This Week in Poker: November 20 – 26

Welcome to our 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 Indian poker scene is blazing brighter than ever before, and this past week was one for the history books! From the electrifying tables of Genting Highlands to the dazzling lights of Phnom Penh, Indian players stormed the Asian poker circuit like a conquering army, leaving their mark everywhere. And online, the virtual arenas were buzzing with high-stakes battles, relentless action, and life-changing scores.

Nishant Sharma achieved the seemingly impossible recently. This Mumbai-based poker pro descended upon Genting Highlands, Malaysia, and proceeded to rewrite the Poker Dream history books. Sharma not only captured his THIRD Poker Dream Main Event title at Poker Dream 13 Malaysia but did it in spectacular fashion, conquering a guarantee-crushing field in the MYR 5 Billion GTD Main Event to claim a career-best MYR 930,800 (~₹1.76 Crores). He’s officially cemented his place as a Poker Dream legend, the likes of which we may never see again.

But here’s the mind-blowing part: Sharma achieved this incredible feat by winning THREE Poker Dream titles in just SIX DAYS!

Sharma’s rampage through Poker Dream 13 Malaysia was nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to his Main Event triumph, he snagged two more titles, racking up a staggering MYR 1.285 Billion (~₹2.43 Crores) in winnings throughout the series. This incredible performance not only adds another glorious chapter to his already illustrious poker career but also catapults him to #8 on India’s all-time money list.

Check out this breakdown of Sharma’s domination:

• Champion: Event #13: Main Event – MYR 930,800 (~₹1.76 Crores)
• Champion: Event #16: MYR 3,000 Mystery Bounty – MYR 250,500 (~₹49.13 Lakhs)
• Champion: Event #14: MYR 2,000 Pot Limit Omaha – MYR 23,200 (~₹4.35 Lakhs)
• 6th Place: Event #21: MYR 12,000 Single Day High Roller – MYR 79,000 (~₹14.94 Lakhs)
• 103rd Place: Event #1: MYR 1,000 Malaysia Open – MYR 1,500 (~₹66,000)

With this unparalleled performance, Nishant Sharma is our undeniable “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”

While Sharma’s achievements were nothing short of spectacular, the entire Indian contingent made a resounding statement at Poker Dream 13 Malaysia. They descended upon the series like a force of nature, racking up an astounding 53 cashes, including ten final table appearances and four titles (three of which, as you know, were courtesy of the Sharma show).

One of the standout performers was Abhishek Paul, who etched his name into the Poker Dream record books by capturing his first-ever Poker Dream title in Event #54: MYR 5,000 Mini High Roller. This victory earned Paul a handsome MYR 97,200 (~₹18.34 Lakhs) and his third live title overall. He added a Main Event cash to his impressive run, bringing his total earnings for the series to MYR 105,200 (~₹19.85 Lakhs).

Team India Scores at Poker Dream 13 Malaysia

The Indian Poker Express continued to steamroll through the South Asian circuit, fresh off impressive performances at APT Phu Quoc 2024 and Poker Dream 13 Malaysia. A small but fierce contingent of Indian players descended upon the PokerStars APPT Cambodia 2024, racking up an impressive 13 cashes, including seven final table appearances and a glorious victory!

Leading the charge for Team India was Arun Kishore Godiyal, who kicked things off with a bang by capturing India’s sole title in Event #7: $250 Bubble Rush. This early triumph set the stage for an impressive showing by the Indian contingent, but it was another player who would soon steal the spotlight.

Setting the tone for Team India was Arun Kishore Godiyal, who clinched India’s sole title in Event #7: $250 Bubble Rush. His early triumph sparked momentum, but the spotlight soon shifted to another trailblazer.

Enter Nageshwara Alaparthy, a promising talent with just over a year of live tournament experience. Alaparthy made a stunning run in Event #19: $300 Megastack, coming agonizingly close to capturing his first live title. A deal was struck in a nail-biting heads-up duel against South Korea’s Seonghun Park, ultimately awarding Park the title and $8,830. However, Alaparthy walked away with a career-best $7,715 (~₹6.50 Lakhs) for his runner-up finish – the highest individual score by an Indian player in the entire series!

This incredible performance wasn’t just a personal best for Alaparthy; it even eclipsed the combined earnings of Godiyal at the stop, who amassed $7,083 (~₹5.98 Lakhs) across three deep runs.

Team India Scores at APPT Cambodia 2024

APPT Cambodia 2024 itself was a spectacle to behold, unfolding over ten thrilling days at the opulent NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh. With 42 champions crowned and a shower of prize money raining down, the series was an undeniable success.

At the centre of it all was Filipino poker sensation Christopher Mateo, who emerged victorious from a fiercely competitive field to capture the APPT Cambodia Main Event title and a life-changing $126,500 prize. This victory was especially sweet for Mateo, who had finished as the runner-up in Manila last year. This time, redemption was his!

