This Week in Poker: November 6 – 12

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!

While the world bundles up for winter, Indian poker players are turning up the heat on the live and virtual felts. The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is making waves with back-to-back live stops in Manila and now Phu Quoc, plus the launch of the APT Online 2024 on Natural8 India. PokerBaazi is also fueling the excitement with its boosted guaranteed tournaments, gearing up for the blockbuster ₹35 Crores GTD WPT India Online Series next month. And let’s not forget the high-stakes showdowns in Monte Carlo at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series and Las Vegas at the NAPT Las Vegas. It’s a great time to be a poker player!

Team India continues to dominate the live poker scene! Avneesh Munjal just etched his name into APT history with a spectacular victory in Event #29: VN₫ 60 Million High Roller – Double Stack at the ongoing APT Phu Quoc 2024. Munjal went on “God Mode,” making an epic comeback from being one of the shortest stacks on the final day. He outlasted a tough field of 117 entries (78 unique) over two days of intense action to claim a career-best VN₫ 1.541 Billion (~₹51.34 Lakhs) and the coveted APT lion trophy. This incredible performance makes him our undeniable “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”

Adding to India’s success in the High Roller – Double Stack, 28-year-old poker prodigy Amit Kaushik also made his mark with an impressive final table appearance. Kaushik, who started Day 2 with a healthy stack, skillfully navigated his way to an eighth-place finish, earning VN₫ 205.30 Million (~₹6.84 Lakhs).

The APT’s return to the beautiful island of Phu Quoc after a year-and-a-half-hiatus has been nothing short of phenomenal. This ten-day poker extravaganza, co-hosted with VPT at the glamorous Corona Theatre, has been a non-stop thrill ride, with a staggering VN₫ 44 Billion (~$1.70 Million) in guaranteed prizes spread across 82 exciting events. Following the record-breaking APT Manila, Phu Quoc is writing its own chapter in APT history with intense action from the very first hand.

Indian poker players are making a statement at APT Phu Quoc, adding to the country’s impressive track record on the Asian poker circuit. With 42 champions crowned in the first six days of the series, Team India has already racked up an incredible 18 cash finishes, including 11 final table appearances and two awesome victories! The team really hit its stride on Wednesday with an explosive performance, with Indian players locking up ten cashes, including seven final table appearances and a stunning victory!

While Munjal’s victory was a highlight, Natural8 India Executive Director Kunal Patni ignited India’s winning streak in the series. This live tournament veteran has been on fire, notching back-to-back final table finishes on Sunday, including a runner-up finish in Event #19: VN₫ 4 Million Tick Tock BOOM! Super Hold’em.

But Patni wasn’t satisfied with just a near miss. This veteran pro from Mumbai, currently ranked #10 on India’s all-time money list with over $1 Million in live earnings, went on to conquer Event #37: VN₫ 7 Million Tick Tock BOOM, capturing his third APT trophy after winning two consecutive titles at APT Hanoi last February. Interestingly, all three of Patni’s APT titles have come in turbo events, showing he’s got a knack for this fast-paced format.

Patni’s victory in the VN₫ 7 Million Tick Tock BOOM saw him outlast a field of 46 entries to claim the VN₫ 93.449 Million (~₹3.11 Lakhs) top prize. He further added to his exceptional run with a fourth-place finish in Event #41: VN₫ 10 Million Turbo – Double Stack for VN₫ 101.45 Million (~₹3.37 Lakhs), bringing his total series winnings to aVN₫ 312.869 Million (~₹10.40 Lakhs), making him the second-highest Indian scorer for the stop so far, just behind Munjal.

All eyes are now on the VN₫ 36 Million APT Main Event, featuring a VN₫ 25 Billion (~$1 Million) guarantee. Day 2 saw 292 players return to the tables, with another 42 players jumping in for late registration, bringing the total number of entries to 795 (400 unique) – a 56% increase from last year! While the total prize pool fell just short of the advertised VN₫ 25 Billion guarantee by a slim VN₫ 14.74 Million, it still represents a 41% increase over last year’s APT Phu Quoc Main Event, reaching VN₫ 14.75 Billion (~$619,000).

A total of 12 Indian players are still in contention, and Team India is poised for continued success, ready to etch their names in the annals of Asian poker history.

Team India Scores at the APT Phu Quoc 2024

APT Phu Quoc 2024 List of Winners

While the APT Phu Quoc was just getting started, the APT Manila 2024 was wrapping up as another resounding success for Indian poker. A small crew of Indian players made a splash in Manila, racking up nine cash finishes, including five final table appearances and two glorious victories.

Rishi Mehra ignited the festival’s final day with a spectacular win in Event #103: ₱100K High Roller – Last Chance. After narrowly missing out on the bronze lion trophy in the APT Taipei Poker Classic’s TWD 110,000 APT High Rolle last month, where he finished runner-up for a staggering ₹90.98 Lakhs, Mehra carried that momentum into Manila. He was the only Indian contender to cash in the ₱85K APT Main Event, but he clearly had his sights set higher.

