This Week in Poker: May 7 – 13
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- RUPAM THAKUR May 14, 2025
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8 Minutes Read
Welcome to the latest edition of ‘This Week in Poker,’ where we bring you 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 highlights!
The poker action is blazing just as hot as the summer sun, with momentum surging through the second week of May. The live felts were lit up by two major international stops—APPT Cambodia and RDPT Jeju—both drawing significant attention and wrapping up this past week.
Back home, PokerBaazi continues to dominate the online scene with its iconic ₹1 Crore GTD The MoneyMaker, now running daily for the entire month—only the second time in history that this single-flight tournament is being hosted in such a format. Over at Natural8 India, the stakes soared with the launch of the World Festival 2025 (May 4 – June 10), touted as India’s biggest-ever online tournament series. Meanwhile, Junglee Poker kept up the pressure with its ₹7.50 Crore GTD Poker Premiere League (PPL), delivering consistent daily leaderboard and MTT action.
With big wins, milestone tournaments, and headline-making updates, this past week packed a full-spectrum poker punch across both live and online arenas.
APPT Cambodia 2025: India Delivers Massive Series with 60 Cashes, 4 Spadies, and Career-Defining Scores
The Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Cambodia 2025 returned for its fourth edition at the NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh, and this year’s 12-day poker festival, held from May 2 to 13, smashed expectations with record-breaking participation. Featuring 68 tournaments and $1.5 Million in guaranteed prize money, the series drew players from across the globe, creating an electric atmosphere throughout.
Riding high after standout performances at Poker Dream 17 Malaysia and APT Taipei 2025, Team India came in strong and made a major statement. The Indian contingent delivered 60 cashes, 34 final table appearances, and six runner-up finishes. It also brought home four Spadie trophies, highlighting the country’s growing dominance on the Asian live circuit.
Somashekar Kurkhepally Headlines With Main Event Runner-Up Finish
The biggest Indian story came from Somashekar Kurkhepally, who produced a career-best performance in Event #40: $1,750 Main Event. Starting the final day as chip leader among six players, Kurkhepally played a near-flawless game and reached heads-up against Vietnam’s Hai Ha Tran. The duo agreed to an equal chop for $155,225 (~₹1.32 Crores), leaving the trophy and APPT Championship package up for grabs—both eventually claimed by Tran. This score marks Kurkhepally’s career-best live cash, and alongside his second-place finish in Event #30 for $5,245 (~₹4.47 Lakhs), he topped the Indian earnings chart at APPT Cambodia with $160,470 (~₹1.37 Crores). This stellar showing makes Kurkhepally our clear “PokerGuru Star of the Week!” He now boasts $296,283 (~₹2.53 Crores) in total live winnings, ranking him #36 on India’s All-Time Money List.
Abhishek Paul also made the final table of the Main Event, finishing eighth for $22,970 (~₹19.20 Lakhs)—his third-best live score. This was enough to make him the second biggest winner at the festival.
Other Indians making deep Main Event runs included Amit Kaushik (11th for $13,654), Sumit Sapra (18th for $7,174), Umang Kakarania (29th for $4,724), Abhijith Cheruku (31st for $4,724), Pranav Bathija (33rd for $4,108), Arjun Dhingra (41st for $3,572), Sameer Agarwal (53rd for $3,572), and Anil Adiani (71st for $3,106).
Ajay & Anju Abrol’s Family Showdown Steals the Spotlight
Ajay Abrol, based in Singapore, claimed his first live tournament title and a Spadie in Event #12: $300 Shot Clock, winning $5,222 (~₹4.40 Lakhs) after defeating his wife Anju Abrol heads-up. Anju, a former APPT Macau side-event winner, took home $3,396 (~₹2.86 Lakhs). Ajay added two more cashes to end the series with $11,215 (~₹9.45 Lakhs). Anju also cashed in Event #22, finishing seventh for $1,033 (~₹87K), taking her series tally to $4,429 (~₹3.73 Lakhs) and pushing her lifetime live earnings beyond ₹1.23 Crores.
Arun Godiyal Wins Second Spadie, Continues Stellar Rise
Arun Godiyal picked up his second Spadie in Event #3: $300 Knockout Turbo, winning $2,789 (~₹2.35 Lakhs) and following it up with a third-place finish in Event #14 for $1,248 (~₹1.05 Lakhs). Godiyal now has six live scores, two Spadies, and nearly ₹9.68 Lakhs in total live winnings, an incredible achievement given he only debuted in November 2024.