APPT Cambodia 2024 List of Winners

While the live poker scene across Asia was burning up, the online action was equally explosive! PokerBaazi and Natural8 India were the battlegrounds for some colossal wins, and the virtual felt was practically sizzling.

As Nishant Sharma was busy conquering the live felts, another Sharma was setting the virtual world ablaze this past Sunday. Shreyansh Sharma turned up the heat on Natural8 India, scoring a mind-blowing mystery bounty jackpot in the Sunday Showdown 108. This wasn’t your average Sunday grind; a massive 7,150-entry field clashed in this high-stakes showdown. Sharma navigated the chaos like a seasoned pro, ultimately securing a respectable 42nd-place finish.

But here’s where things get truly insane. The Sunday Showdown 108 featured a mystery bounty format, and Sharma must have had a horseshoe up his sleeve because he pulled down a staggering ₹50.86 Lakhs in bounties! Combined with his tournament winnings, his total score reached a mind-blowing ₹51.45 Lakhs – his biggest score ever and his second seven-figure payday on Natural8 India! With a whopping ₹52.33 Lakhs in weekly winnings, Shreyansh Sharma reigned supreme as the undisputed online king of the week.

The week even saw the Player of the Year race getting a whole lot more interesting! Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram emerged from the shadows like a ninja, catapulting himself from #7 to #3 in the POY standings. The craziest part is we didn’t even realize how well he was doing until this week when he finally decided to join our tracking system. Turns out, he’s been quietly crushing it on multiple platforms, consistently playing at an elite level. No wonder he’s suddenly a serious contender for the title!

His most impressive feat this November has to be his incredible victory in Natural8 India’s Korea National Cup on Saturday. He conquered a colossal 1,165-entry field, seizing ₹33.44 Lakhs and his first-ever APT Online Lion Trophy! Shanmughasundaram finished the week with a jaw-dropping ₹40.87 Lakhs in online winnings.

It was a week of scorching performances on the virtual felt, with the online leaderboard looking like a who’s who of poker royalty. Top guns like Mithun Mahesh, Anant Purohit, Myron Pereira, Abilash Bala, Advait Rajguru, and Jyotindra Dubey all left their mark with big wins and deep runs, keeping the competition fierce and the action non-stop.

Top Online Winners of the Week

The virtual felts are hotter than a furnace, with thrilling tournaments erupting like fireworks across India’s online poker scene.

While A23 Poker’s Dynamite Series wrapped up with a bang on Sunday, the Asian Poker Tour (APT) is bringing its legendary high-octane action online with the APT Online 2024 on Natural8 India! From November 10 to December 1, this spectacular series boasts 20 trophy events and a smorgasbord of tournaments designed for every bankroll and skill level.

PokerBaazi isn’t just sitting around; they’re turning up the heat with boosted guaranteed MTTs, prepping their players for the first-ever ₹35 Crore GTD WPT India Online Series! This groundbreaking series, running from December 8 to 22, promises an electrifying array of tournaments, mind-blowing guarantees, and the coveted chance to claim prestigious WPT trophies.

Speaking of PokerBaazi, let’s give a massive shout-out to Laksh Pal Singh, the young poker prodigy who conquered Season 1 of “The Circuit” and woke up on his birthday with the ultimate gift: a pro contract with PokerBaazi!

Filmed in the electric atmosphere of Hanoi, Vietnam, “The Circuit” pitted 12 of India’s sharpest poker minds against each other in a high-stakes battle of wits and strategy. Emerging from the smoke and tension, Singh seized the trophy and a whopping ₹15 Lakhs! Veteran pro Jasven Saigal came in second for ₹8 Lakhs, while the dark horse, Dannish Thiyam, stunned everyone with a third-place finish and ₹5 Lakhs.

In other news, the prestigious Triton Poker Series just welcomed celebrated poker pro Danny Tang as its newest brand ambassador. This exciting partnership unites one of the world’s most esteemed high-stakes poker brands with a player whose exceptional talent and remarkable achievements (including winning the Ivan Leow Player of the Year Award for Season 3) have placed him among the game’s elite.

The PokerGO Tour blew into the Champions Club this weekend with a whirlwind of high-stakes PLO action with the Texas PLO Roundup High Roller series!

Lawrence Chang proved that in poker, persistence pays off. He battled his way through a record-shattering 474 entries in the $3,300 Main Event, the largest-ever for a PLO tournament in Texas, firing a whopping nine bullets before finally hitting the bullseye. But boy, was it worth it! Chang emerged victorious, claiming the title and a career-best $300,000 payday.

The final showdown was a nail-biter, with Chang facing off against the formidable Andrew Ige. Sparks flew as these two clashed, but Chang emerged as the champion in the end, leaving Ige to walk away with a still-impressive $200,000 for his runner-up finish.

