This Week in Poker: May 31 to June 6

In the PokerGuru feature, ‘This Week in Poker,’ we bring you the weekly roundup of the most significant online scores by Indian MTT players and the top stories from both the live and online poker circuits. Here are this week’s top stories!

The poker world has been abuzz with thrilling online and live action, and Team India has made their mark once again. The recently concluded APT Summer Series Hanoi witnessed an outstanding performance from the Indian contingent, with 30 cash finishes, including an impressive six final table finishes and two titles!

As the APT Summer Series Hanoi wrapped up, attention now turns to the grand stage of the 54th annual WSOP in Las Vegas. The world`s biggest poker festival has been running for ten consecutive days at the renowned Horseshoe and Paris in Las Vegas, drawing poker enthusiasts worldwide. The WSOP promises thrilling competition, massive prize pools, and unforgettable moments in the poker capital of the world.

On the online front, India Online Poker Championship (IOPC) 15.0, PokerStars India’s Summer Series 3.0, and PokerBaazi’s 1000X Series 4.0 have been keeping players on their toes with non-stop adrenaline-charged action.

Adding to this excitement, PokerBaazi`s EndBoss 4.0 playing down to a winner on Sunday. Boasting an incredible ₹5 Crores prize pool guarantee, the event attracted top-notch players vying for glory. Ultimately, Sanish Chhabra emerged as the victor, outshining a massive field of 4,822 entrants and securing a personal-best ₹46.33 Lakhs for the win following a four-way deal. As the week came to a close, Chhabra’s total earnings reached an impressive ₹53.41 Lakhs, cementing his position among the week`s top scorers.

Other EndBoss finalists who pocketed seven-figure winnings was the runner-up finisher Hanuman Patel, Rony Chowdhury, Hemant Padamwar, and Mohit Dhingra.

Rising Star Ritwik Khanna, Vishal Bajaj, Harshit Sanghi, IOPC #32 – Blaze finalists Kartikeya Yadav, and Himanshu Arora, The MoneyMaker 37.0 champion, are the week`s other top online scorers.

We also have news on attractive promotions happening this month. Pocket52 is offering a staggering ₹6.50 Crores in guaranteed prizes across tournaments, while Gamezy Poker invites players to join its June Jackpot Mission Rakeback promotion, with ₹26 Lakhs in rakeback rewards up for grabs. PokerDangal has launched the ₹5 Crores GTD Cash Drop promotion, and first-time depositing players on PokerMatch India can enjoy bonuses of up to ₹80,000.

Team India kept its sails high at the APT Summer Series Hanoi until the end. Six Indians cashed the Main Event, and headlining them was decorated 2019 APT Ho Chi Minh Main Event champion Akshay Nasa, who finished painfully close to the title. Nasa lost the bragging rights to Vietnam’s Dinh Duc Linh, who secured the victory, collecting his second APT trophy and the VN₫ 3.401 Billion top prize. Nasa secured a commendable VN₫ 2.116 Billion – the highest prize money achieved by an Indian player at the series and also the single-biggest score by an Indian this week. No surprises, then, that he is our “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”.

Ashish Munot rallied hot behind Nasa in the Indian scorecard at the APT Summer Series Hanoi, and also this week’s score-list. Munot was simply unstoppable – he placed third in the VN₫ 80 Million APT High Roller – 8 Max for a mind-blowing VN₫ 1.217 Billion. Munot was equally charged up in online tournaments and packed away scores worth ₹17.25 Lakhs, accumulating ₹60.03 Lakhs over the week!

The 54th annual WSOP is well underway at the iconic Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, delivering an unforgettable experience for players and fans. The quest for the coveted gold bracelet began with a flurry of excitement.

Throughout the week, a string of remarkable victories unfolded, etching the names of talented players into WSOP lore. Peter Thai, Cody “1eggadaymike” Bell, Alexandre Vuilleumier, Michael Moncek, Ronnie Day, Vadim Shlez, Ian “IanMa” Matakis, Chanracy Khun, Danny “Jackdaniels1Wong,” Joseph Altomonte, Jeremy Eyer, Brian Yoon, Tyler Brown, Kenneth O’Donnell, and Ryan “dna2rna” Hughes secured coveted bracelets.

Chad Eveslage emerged as a standout performer, capturing not one but two bracelets within days, starting with Event #5: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice (6-Handed) followed by a triumphant run Event #10: $10K Dealer’s Choice Championship. Nick Schulman showcased his mastery in Event #9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud to win his fourth career bracelet.

The Indian contingent has started making a notable impact at the WSOP. Dhruvin Kothari made his mark with a 167th-place finish in Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions for $6,300. Ankit Ahuja also showcased determination, securing an impressive 20th-place finish in Event #12: $5,000 Freezeout No Limit Hold’em, earning $22,077.