Nikesh Chawla Takes Down High Roller Turbo for Career-Second Best Score
Continuing his strong run in Cambodia, Nikesh Chawla conquered Event #35: $2,000 High Roller Turbo, beating a 26-entry field to earn $17,634 (~₹14.91 Lakhs). It was the second-largest live score of his career after his ₹50.33 Lakhs win at WPT Cambodia 2025 earlier this year. He also cashed in Event #9, finishing ninth, and amassed a total of $18,218 (~₹15.41 Lakhs) this series, crossing the $100K career live earnings mark.
🎉 #APPTCambodia2025: Nikesh Chawla 🇮🇳 bags India’s 3rd Spadie, taking down $2K High Roller Turbo for $17,634 (~₹14.91L)! It’s the biggest Indian score of the series & his 2nd-best ever! 🏆🔥 Romit Advani’s ~ @tilt_83 🇮🇳 has made 4 FTs! Read more 👇🏻https://t.co/O6RvgaxIKo
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 8, 2025
Avneesh Munjal Wins Fourth Career Title, First Spadie
Avneesh Munjal kicked off his 2025 live season by winning Event #62: $2,000 Knockout High Roller, bagging his first PokerStars Spadie and fourth career live title for $12,695 (~₹10.83 Lakhs). He also placed 26th in Event #1 for $853 and 10th in Event #57 for $3,670, ending the series with $17,218 (~₹14.69 Lakhs).
Indian Scorecard at APPT Cambodia
Rank Player Name Event Name Prize (USD)
26 Avneesh Munjal Event #1: NAGAWORLD Kickoff $853
1 Arun Godiyal Event #3: Knockout Turbo [$100 Bounty] $2,789
5 Ajay Abrol Event #5: SuperStack ($300) $2,320
19 Anirban Kundu Event #5: SuperStack ($300) $466
22 Sumit Supra Event #6: Mystery Bounty ($750) $907
20 Gagandeep Singh Malik Event #6: Mystery Bounty ($750) $1,043
3 Amit Kaushik Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) $2,426
4 Romit Advani Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) $1,867
7 Umang Kakarania Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) $913
9 Nikesh Chawla Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) $584
1 Ajay Abrol Event #12: Shot Clock ($300) $5,222
2 Anju Abrol Event #12: Shot Clock ($300) $3,396
3 Arun Godiyal Event #14: Win The Button - Hyper Turbo ($300) $1,248
2 Ajay Abrol Event #22: 6-Handed Turbo ($250) $3,673
4 Romit Advani Event #22: 6-Handed Turbo ($250) $2,018
7 Anju Abrol Event #22: 6-Handed Turbo ($250) $1,033
3 Somasekhar Sanampuri Event #25: Knockout High Roller ($1000 Bounty) ($2,500) $4,653
7 Romit Advani Event #26: PLO Knockout [$200 Bounty] ($500) $595
14 Somasekhar Sanampuri Event #19: APPT National ($1,000) $3,891
2 Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) $5,245
7 Amit Kaushik Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) $1,475
8 Somasekhar Sanampuri Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) $1,180
9 Romit Advani Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) $944
1 Nikesh Vijay Chawla Event #35: High Roller Turbo ($2,000) $17,634
5 Somasekhar Sanampuri Event #38: 6-Handed ($300) $1,691
2 Somashekar Kurkhepally Nahadeva Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $155,225
8 Abhishek Paul Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $22,970
11 Amit Kaushik Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $13,654
18 Sumit Sapra Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $7,174
29 Umang Kakarania Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $4,724
31 Abhijith Cheruku Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $4,724
33 Pranav Bathija Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $4,108
41 Arjun Dhingra Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $3,572
53 Sameer Agarwal Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $3,572
