, so hurry up and register if you haven’t signed up on PokerGuru yet!

The year 2024 has rewritten the script for Indian poker. Records weren’t just broken—they were obliterated. Milestones weren’t simply reached—they were surpassed in ways no one saw coming. And now, with only ten days left before the highly anticipated Player of the Year (POY) crowning, the stakes have never been higher. While the top spot seems untouchable, the battle for the remaining leaderboard positions is anything but over. The competition is relentless, making this year’s POY race one of the most hotly contested in Indian poker history.

This year has seen prize pools soar to unprecedented heights, fueled by a wave of enthusiasm and determination across the community. The GST hurdles may have thrown a curveball, but they didn’t slow anyone down. Instead, players doubled down, pushing Indian poker into an entirely new league.

A major force behind this surge has been platforms like PokerBaazi and Natural8 India. These giants have delivered tournaments that go beyond the usual grind, offering experiences that have captivated players and fans alike. From massive guarantees to expertly crafted structures, they’ve created opportunities that players have seized with both hands.

And it’s not just about the prize pools anymore. With the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) finally recognizing poker as a “mind sport,” the game now carries a weight of legitimacy and respect that players have long advocated for. Indian poker is no longer just about passion—it’s a mind sport that demands strategy, discipline, and skill.

Tonight, PokerBaazi takes center stage with the conclusion of the ₹35 Crores GTD WPT India Online, a series that has already delivered unforgettable moments. The high-stakes finale promises to be nothing short of spectacular, with players looking to make one last push to climb the POY rankings.

And let’s not count out Natural8 India, whose lineup of marquee events could still shake things up. The fight to break into the top 20 is fierce, and every chip matters as players navigate these final critical days.

At the center of it all stands Tarun Goyal, whose performance this year has left little doubt about his place at the pinnacle. As we count down the days to his coronation, the focus now shifts to who will join him in the limelight. The leaderboard has been anything but static, and the drama continues to build as players leave it all on the tables.

Tarun Goyal: A Poker Phenomenon Redefining the Game

What a year it’s been for Indian poker! We’ve seen some incredible plays and unbelievable wins, but one name keeps rising to the top: Tarun Goyal. This former IT professional turned poker superstar has been absolutely crushing it, and he just pulled off a move that’s got everyone talking.

Last Sunday, Goyal turned an ordinary day into something extraordinary on Natural8 India. He was already a WSOP bracelet winner and a record-breaker, but this time, he practically guaranteed himself the Player of the Year (POY) crown in the most spectacular way imaginable.

Picture this: Goyal is competing in the ₹2.75 Lakhs buy-in Mystery Millions Online 2750. He finishes 97th out of 2,185 entries, which is respectable, but not exactly earth-shattering. But then, the magic happens. He pulls a ₹5 Crores mystery bounty! That’s right, five crores! It’s the largest online score ever by an Indian player, and it boosted his total winnings in the event to an unbelievable ₹5.05 Crores.

This incredible feat not only made him the undisputed MVP of Sunday but also solidified his reputation as a fearless player who thrives when the stakes are high. His winnings have reached heights that no one even dared to dream of before. This latest windfall catapulted his annual earnings to a jaw-dropping ₹12.37 Crores (with annual profits of ~₹10 Crores). And get this – he’s won a staggering ₹11.74 Crores on Natural8 India alone!

By crossing the ₹12 Crores milestone and achieving his fifth eight-figure score of the year, Goyal has rewritten the record books. He’s established a legacy that will be incredibly hard to match.

But here’s the thing: Goyal isn’t just some one-hit wonder. He’s been consistently dominating the scene for the last four months. He led the pack in August and September, stayed strong in October, and held his own in November with a seventh-place finish. We all thought his trip to Las Vegas for the WPT World Championship in December would slow him down, but we were wrong. He just rose to the top of both the monthly and weekly leaderboards with a stunning tally of ₹5.06 Crores (Monthly/Weekly profits ~ ₹5 Crores).

Neel Joshi: The Maverick Carving His Own Path

Young Gun Neel Joshi has dominated the Indian poker scene throughout the year, but Tarun Goyal’s recent surge may have jeopardized Joshi’s chances at the Player of the Year (POY) title.

The PokerStars India Ambassador boasts impressive stats: ₹5.94 Crores in winnings and ₹3.76 Crores in profit. However, instead of chasing the POY title, Joshi chose to test his skills at EPT Prague, focusing on building his live poker reputation.