The Texas PLO Roundup wasn’t just about the Main Event. The series also saw some incredible high-roller action, with these talented players taking home the gold:

• Adam Hendrix: Won Event #1: $5,100 PLO High Roller for $51,750
• Curtis Muller: Won Event #2: $5,100 PLO High Roller for $54,000
• Ronald Keijzer: Won Event #3: $5,100 PLO High Roller for $40,150

The poker action was red-hot at London’s Hippodrome Casino! PokerStars’ groundbreaking new Women’s Winter Festival wrapped up on November 24, and it was four days of pure fire, fierce competition, and fantastic celebrations of female power in the poker world.

The £400 Main Event was the crown jewel of the festival, and Maria Lampropulos emerged as the queen! Battling through a field of 271 contenders, she snagged the £20,000 top prize, the coveted title, and a trophy that’s sure to be the envy of every poker player. Ann-Roos Callens put up an incredible fight, finishing as runner-up and taking home a cool £12,610.

The festival kicked off with a bang with the £1,100 Women’s High Roller. Charlie Waters proved to be the last player standing, taking down the event for a sweet £10,020 after an intense heads-up battle against Jennifer Steele, who pocketed £6,400 for her second-place finish.

The £220 50/50 NLH Freezeout, a unique tournament where male and female players teamed up, had 64 dynamic duos enter the fray, and Colombia’s Yon Jairo Suaterna claimed the £7,556 top prize.

The action didn’t stop there! Roni Tal crushed the £220 NLHE, topping a 55-player field to win £3,378, while Gaston Abrevaya pocketed £2,230 for second place. And the NLHE Women’s Closer Freeroll saw Wendy Mbe emerge victorious, proving that free doesn’t mean any less fierce!

The World Poker Tour (WPT) Korea 2024 exploded onto the Jeju Shinhwa World’s Landing Casino. Over 2,100 players clashed across 28 events, fueled by a KR₩ 4 Billion prize pool. But one name rose above the rest: Chenxiang Miao.

This Shanghai poker veteran didn’t just win the KR₩2.50 Million Main Event; he conquered it. Claiming his third WPT title, Miao pocketed a staggering KR₩ 300 Million (~$215,400) – the biggest win of his career. His final opponent, Nantong’s Dingding Guan (2nd for KR₩200 Million; ~$143,600), fought bravely but ultimately fell short. With the coveted WPT Trophy and Main Event Ring in hand, Miao cemented his place as an Asian poker giant.

Forget the screech of tyres and the roar of engines – this weekend, the real action in Vegas was happening at the poker tables! While Formula 1’s finest were burning rubber on the track, a different kind of horsepower was on display at the Allē Lounge on 66. The first-ever $10,000 Big Deal for One Drop Charity Poker Tournament, orchestrated by the legendary Guy Laliberté (the founder of Cirque du Soleil!), brought together a star-studded lineup of celebrities, F1 icons, poker sharks, and big-hearted philanthropists.

Imagine this: a poker table where you’re facing off against not only seasoned pros like Dan “Jungleman” Cates and Jeff Gross but also Hollywood royalty like Jennifer Tilly and the man himself, Guy Laliberté. That’s the pressure cooker Derek Adamian found himself in, and he delivered! In a stunning victory, Adamian emerged as the champion, outwitting and outplaying his opponents to claim the ultimate prize: the Monaco Grand Prix Experience, including VIP access to the race, an exclusive invite to the Prince’s Palace Reception, and a one-of-a-kind World Poker Tour chipset.

Over at the ARIA Resort & Casino, the “Queen of the Felt” Maria Ho was busy making history. This poker diva, armed with her killer skills (and maybe a celebratory tequila or two), conquered the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Championship for the second time this year! She dominated a field of 59 contenders and pocketed a cool $50,000 – $10,000 more than her previous win – making history as the first-ever two-time CTP champion!

But the action didn’t stop in Vegas! Across the globe, poker champions were making their mark, including:

• Marcos Kenne: Won the BSOP Millions R$25,000 Millions Championship for a whopping R$2,140,000!
• Matt Salsberg: Took down the WSOP Circuit Commerce $1,700 Main Event for a cool $286,134!
• Dawid Smolka: Conquered the Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series $2,200 Warm-Up for a hefty $179,650!
• Zhen Chen: Dominated the Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series $5,300 High Roller for an impressive $132,300!
• Tim Thorp: Emerged victorious in the Mid-States Poker Tour Ameristar East Chicago Main Event for a solid $108,184!
• Abbas Pasha: Captured the RGPS Rungood Resort $800 Main Event for a respectable $58,735!
• Guan Hao Tan: Took down the $1,100 BetMGM Fall Festival Championship for a sweet $55,250!
• Maksim Tatarintsev: Won the RunGood Poker Series $600 Main Event for a tidy $37,250!
• Muaaz Gani: Claimed victory in the 2024 THMC Cape Town Million Main Event for ZAR 380,000!

This concludes this week’s round-up of the latest news and developments from the world of poker. We will return next week with another weekly report. Stay tuned!