71 Anil Adiani Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $3,106
5 Vineet Kumar Event #43: Deepstack Turbo ($300) $2,186
10 Sahil Nair Event #43: Deepstack Turbo ($300) $769
16 Anirban Kundu Event #43: Deepstack Turbo ($300) $506
17 Gagandeep Singh Malik Event #43: Deepstack Turbo ($300) $506
5 Bagaria Raj Vardhan Event #45: Megastack ($500) $3,283
14 Kaushal Vasa Event #45: Megastack ($500) $780
8 Talita Setyady Event #51: NLH 20/15/10 ($300) $615
8 Kaushal Vasa Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $2,200
10 Avneesh Munjal Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $3,670
17 Gagandeep Singh Malik Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $2,100
18 Nishant Kumar Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $1,950
20 Somasekhar Sanampuri Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $950
23 Sahil Nair Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $1,830
27 Romit Advani Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $720
4 Somasekhar Sanampuri Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $5,449
5 Vineet Kumar Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $4,192
7 Pranav Bathija Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $2,728
14 Bagaria Raj Vardhan Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $1,300
20 Aditya Agarwal Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $983
30 Talita Setyady Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $646
1 Avneesh Munjal Event #62: Knockout High Roller ($500 Bounty) ($2,000) $12,695
2 Arjun Dhingra Event #65: Deepstack ($300) $4,275
5 Nageshwara Alaparthy Event #65: Deepstack ($300) $1,878
5 Gagandeep Singh Malik Event #67: Knockout ($100 Bounty) Turbo ($300) $618
2 Amit Kaushik Event #69: 1K NLH ($1,000) $5,347
APPT Cambodia List of Winners
Player Event Prize (USD)
Cheuk Wai Wong Event #1: NAGAWORLD Kickoff $13,879
Mauricio Sanchez Event #2: Warm-up High Roller ($1,500) $9,370
Arun Godiyal Event #3: Knockout Turbo [$100 Bounty] $2,789
Wattana Sophontanakup Event #5: SuperStack ($300) $8,782
Hao Lin Event #6: Mystery Bounty ($750) $33,476
Aleksandr Diudiaev Event #7: Megastack High Roller ($2,500) $15,617
Chang Hyeon Kim Event #8: Bubble Rush ($400) $2,349
Manh Tuong Ha Event #9: Megastack Turbo ($300) $5,267
Ajay Abrol Event #12: Shot Clock ($300) $5,222
Yoke Wei Woon Event #13: PLO ($1,000) $8,957
Christian Lortie Cloutier Event #14: Win The Button - Hyper Turbo ($300) $2,728
Naotsugu Kimura Event #16: Mini High Roller - Hyper Turbo ($1,500) $6,024
Hiroya Kurushima Event #18: Double Stack - PLO ($300) $3,710
Fabian Rolli Event #19: APPT National ($1,000) $52,342
Craig Jones Event #20: Mini High Roller ($2,000) $15,087
Bin Yuan Event #21: Split hold'em ($400) $3,377
Kexin Gu Event #22: 6-Handed Turbo ($250) $5,689
Jia Yi Low Event #24: NLH ($300) $4,765
Jinlong Hu Event #25: Knockout High Roller ($1000 Bounty) ($2,500) $11,116
Nicolas Maillaud Event #26: PLO Knockout [$200 Bounty] ($500) $3,687
Cliff Chow Event #27: Showtime Hold'em - Hyper Turbo ($250) $1,652
Artur Akhmetzianov Event #30: Super Knockout [$350 Bounty] Final ($750) $8,126
Mauricio Salazar Sanchez Event#31: $10,000 APPT Super High Roller $42,811
Aike Ing Event #34: PLO Turbo ($400) $4,477
Nikesh Vijay Chawla Event #35: High Roller Turbo ($2,000) $17,634
Christian Lortie Cloutier Event #36: NLH - 10/10/10 ($200) $2,664
Richard Marquez Event #38: 6-Handed ($300) $5,063
Hai Ha Tran Event #40: APPT Main Event ($1,750) $155,225
Danny Huynh Event #42: Mix NLH/PLO ($500) $4,136
Jaewoo Jung Event #43: Deepstack Turbo ($300) $6,060