Despite this, underestimating Joshi would be a mistake. He has been a dominant force on Natural8 India, with ₹5.08 Crores in winnings and 15 seven-figure finishes. Rumors suggest he is also finding success on platforms not currently tracked in the rankings. However, with Goyal’s significant lead, Joshi’s POY dreams appear to be fading. Anant Purohit’s rise also puts Joshi’s #2 spot in jeopardy.

Anant Purohit: The Silent Assassin

While others seek the spotlight, Anant Purohit quietly accumulates wins and climbs the POY leaderboard. He has ascended to the #3 spot, radiating an aura of quiet confidence. With almost ₹5.54 Crores in winnings and approximately ₹4 Crores in profit, Purohit became the fourth player this year to surpass the ₹5 Crore earnings mark. Now, he sets his sights on the #2 POY spot, trailing by ₹40.11 Lakhs – a distance he can realistically cover in the remaining ten days!

Purohit’s rise is marked by remarkable consistency. He consistently dominates tournaments. This year has been his most successful yet, fueled by an explosive run on Natural8 India. Over the past three months, he has achieved six titles, eight podium finishes, and ten seven-figure scores, accumulating an astounding ₹4.26 Crores on the platform. His September victory in the Bounty Hunters HR Deepstack 525, where he won ₹84.61 Lakhs, exemplifies his remarkable performance.

The wins continue. After topping the November charts with ₹75.76 Lakhs in winnings, Purohit maintained his dominance in December. He topped the charts in the first week of the month with a victory in the Sunday Bounty King 320 and a strong finish in the Bounty Hunters HR Mystery Paradise 525. Just last week, he amassed ₹42.71 Lakhs (weekly profits – ₹32.37 Lakhs) in winnings, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in Natural8 India’s Bounty Hunters HR 525 for ₹20.04 Lakhs and a third-place finish in PokerBaazi’s WPT#67 Super HighRoller for ₹10.95 Lakhs. These results have secured his position at #2 on the monthly leaderboard with ₹79.64 Lakhs (monthly profit – ₹59.67 Lakhs).

Purohit lets his results speak for themselves. He is a master of consistency, a silent assassin who executes flawlessly. In a game filled with bravado, Purohit demonstrates the power of quiet confidence.

Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram: The Dark Horse Takes a Bow

Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram emerged from the shadows in mid-November, opting into the POY tracking and immediately claiming the #3 spot. However, Anant Purohit’s recent hot streak has bumped him down to #4.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Nishaanth took to social media to express his gratitude for an incredible year. He also announced that he would be stepping away from the virtual felts towards the end of the year for a well-deserved vacation. We wish him well and eagerly anticipate his return in 2025!

Looking back at 2024, Nishaanth’s achievements are truly impressive: ₹5.51 Crores in winnings and ₹4.42 Crores in profit. These numbers tell a story that has been unfolding for months.

In July, he made waves with a mind-blowing ₹1.97 Crores win at the Beijing Mystery Millions, a score that caught the attention of even the most seasoned players. He solidified his presence with a top-three finish on the November leaderboard. December saw him continue his strong performance, holding the fourth position for the first week and then dominating the second week to top both the weekly and monthly leaderboards.

Currently, he sits at #6 on the monthly leaderboard with ₹37.69 Lakhs (monthly profit – ₹32.03 Lakhs), thanks to a third-place finish in Natural8 India’s Bounty Hunters HR Mystery Paradise 525 for ₹27.60 Lakhs.

Advait Rajguru: The Youngest Force in the Top 5

Advait Rajguru, the young phenom and PokerGuru Staking coach, has been steadily climbing the ranks. This week, he finally broke into the top five of the Player of the Year race. With an impressive ₹4.35 Crores in annual winnings and ₹2.11 Crores in annual profits, Rajguru is a force to be reckoned with on the virtual felts. He also makes strategic live appearances, like his victory in Pocket52’s PSL Season 6 with the Deccan Aces and a strong showing in PokerBaazi’s The Circuit.

Rajguru has been a consistent performer throughout the year. Some of his top performances in 2024 include a career-best win in PokerBaazi’s IPM#57 Big Value (₹45.18 Lakhs) in August and a fourth-place finish in Natural8 India’s Daily Main Event 250 (₹12.39 Lakhs).

