Heads-Up With IPC ₹35K Main Event Champion – Raj Talwar

Raj Talwar - IPC 35K Main Event Champion
  • Profile picture
  • Attreyee Khasnabis September 17, 2019
  • 5 Minutes Read

One of the most historic weeks for Indian poker came to a close on September 15 with the conclusion of the comeback series of the India Poker Championship. While the series was a memorable one for many, the one person who will fondly remember this landmark series for years to come is the IPC ₹35K Main Event champion – Raj Talwar (cover image).

Born in Delhi, Talwar was bitten by the poker bug while pursuing his MBA. His poker resume dates back to 2011 when he scored his first-ever ITM finish in the ₹5K NLHE Rebuy event at the India Poker Series, finishing runner-up for ₹2.20 Lakhs. That was quite an impressive way to open one’s poker scorecard. However, for quite some time, Talwar was caught in a loop, always coming within striking distance of the title, but never winning. Between 2011 to 2017, Talwar picked up four runner-up finishes and one third-place finish. His poker resume was reminiscent of the phrase – ‘Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.’

Following 2017, Talwar was notably missing from the live tournament scene. He came out of the shadows once again and finally claimed his career-first live title in the IPC ₹35K Main Event! While it was perhaps the most significant achievement of his poker career thus far, it was no easy feat to accomplish. Battling it out against the largest-ever field of 777 entries, Talwar was cool as a cucumber as he made his way through to the nine-handed final table as one of the shorter stacks. Two hands that took place early into the final table were decisive in turning the tide in his favor. The first was the king-four v. queen-jack hand that he won against Pulkit Goyal and the other was a hand where his pocket fives won him a pot against Ashish Ahuja.

Talwar had stated in the presentation ceremony that he had been working very hard on his game, and it seems like the hard work has finally paid off. Just like the IPC, Talwar too made an epic comeback, not only winning his first-ever live title, but also adding a career-best ₹49.25 Lakhs to his bankroll!

A passionate poker player, Talwar credits his family for being one of the primary reasons behind his success. A dedicated family man, Talwar assists his father with their family business while also working on his poker game. He got hitched to his college sweetheart in 2012 and is now the proud father of a beautiful one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. “My family has immensely supported me for poker. Poker is my passion, and I am thankful to them to help me fulfill my dreams. To say I’ve had a fortunate life so far would be a grave understatement,” he proudly said.

With such a loving and supportive family by his side, Talwar is all set to participate in more tournaments in the coming days.

PokerGuru caught up with the latest poker sensation, and in a candid conversation, Talwar spoke to us about his experiences at the IPC, his introduction to poker and his views on the evolving poker scene in the country.

 

Congratulations Raj on taking down the biggest Main Event in the country to date. It’s a cliché question, but how does it feel?

[Laughs] Why are you even asking that! I’ll answer that anyways because the feeling is incredible and so overwhelming. There was an adrenaline rush throughout the game. The feeling is like having slogged your life to achieve that one moment where you know you are the best, and there is nobody who could defeat you or hold you back from winning at that particular point. The hours of practice have finally paid off. If I could word the feeling I am getting right now, it would be – ‘the feeling of a king.’

 

This was a significant score and incidentally your first live title. You have finished runner-up more than a couple of times; it should feel nice to finally get the monkey off your back. Views?

Yeah, I have finished in second and third place a couple of times earlier. But achieving the top spot is much better than being high on alcohol or any other drug. It’s like tripping on something you don’t even know!

 

You burst onto the live poker scene back in July 2011 when you registered your first cash at the India Poker Series. You were pretty active till 2014 on the live circuit but then went somewhat MIA (missing-in-action) with your last recorded score in 2017. What were you up to all this time?

Working on winning the biggest IPC ! I was also working on my online games. Mostly Pot-Limit Omaha. So, as I have already mentioned that cash games are my first priority, but after winning this event, I suddenly feel like I should play all the major tournaments whenever possible.

 

Speaking about poker, tell us how you got introduced to the game.

Well, I am about 16 years old in this field. We started with a small group of friends playing poker. I always liked card games, and when I first came across poker, it was impossible for it to not to be my favorite game. I also played on the Facebook app in the beginning. I really enjoyed playing live. Following that, I studied and started playing on online sites and other live games. I’ve been grinding ever since!

 

What does your typical day look like and where and how does poker fit in it?