Christian Lortie Cloutier Event #45: Megastack ($500) $12,041
Alberto Morales Flores Event #47: Mystery Big Bounty [$1500 Bounty] - High Roller ($3,500) $10,151
Zeyu Sun Event #48: 6+ Hold'em (Short Deck) ($400) $3,891
Chee Hoong Yeoh Event #49: Run it Twice - Turbo ($300) $3,251
Samnang Prom Event #51: NLH 20/15/10 ($300) $4,916
Kyosuke Nagami Event #53: Freezeout Challenge ($2,000) $14,582
Danny Huynh Event #54: Teams Event ($600) $3,603
Ronald Haverkamp Event #55: 5 Card PLO - Turbo ($500) $4,200
Jakkapong Sreprasom Event #56: High Roller Hyper Turbo ($2,000) $2,000
Sanjeev Kapoor Event #57: Survivor Knockout [$1K Bounty] ($600) $25,560
Daniel Neilson Event #58: APPT High Roller ($3,000) $65,599
Alfie Adam Event #59: PLO Bomb pot - Turbo ($400) $2,349
Dewen Aloysius Lim Event #60: 6+ Hold'em (Short Deck) - Hyper Turbo ($300) $1,024
Chak Hei Chan Event #61: APPT Mini Main Event ($400) $15,863
Avneesh Munjal Event #62: Knockout High Roller ($500 Bounty) ($2,000) $12,695
Rindra Norodom Event #63: Double Stack NLH ($500) $5,595
Ilya Firstov Event #64: NLH 15/10/5 ($300) $3,004
Richard Marquez Event #65: Deepstack ($300) $6,625
Dinesh Alt Event #66: Last Chance - High Roller Turbo ($2,000) $13,386
Quoc Cuong Khoang Event #67: Knockout ($100 Bounty) Turbo ($300) $2,370
Sirimas Thanalertlap Event #68: Last Chance - Super Hyper Turbo ($200) $2,033
Jakkapong Sreprasom Event #69: 1K NLH ($1,000) $8,294
Adelina Egorova Event #70: Ladies Event ($300) $1,409
RDPT Jeju 2025: Siddharth Karia & Pramana Irvan Deliver Standout Indian Performances Amidst Chinese Dominance
The Red Dragon Poker Tour (RDPT) Jeju 2025 wrapped up a ten-day poker spectacle at South Korea’s scenic Landing Casino, running from May 1 to 10. With 3,281 entries and a total prize pool of KR₩ 5.56 Billion (~$392,000), the festival delivered on its promise of high-stakes action and international competition.
As expected, Chinese players dominated the series, capturing 32 of the 39 trophies up for grabs. Yet, Indian players—though fewer in number compared to their APPT Cambodia counterparts—made their presence felt with a pair of impressive runner-up finishes.
Siddharth Karia led the Indian charge with a strong showing in Event #35: KR₩ 1.50M Red Dragon Closer, finishing runner-up behind WSOP bracelet winner Weiran Pu. Karia’s deep run netted him KR₩ 11.76 Million (~₹7.05 Lakhs), adding to an already promising 2025. The Ahmedabad pro, who has been on an extensive live circuit tour this year with prior scores in Manila and a final table finish at APT Taipei, now has at least eight live cashes in 2025, further reinforcing his rising momentum on the Asian poker scene.
🎉 #RDPTJeju2025: #YoungGun Siddharth Karia 🇮🇳 finishes 2nd in the Red Dragon Closer, pocketing KR₩ 11.76M (~₹7.05L) for his 8th live cash of 2025! @PramanaIrvan 🇮🇳 adds KR₩ 21.47M across 2 scores. No trophies, but India made its mark in Jeju! 🙌🏻
Read the complete report on… pic.twitter.com/nfe6rm8aGj
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 13, 2025
Pramana Iliadi Irvan also posted a commendable series with two cashes, the highlight being his heads-up finish in Event #28: KR₩ 1M 20/20/20 NLH Shot Clock, earning KR₩ 8.32 Million (~₹5.14 Lakhs). With a total haul of KR₩ 21.47 Million (~₹12.86 Lakhs), Irvan emerged as the top Indian earner of the series.
Among the overall standouts, Shengfa Huang claimed the largest payday of the festival, taking home KR₩ 360 Million for winning the prestigious Red Dragon Championship, while Yunchao Yu triumphed in the Prestige Super High Roller, bagging KR₩ 209.454 Million.