As WSOP 2023 unfolds, the global poker community eagerly anticipates more memorable victories.

Online Railbird Report

PokerBaazi’s ₹5 Crores EndBoss stole the limelight online this week. The fourth edition of the prestigious tournament witnessed an electrifying performance from Sanish Chhabra. With a staggering 4,822 entries competing for the coveted title, Chhabra showcased exceptional skill and strategic brilliance, eventually earning his place in the final table. He negotiated a four-way deal before locking in the victory, pocketing an impressive ₹46.33 Lakhs, his online-best score.

Chhabra’s weekly winnings reached an astounding ₹53.41 Lakhs, propelling him among the top online scorers of the week.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s EndBoss for ₹46,33,002

> 3rd in PokerStars India’s Summer Series-14 [Mini Main] for ₹2,46,819

> 7th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #7 Thursday Spotlight (Mid) for ₹70,279

> 54th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #31 – Blaze (High) for ₹68,000

Other EndBoss finalists, including runner-up finisher Hanuman Patel (2nd for ₹78.74 Lakhs), Rony Chowdhury (3rd for ₹48.66 Lakhs), Hemant Padamwar (4th for ₹36.37 Lakhs), and Mohit Dhingra (5th for ₹17.50 Lakhs) also bagged away massive scores.

Rony Chowdhury also cashed the (7-Max) BSS Championship (70th for ₹23,090), lapping up at least ₹48.89 Lakhs this week.

Rising Star Ritwik Khanna hauled away a whopping ₹33.92 Lakhs. Khana shone in Friday’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) that he shipped for ₹29.13 Lakhs.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) for ₹29,12,923

> 4th in Adda52’s Maverick for ₹1,12,500

> 61st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #31 – 2 Crore GTD – Blaze for ₹80,400

Vishal Bajaj pulled off a stunning performance, adding as much as ₹32.48 Lakhs since last Wednesday.

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #14 Super High Roller (6 Max) (High) for ₹26,51,660

> 3rd in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller for ₹2,44,125

>7th in Spartan Poker’s Destiny 27.0 (IOPC Bubble) for ₹63,954

Harshit Sanghi was another front-runner with total earnings of ₹26.45 Lakhs this week.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #32 – Blaze for ₹24,00,285

> 5th in Spartan Poker’s IOPC #38 Monday Pime (High) for ₹2,12,589

The IOPC #32 – Blaze finalists Kartikeya Yadav and Himanshu Arora, Sahil Mahboobani, Aditya Singh, Abhinav Iyer, Sandy Lamba, Siddharth Singhvi, Vikas Yadav, Aditya Agarwal, and Vishal Ojha were others adding seven-figure online earnings this week.

Notable Winners of the Week

Pocket52 June Poker Bonanza Promises ₹6.50 Crores in Guaranteed Prizes

Pocket52 has come out with a sizzling June calendar, guaranteeing a better-than-before ₹6.50 Crores in prizes across weekly Depositors Freerolls with a ₹2 Lakhs prize pool each Wednesday, the ₹3.40 Crores Pocket Poker Championship (PPC) (June 16 to 25), the ₹1.20 Crores GTD Pocket Friendly Series (June 26 to July 2).

Moreover, the poker network is also running daily features and freerolls totaling ₹12.56 Lakhs in tickets and ₹10.05 Lakhs in cash prizes. Cash game players can also participate in the Deposit Offer Bonanza to win cash tickets.

Read the complete report here.

PokerMatch India’s Bonus Offer: Earn Up to ₹80,000 in Deposit Bonuses and an Additional ₹4,000 in Welcome Mission Rewards

PokerMatch India presents an enticing opportunity for first-time depositing players with bonuses of up to ₹80,000 and extra rewards of ₹4,000 upon successful completion of welcome missions!

Read the complete report here.

Win Up To ₹26 Lakhs in Gamezy Poker’s June Jackpot Mission Rakeback

Join Gamezy Poker’s June Jackpot Mission Rakeback from June 1 to 14 for a chance to win ₹26 Lakhs in rakeback rewards! Compete in real-money games on the Gamezy Poker app during the 14-day promotion and earn points for incredible prizes.

Read the complete report here.

Win ₹5 Crores in Prizes & Enjoy 90% Rakeback in PokerDangal’s Cash Drop Promotion

Participate in PokerDangal’s Cash Drop promotion from June 5 to July 5, and you can compete for a share of ₹5 Crores in prizes and an astounding 90% rakeback. Climb the Daily Max Hand Leaderboard, earn points for high roller rakeback rewards, and don’t miss the ₹10 Lakhs GTD Depositors Freeroll on June 25.

Read the complete report here.

WSOP 2023

The highly anticipated 54th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) has been making waves since May 30. As it enters its 11th day at the iconic Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the series has already created a remarkable legacy. Boasting a record-breaking 95 bracelet events, this edition of the WSOP promises to be the grandest ever.