Ah! I am not an early riser. But my work begins the moment I wake up. I hit the gym post-lunch and then have some family time or maybe an outing with friends. Post that, I go online and begin poker again, playing, studying, grinding till late night or you can say early morning!

 

Tell us about your experience at the recent IPC series. It turned out to be a record-breaking series that was making a comeback after four years – similar to you!

After waiting for many years, it was finally time! I couldn’t wait to be a part of this event. The IPC was the biggest event that has happened to date. And who doesn’t want to be a part of an event where they’ve roped Dan Bilzerian in!

It was a great trip where I got to reconnect with a lot of people and also meet some new friends. I was fortunate enough to befriend some other poker players whom I thought had much better skill sets than I did at the tables and was able to probe their minds. I can count on one hand the number of people I actually trust to give me constructive, sound criticism and advice when it comes to poker, so to have close friends and of course my family, going into this year was amazing, to say the least. I felt empowered, almost like I had an army backing me going into this tournament.

And a big thumbs up to the hospitality team and the entire staff of Big Daddy for culminating world-class experience for the guests while continually harping on the importance of luxury delivered with ease.

Raj Talwar
Raj Talwar

What prompted you to come to the IPC and what all events did you play at the series?

I was confident this time to make a mark at the IPC. My family’s support is what gave me that extra push! I came here a day before the Main Event. I played cash games to get into the grind. And then I directly went on to play the Main Event.

 

Coming to the Main Event – take us through your preparation – any set strategy?

We all have the ability to learn different strategies to help us perform at our peak in high-pressure situations. Whether you’re about to give a speech to a crowded room, or you’ve only got five minutes to close the biggest deal of your career, your performance depends significantly on how you feel when you enter into the situation. So, there was no set strategy at first. I just went with the flow.

 

You pretty much kept a low profile on Day 1 and were 7/9 at the start of the final table. Take us through that journey – from small stack to the title!

Yeah. I was below the average stack. But we always perform better when put under pressure. When we’re in a challenge state, we’re able to put in more effort to perform better. To get through such a state, the key is to increase levels of self-confidence, perceptions of control, and focus on success. I did precisely the same thing, and the rest is history!

 

It couldn’t have been easy since they were quite a few sickos in the running like Dhaval Mudgal & Ashish Ahuja. What in your opinion was the turning point for you?

No, it wasn’t easy at all! They’re poker pros too and definitely not new to IPC and other big tourneys. Every finalist who got busted was a new turning point for me! It just gave me more confidence and of course, more pressure.

 

This win has come with a significant bankroll boost. Can we expect some of these winnings going into more live tournaments soon? There is the Baazi Poker Tour followed by WPT Indian coming up next month plus there are a couple of high-value Asian stops too slated for later this year. What`s your plan for this latest Rs 49.25 Lakhs credit in your bank account?

To survive in this game, you need a good bankroll. I am definitely looking forward to the live tournaments that are coming up soon.

 

You gifted the Seven Friday wristwatch you won with the title to your heads-up opponent Ayush Garg. Can we ask why?

The most important thing about winning the IPC is not only the cash reward that you get. It’s also the prestigious trophy that is presented to you. The trophy is a symbol of recognition. And the sad part is that there is only one of it. The 1st runner up gets a participation certificate along with the cash. Besides being a good player, Ayush [Garg] seemed very down to earth. Not to forget every person who reached this level has something in them!

 

Poker in India has come a long way in the last few years. You have been part of the industry for some time now and have even been an active poker affiliate. Share your views on this growth story as well as what you feel needs to be done to accelerate the growth.

Poker is a fast-growing game in the county today, be it between a group of collegegoers, a bunch of colleagues, or on the Internet. The poker circuit in the country has proliferated in the last couple of years, and tournament poker seems to have stolen the limelight. Apart from the money on offer, the skills, technique, and satisfaction that come with maneuvering one’s way and finishing on top of a field of extremely competitive poker players is something that every poker player enjoys.

This tournament not only created a stir in the poker industry but stood as a benchmark for tournament poker and proof of the growing popularity that the game enjoys today.

Poker was once looked upon as gambling. But the awareness created by the media now looks at poker as a game of skill!

 

Any parting words?

It’s not about the cards you’ve been dealt, it’s how you play your hand! If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you. So, think creatively, play smart, bluff boldly, bet precisely, raise fiercely, call casually, WIN CONFIDENTLY!

 

And with those truly wise words, Talwar signs off!

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