Indian Scorecard at RDPT Jeju 2025
Rank Players Events Prize Amount (KRW)
16 Pramana Iliadi Irvan Event#8: Red Dragon Prestige High Roller 1,31,50,000
2 Pramana Iliadi Irvan Event#28: 20/20/20 NLH SHOT CLOCK 83,20,000
2 Siddharth Karia Event#35: Red Dragon Closer 1,17,60,000
RDPT Jeju 2025 Winners
Players Events Prize Amount (KRW)
Chao Hu Event#1: Baby Dragon 9,56,45,000
Zehao Li Event#2: Big Bounty Turbo 23,30,000
Mi Deng Event#3: Hyper Turbo 46,84,000
Mi Deng Event#4: Megastack Classic 96,07,000
Yiming Kuang Event#6: Hyper Turbo Bounty 42,94,000
Tianhao Wan Event#7: Big Bounty 1,48,95,000
Lei Yu Event#8: Red Dragon Prestige High Roller 18,11,40,000
Zehao Li Event#9: No Limit 2-7 Single Draw 36,71,000
Shaohao Lin Event#10: All-In or Fold 65,68,000
Dong Li Event#11: Pot Limit Omaha Hyper Turbo 37,07,000
Shengfa Huang Event#12: Red Dragon Championship 36,00,00,000
Tianyu Chen Event#13: Deep Stack Classic 1,36,98,000
Zhenhuan Li Event#14: Red Dragon Pot Limit Omaha Championship 1,10,03,000
Ning Ding Event#16: Big Bounty Turbo 62,63,000
Zhihua Yang Event#17: Win the Button Hyper Turbo 63,70,000
Haojie Zhu Event#18: Single Day Mystery Bounty 2,37,56,000
Li Li Tang Event#19: Lady Dragon 62,45,000
Xi Xiang Luo Event#20: Short Deck 2,18,40,000
Dong Li Event#21: Super Hold'Em (3Card Poker) 54,50,000
Yuwa Takeuchi Event#22: Flip Out 1,18,30,000
Chi Yan Pang Event#23: Hyper Turbo High Roller 3,25,52,000
Chunnuan Xu Event#24: Survivor Bounty (20% of the field) 1,99,63,000
Xi Xiang Luo Event#25: Big O - Pot Limit Omaha (5 cards) 89,51,000
Martin Daniel Schamaun Event#26: Hyper Turbo 96,25,000
Tom Henricus Verbruggen Event#27: Dragon Egg Mystery Bounty 10,38,60,000
Chuan Luo Event#28: 20/20/20 NLH SHOT CLOCK 1,24,80,000
Tao Li Event#29: Flip Out 57,98,000
Dongzhan He Event#30: Hyper Turbo Bounty 73,77,000
Tingjia Cao Event#31: Red Dragon Mini Main Event 7,68,06,000
Yunchao Yu Event#32: Red Dragon Prestige Super High Roller 20,94,54,000
Shuo Yang Event#33: Super Holdem (3 Card Poker) 82,80,000
Tao Li Event#34: Win the Button Hyper Turbo 89,79,000
Weiran Pu Event#35: Red Dragon Closer 1,87,49,000
Chia Yun Wu Event#36: Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 58,03,000
Hsing Hsiung Tai Event#37: Big Bounty 85,52,000
Qidong He Event#38: Hyper Turbo High Roller 2,30,52,000
Qiao Heng Event#39: SuperStack Classic 89,00,000
Tsz Kin Heung Event#40: Mini High Roller Turbo 1,04,76,000
Rong Zhang Event#42: MonsterStack Super Hyper Turbo 37,76,000
Online Railbird Report: Tarun Goyal Crosses ₹5 Crore Mark in 2025, Extends POY Lead With ₹67.45 Lakh Bounty Mega Score
While Team India was busy crushing it on the live felts across Asia, the online grind back home was no less fiery. Tarun Goyal, the reigning 2024 Player of the Year and online crusher, continued his relentless form, adding another massive score to his already staggering 2025 resume.
Just a week after a deep run in the Sunday Showdown 250, Goyal came back swinging. On Monday, he outlasted a 2,041-entry field in the #BountyHuntersMegaMain525, finishing runner-up for a colossal ₹67.45 Lakhs, including ₹14 Lakhs in bounties. It ranks as his seventh-biggest score on the site and is already his second-highest score of the year.
This latest haul pushes his 2025 earnings to ₹5.41 Crores, making him the first player to cross the ₹5 Crore mark this year. He has now extended his lead on the POY leaderboard by over ₹1.19 Crores, with Anant Purohit in pursuit at ₹4.22 Crores. Five months into the year, the stage is set for yet another epic Goyal vs. Purohit race to be in the top spot.