The Rest of the POY Top 10: A Galaxy of Poker Stars

The POY leaderboard is a showcase of the best and brightest in Indian poker. It features luminaries such as Sanjay Chaudhary (#6 with ₹4.28 Crores), WSOP bracelet winner Young Gun Aayush Arya (#7 with ₹4.24 Crores), Satyam Verma (#8 with ₹4.11 Crores), G.O.A.T. 2024 champion Kabir Chhatwal (#9 with ₹3.57 Crores), and Neeraj Sattawat (#10 with ₹3.49 Crores).

But the competition doesn’t stop there. Rajneesh Thakur, JaiKiran Kumar, Sashank Chakravarthy, Rising Star Aman Parakh, Mohak Kapoor (the annual TLB (points) leaderboard topper), Sagar Raj, three-time POY Young Gun Gaurav Sood, Shreyansh Sharma, Vinay B and Young Gun Ashwin Vijay are all waiting just outside the top ten, ready to make their move.

Avneesh Munjal: Riding the WPT Wave

Avneesh Munjal, fresh off his career-best victory at the APT Phu Quoc 2024 High Roller – Double Stack, is making waves on the December leaderboard. He currently holds the third position with ₹41.22 Lakhs (monthly profit – ₹32.98 Lakhs).

Munjal kicked off December with a podium finish in PokerBaazi’s WPT#3 Megastack (₹3.30 Lakhs). He followed that up with an impressive win in the WPT#31 Bounty Hunter (PKO), his best online win of the year, worth ₹14.54 Lakhs (his second-best online score ever). This marked his second WPT title (his first online!), adding to his previous victory at the 2023 WPT Prime Vietnam VN₫ 8.80 Million NLHE – WPT Opener.

But he didn’t stop there. Munjal continued his winning streak at the WPT India Online, taking home his third WPT title (his second online!) in the WPT#73 Bounty Hunter (KO) and raking in ₹11.37 Lakhs. These strong performances also propelled him to the fourth spot on last week’s leaderboard with ₹19.47 Lakhs (weekly profits – ₹15.58 Lakhs). It seems like Munjal has truly mastered the art of the WPT!

Other notable players on the December leaderboard include Pranay Chawla (#4 with ₹40.75 akhs), Ankit Wadhawan (#5 with ₹38.72 Lakhs), Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram (#6 with ₹37.69 Lakhs), Gaurav Sood (#7 with ₹24.46 Lakhs), Rahul Puroh t (#8 with ₹23.08 Lakhs), Satyam Verma (#9 with ₹22.13 Lakhs) and Nishant Kumar (#10 with ₹20.13 Lakhs).

Pranay Chawla: The WPT India Online Champion

Pranay Chawla, the former IPC ₹100K High Roller champion, is a familiar face in the winner’s circle. He has been a dominant force in the ongoing WPT India Online, which has earned him the third spot on the weekly leaderboard with ₹39.15 Lakhs in winnings (weekly profit – ₹31.32 Lakhs) and the #4 spot on the monthly leaderboard with ₹40.75 Lakhs in winnings (monthly profit – ₹32.52 Lakhs).

Chawla’s recent success includes back-to-back WPT trophies, with wins in the WPT#61 Mega Championship on Wednesday (₹15.23 Lakhs, his third-best career score) and WPT#67 Super HighRoller (₹19.06 Lakhs, his career-best score) on Thursday. He then completed a hat trick of WPT titles with a win in the WPT#72 Superstack (₹4.50 Lakhs) on Friday. Talk about a winning streak!

Other Weekly Leaderboard Heroes

The weekly leaderboard also features a number of other talented players, including Nishant Kumar (#5 with ₹18.62 Lakhs in weekly winnings), Rahul Purohit (#6 with ₹17.74 Lakhs in weekly winnings), Laksh Pal Singh (#7 with ₹16.86 Lakhs in weekly winnings), Utkarsh Vaish (#8 with ₹15.39 Lakhs in weekly winnings), Gaurav Sood (#9 with ₹13.56 Lakhs in weekly winnings) and Ashutosh Kumar (#10 wit ₹13.47 Lakhs in weekly winnings).\

Weekly Online Rankings (December 15 – December 21)

Monthly Online Rankings (December 1 – December 21)

Yearly Online Rankings (January 1 – December 21)

For a complete list of online rankings, check out our ‘Leaderboards’ page. If your name is not on our list, register and enter your screen names into your account to get ranked!