Peter Thai made an early mark by seizing the coveted bracelet in Event #1: $500 Casino Employees, earning an impressive $75,535, a personal best for him.

Cody “1eggadaymike” Bell added to the excitement by becoming the first winner of an online bracelet event this year. He triumphed in Online Event #1: $333 NLHE Triple Treys Summer Tip Off on WSOP.com, claiming a well-deserved prize of $87,665.

As the week progressed, a series of thrilling victories unfolded, with notable names etching their names in WSOP history.

Chad Eveslage emerged as a remarkable force by claiming not just one but two bracelets within a matter of days. His triumph began in Event #5: $1,500 Dealer’s Choice (6-Handed), where he secured a top prize of $131,879. Demonstrating his exceptional skills, Eveslage then conquered Event #10: $10K Dealer’s Choice Championship, earning his third career bracelet and an impressive $311,428.

Read the complete report here.

Nick Schulman added his name to the prestigious list of champions by emerging victorious in Event #9: $1,500 Seven Card Stud. Schulman’s impressive win secured him his fourth career bracelet and a prize of $100,800, further solidifying his reputation as a poker powerhouse.

Read the complete report here.

Swiss International Chess Master Alexandre Vuilleumier, Michael Moncek, Ronnie Day, Vadim Shlez, Ian “IanMa” Matakis, Chanracy Khun, Danny “Jackdaniels1Wong,” Joseph Altomonte, Jeremy Eyer, Brian Yoon, Tyler Brown, Kenneth O’Donnell, and Ryan “dna2rna” Hughes all emerged as champions.

The Indian contingent has started making inroads at WSOP, showcasing their talent on the felts. Dhruvin Kothari got the country’s scorecard ticking by securing a 167th-place finish in Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions for a payout of $6,300.

Another Indian player, Ankit Ahuja, showcased skill and determination in Event #12: $5,000 Freezeout No Limit Hold’em, finishing an impressive 20th and earning a payout of $22,077.

APT Summer Series Hanoi 2023

The VN₫ 12 Billion GTD APT Summer Series Hanoi wrapped proceedings this week. The 10-day 43-tournament festival was hosted at the Grand Loyal Poker Club inside the luxurious Grand Vista Hanoi Hotel from May 26 to June 4.

The Indian contingent had another stunning run, collecting an impressive 30 scores, which included 11 final table appearances and two resounding title victories.

After Vinayak Bajaj won the country its first title in Event #7: VN₫ 12 Million Turbo – 8 Max, Dhaval Mudgal captured the second series title for the nation in Event #39: VN₫ 5 Million Turbo, raking in a top prize of VN₫ 78.90 Million.

Read the complete report here.

The showstopper tournament, the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Main Event, attracted 581 entries (345 unique), surpassing the advertised guarantee and generating a jaw-dropping prize pool of VN₫ 17.753 Billion.

Vietnam’s Dinh Duc Linh was crowned the APT Summer Series Hanoi Main Event champion. Linh’s final showdown for the title was against India’s Akshay Nasa. Nasa, who held the chip lead entering the final table, was ahead at the start of the heads-up battle but lost steam across the intense two-hour heads-up match. Linh won his second APT trophy and a massive top prize of VN₫ 3.401 Billion.

Akshay Nasa secured the runner-up score of VN₫ 2.116 Billion, the highest prize money achieved by an Indian in the series.

Another five Indians made the money line in the Main Event. These include the two-time APT title winner Kunal Patni (22nd for VN₫ 120.70 Million), Mohit Bohra (36th for VN₫ 79.90 Million), Young Gun Kanchan Sharma (63rd for VN₫ 62.10 Million), Romit Advani (76th for VN₫ 55 Million), and Amrit Mishra (77th for VN₫ 55 Million).

Read the complete report here.

On the final day of the series, Ashish Munot, Jasven Saigal, and Zarvan Tumboli posted final table finishes.

Munot secured a third-place finish in Event #41: VN₫ 80 Million APT High Roller – 8 Max, earning a whopping VN₫ 1.217 Billion. Fellow countryman Kunal Patni also claimed a 17th-place payout of VN₫ 162.31 Million in the tournament.

Jasven Saigal added to the team’s tally with a seventh-place finish in Event #45: VN₫ 50 Million Last Chance High Roller – 8 Max, earning VN₫ 110 Million.

Spartan Poker Pro Zarvan Tumboli posted his maiden score of the series in Event #47: VN₫ 15 Million Hyper Turbo – 8 Max, securing a runner-up payday of VN₫ 66 Million.

Read the complete report here.

With this, we conclude this week’s roundup of the latest news updates and developments from the poker world. We will return again next week with another weekly report. Stay tuned.