More Online Action Heroes
It was a very profitable week for many familiar names online. Ishaan Pandya, Rishabh Gupta, Young Gun Sanat Mehrotra, Ankit Bajaj, Young Gun Aayush Arya, Abhimanyu Mittal, Anurag Srivastava, Puneet Dua, Siddhant Singh, Mohit Bothra, Ranvijay Singh, and Mithilesh Choubey all posted big scores across the board.
Notable Online Winners of the Week
Player Prize Amount Event Poker Site
Ankit Nahata ₹15 Lakhs #7 The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD PokerBaazi
Varun Agrawal ₹15 Lakhs #8 The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD PokerBaazi
Sanat Mehrotra ₹15 Lakhs #9 The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD PokerBaazi
Puneet Dua ₹15 Lakhs #11 The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD PokerBaazi
Abhimanyu Mittal ₹15 Lakhs #13 The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD PokerBaazi
"YouKnowMe!!!!" ₹13.66 Lakhs Bamboo Bounty 30 Natural8 India
Mohit Bothra ₹11.98 Lakhs #12 The MoneyMaker ₹1 Crore GTD PokerBaazi
Aayush Arya ₹8.86 Lakhs Big Whale ₹50 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Aahil Malik Batala ₹7.50 Lakhs The Summit ₹50 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
“AiDarwin” ₹7.50 Lakhs The Endeavour ₹50 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Anurag Srivastava ₹7.50 Lakhs BSS Superstack ₹50 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Anish Arora ₹5 Lakhs The Quest ₹30 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Arun Karthik ₹4.63 Lakhs The Pride ₹30 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Ankit Bajaj ₹4.53 Lakhs Adda52 Millions ₹25 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Saurabh Rohila ₹4.25 Lakhs The Big Show ₹30 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Abhishek Mandal ₹4.16 Lakhs Head Hunter ₹20 Lakhs GTD Adda52
“pikapika00" ₹3.91 Lakhs The Ballers ₹20 Lakhs GTD Adda52
“checkInTheDark” ₹3.91 Lakhs BSS Super Value ₹25 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Gaurav Sood ₹3.54 Lakhs Mystery Bounty ₹25 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Raghav Ananth ₹3.37 Lakhs Godfather ₹20 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Mohit Mehta ₹2.35 Lakhs The Endeavour Lite ₹15 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
“PokerBro1893725” ₹2.35 Lakhs Daily Last Chance ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Ashit Sharma ₹2.30 Lakhs The Mint ₹14 Lakhs GTD Adda52
“vabss” ₹2.30 Lakhs PPL Weekly Finale 2 ₹25 Lakhs GTD Junglee Poker
Aniruddha Joshi ₹2.19 Lakhs Summit Lite ₹12 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Jasven Saigal ₹2.10 Lakhs Big PLO-5 ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Saurabh Rohila ₹1.90 Lakhs Inception ₹10 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Puneeth B N ₹1.88 Lakhs Daily Last Chance ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Vishal Ojha ₹1.84 Lakhs Daily Last Chance ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Rishab Malik ₹1.80 Lakhs PPL Thursday Mini Highroller ₹10 Lakhs GTD Junglee Poker
Yash Jain ₹1.79 Lakhs Daily Last Chance ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Sanat Mehrotra ₹1.69 Lakhs Sunday Big Slick ₹10 Lakhs GTD Adda52
“Enigma21” ₹1.67 Lakhs The Pride Lite ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
“harsh1327” ₹1.61 Lakhs Tuesday Takedown ₹7.50 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Sahil Mahboobani ₹1.58 Lakhs PPL Friday Supernova ₹10 Lakhs GTD Junglee Poker
Ambika Chowdhury ₹1.51 Lakhs (6-Max) BSS Sprint ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Jigmee Bhutia ₹1.51 Lakhs Daily Last Chance ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
“noobies” ₹1.49 Lakhs Thursday Thunder ₹7.50 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Mohit Bohra ₹1.46 Lakhs PPL Wednesday SuperStack ₹10 Lakhs GTD Junglee Poker
Sashank Chakravarthy ₹1.46 Lakhs PPL Tuesday Phoenix ₹10 Lakhs GTD Junglee Poker
Rishab Malik ₹1.38 Lakhs The Quest Lite ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
Gaurav Sood ₹1.37 Lakhs Wednesday Wonder ₹7.50 Lakhs GTD Adda52
Mohit Mehta ₹1.30 Lakhs Big PLO-5 ₹10 Lakhs GTD PokerBaazi
“ronak1709” ₹83K PPL Monday Monster ₹6 Lakhs GTD Junglee Poker
Pocket52 to Halt Operations in July Amid Industry-Wide Turmoil
Gameskraft has announced a “strategic pause” on its poker platform Pocket52, marking another major shake-up in India’s embattled real-money gaming (RMG) sector. Citing the heavy impact of the 28% GST on deposits and retrospective tax demands totaling ₹21,000 Crores, Pocket52 becomes the latest platform to fold under mounting regulatory pressure. All gameplay on Pocket52 will cease by May 30, with the app remaining accessible until July. Gameskraft has assured that player funds are safe, emphasizing that this is not an exit from poker but a reset aimed at building a “best-in-class” experience for the future.
🚨 #BREAKINGNEWS: @Pocket_52 to halt operations in July! 🚫 #Gameskraft cites a “strategic pause” amid 28% GST heat & ₹21K Cr retrospective tax demands, resulting in another big shift in India’s RMG shake-up. 🧨 Read more 👇🏻https://t.co/rQqUWw0fKl
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 14, 2025
India’s Real-Money Gaming Industry Braces for Supreme Court Verdict on ₹1.12 Lakh Crore GST Dispute
India’s real-money gaming (RMG) industry is facing its most pivotal legal battle yet as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the retrospective GST demands that could decide the sector’s future. Over ₹1.12 Lakh Crores in back taxes have been levied across 70+ platforms, including prominent names like Dream11, GamesKraft, Delta Corp, and Tadka Games 24×7.
At the heart of the matter is a fundamental clash: the government insists that any game involving money qualifies as gambling and is thus subject to a 28% GST on deposits. On the other hand, the industry argues that skill-based games are not gambling and that retroactively taxing deposits is unconstitutional.
Top legal heavyweights such as Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Harish Salve are leading the defense, arguing that the move violates constitutional protections and could cripple a sector projected to generate $5 Billion in annual revenue and supporting over 1 Lakh jobs.
🚨 India’s RMG sector is fighting its biggest legal battle yet! The SC will decide on ₹1.12L Cr in retro GST demands. The govt is calling it gambling, the industry says it’s skill. Jobs & the sector’s future hang in the balance. ⚖ Read more 👇🏻
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 8, 2025
PokerDangal’s Daily Lakhpati Leaderboard Returns With ₹1 Lakh in Daily Prizes
Get ready for a high-octane cash game grind as PokerDangal brings back its popular Daily Lakhpati Leaderboard promotion, running from May 7 to 31. With ₹1 Lakh in prizes awarded every single day, players across all stake levels have a shot at daily rewards. Whether you’re grinding it out at ₹1/₹2 or playing high at ₹100/₹200 and above, there’s a dedicated leaderboard for your action. The promotion features four stake-based leaderboards that reset daily, allowing players to climb the ranks based on the volume of hands played. You can also compete across multiple stake levels to maximize your winnings.
🎉 May Madness on @DangalPoker Is ON! 🎉
Get ready for turbo-charged value all month long because the #DailyLakhpatiLeaderboard promotion is back — and it’s raining ₹1 Lakh every single day from May 7 to 31! Whether you’re building a bankroll at ₹1/₹2 or splashing around at… pic.twitter.com/DaGGD0xfSY
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 13, 2025
CoinPoker’s CSOP Spring Series Launches May 11 With $2.5+ Million GTD Across 86 Events
CoinPoker is bringing the heat with its CSOP (Crypto Series of Online Poker) Spring Edition. It kicked off on May 11 with over $2.5 Million GTD spread across 86 tournaments and an additional 22 high-roller side events. The series is structured across three tiers—Low, Medium, and High—with buy-ins starting at just $1, making it accessible to players of all levels, from casual grinders to high-stakes pros.
The festival includes three Main Events scheduled for May 25 at 11:35 PM IST, and a $25,000 leaderboard will reward consistent performers throughout the series. With 33% rakeback, crypto-based gameplay, and a top-tier welcome offer, CoinPoker’s CSOP Spring is set to deliver exceptional value and fast-paced action all month long.
🎉 @CoinPoker_OFF’s #CSOP Spring kicks off May 11 with $2.50+ Million GTD across 86 events + 22 side showdowns! Buy-ins from just $1, 3 tiers (Low/Med/High), $25K in leaderboard loot, 3 Main Events on May 25, and 33% rakeback in crypto! 🤑
Read the complete report on… pic.twitter.com/AHmcAIpQaq
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 8, 2025
EPT Monte Carlo 2025: Aleksandr Shevliakov Turns €530 Satellite Into €1 Million EPT Main Event Victory Amid Controversy
Russia’s Aleksandr Shevliakov pulled off a dream run at EPT Monte Carlo 2025, turning a modest €530 satellite entry into a staggering €1 Million payday by winning the prestigious €5,300 Main Event. The 37-year-old IT professional from Ljubljana, Slovenia—who describes himself as a “poker hobbyist”—outlasted a 1,195-entry field, capturing his first-ever EPT title in dramatic fashion.
🎉 #EPTMonteCarlo2025: Aleksandr Shevliakov 🇷🇺 turned a €530 satellite into €1M, winning the Main Event! Drama flared in controversial hand & mid-FT rule changes, but the Russian IT pro held his nerve. Apoorva Goel 🇮🇳 finished 41st for ₹16.46 Lakhs! 🏆 Read more 👇🏻
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 12, 2025
Shevliakov’s run wasn’t without controversy. A final table hand involving Jamil Wakil sparked a heated debate online, with allegations of angle-shooting after Shevliakov eliminated Wakil in 6th place. The question: did Shevliakov act out of turn or not? The unclear sequence lit up Poker Twitter, fueling intense discussions. Further controversy followed when new restrictions were imposed mid-final table concerning RFID chip placement and electronic device usage, following fairness concerns raised by players.
Despite the turbulence, Shevliakov held his nerve, navigating past a stacked final table. He outplayed Poland’s Mariusz Golinski, survived an all-in scare from Enrico Coppola, and clinched victory in a high-stakes heads-up battle with Khossein Kokhestani, which saw massive hands and gutsy folds. His win marks the first EPT Main Event victory for a Russian player outside of Russia in 13 years and more than doubles his previous career-best score of $541,206 from EPT Paris 2023.
From India, Apoorva Goel made a solid deep run, finishing 41st in the near-record field for €17,150 (~₹16.46 Lakhs), bringing him within striking distance of the ₹5 Crore live earnings milestone.
Suede Brooks Stuns Jose Canseco to Win Celebrity Poker Tour VI Title at PokerGO Studio
Fashion model and influencer Suede Brooks made a major statement at Celebrity Poker Tour: Game Night VI, outlasting a star-studded lineup to claim the $10,000 top prize. Held at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, the event saw the 24-year-old social media sensation defeat former MLB star Jose Canseco heads-up, sealing the win with a gutsy bluff that made Canseco fold a better full house—one of the most talked-about hands of the night.
🎉 24-year model @SuedeBrooks 🇺🇸 wins @celebpokertour VI at @PokerGOStudio, bluffing @JoseCanseco 🇺🇸 en route to the $10K top prize, shining in a star-studded lineup featuring @MackenzieDern, @talktuahpod, @alexandrabotez, @AdrianPeterson & more. 🏆
Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Lt4s4C1YxD
— PokerGuru (@PkrGuru) May 9, 2025
Global Glance: More Live Tournament Champions Crowned!
Around the globe, more live poker champions were crowned: Chris Nguyen (Won EPT Monte Carlo €100K Super High Roller for $2.03 Million), Matthew Higgins (Won WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee Event #2: $400 Mini Main Event for $132,204), Aurelio Vallone (Won Malta Poker Festival Spring €550 Grand Event for €94,600), Brad Gafford (Won MSPT Season 16 Sycuan 100 GRAND STACK Series $1,110 Main Event for $87,693), Alexander Goulder (Won Mediterranean Poker Party $1,100 Mystery Bounty for $85,000), and Calogero Morreale (Won GUKPT Luton £1,250 Main Event for £56,720).
With this, we conclude this week’s roundup of the latest news updates and developments from the world of poker. We will return next week with our weekly report. Stay tuned.
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