On the festival’s last day, Mehra finally achieved his breakthrough. He dominated the ₱100K High Roller – Last Chance, topping the 63-entry field (49 unique) to collect a massive ₱1,603,900 (~₹23.17 Lakhs) payday – his first-ever live title and second-best live score. This victory boosted Mehra’s total winnings at the festival to ₱1,825,900 (~₹26.37 Lakhs), making him the top Indian earner of the series.

The Indian winning streak was ignited by Leon Menezes, a true Renaissance man who blends his sharp poker skills with his passion for music as the vocalist of the rock and metal band CRUNG. Menezes, also a successful entrepreneur and founder of Leon22 and Co., an affiliate linked with various gaming sites, kicked off India’s winning streak with a victory in Event #75: ₱8K Turbo – Omaholic. He nearly captured a second title in Event #97: ₱12K PL Omaha High – Lazy Rivers, finishing third among 17 entries (13 unique) for ₱35,000 (~₹51,000), bringing his series total to ₱139,555 (~₹2.02 Lakhs).

Team India Scores at APT Manila 2024

The APT Manila 2024 festival was a monumental success, breaking seven APT country records for field size and prize pools. The ₱85,000 APT Main Event was a spectacle, drawing a massive field of 1,081 entries (639 unique) from 36 countries, although falling just short of its staggering ₱100 Million (~$1.70 Million) prize pool. Although there was a small overlay, the Main Event awarded close to a third (29%) of the entire festival’s prize money. USA’s Daniel Lee emerged victorious, seizing the coveted 24K gold lion trophy and a life-changing ₱15.06 Million (~$256,850) after a heads-up deal with South Africa’s Edgar Antezana, who also walked away with a career-best ₱13.85 Million (~$235,450) as the runner-up.

The festival also saw record-breaking performances in several other events, including Event #1: Philippines National Cup, Event #10: Mystery Bounty Hunter – Sponsored by Natural8, Event #74: Zodiac Classic – Sponsored by Natural8, Event #81: Double Stack, Event #93: Mini Main Event, and Event #94: APT High Roller.

APT Manila 2024 List of Winners

While the live poker scene was buzzing with action, the online felts were also on fire! Natural8 India, the epicentre of online poker excitement, unleashed a torrent of high-stakes tournaments, and Tarun Goyal emerged as the undisputed king.

Goyal, a WSOP bracelet winner and a poker legend in the making, has been on an unstoppable tear, and this past week was no different. Fresh off his 10th-place finish in the GGMillion$ Main Event on Dhanteras, a feat that catapulted him to the top of the POY rankings, Goyal continued his dominance with a jaw-dropping ₹21.11 Lakhs Sunday haul.

His most impressive feat this week was a seventh-place finish in the Sunday HR Main Event 1500, where he snagged a whopping ₹19.63 Lakhs – the day’s highest individual score and his tenth seven-figure score on Natural8 India this year! He also made a deep run in the Bounty Hunters HR Main Event 525, finishing 109th for ₹1.47 Lakhs.

This spectacular Sunday performance propelled Goyal’s annual earnings to an astronomical ₹7.22 Crores, with ₹6.58 Crores stemming from Natural8 India alone, adding to his record-breaking tally this year!

The online poker universe was abuzz with excitement as a constellation of other notable players made their mark. Vaibhav Temani, Satyam Verma, Akash Malik, Amar Iyer, Sahil Mahboobani, Naveen Kumar S, Anish Arora, and Nishaanth Shamughasindaram all delivered stellar performances!

Top Online Winners of the Week

But the action is just getting started! A smorgasbord of mouth-watering tournament series has ignited the digital realm, promising a feast of poker action for players of all levels.

The Asian Poker Tour (APT), known for its high-octane live tournaments across Asia, has brought the heat online with APT Online 2024 on Natural8 India. Fresh off celebrating its first anniversary in September, Natural8 India has turned up the temperature with this thrilling online series, giving Indian players a chance to experience the APT’s biggest-ever festival from the comfort of their homes.

Running from November 10 to December 1, 2024, this series is a treasure trove of poker excitement, featuring 20 Trophy Events. With a diverse range of events catering to all bankrolls and skill levels, APT Online 2024 is your chance to etch your name in poker history.

A23 Poker, the poker arm of Head Digital Works Private Limited, has made a big move to become a dominant player in the country by launching its much-awaited desktop app. While the site has been a mobile sensation for over a year, serious players can now rejoice in a dedicated desktop version, unleashing the power of seamless multi-tabling and an enhanced gaming experience.

But that’s not all! A23 Poker also ignited the virtual felts with its brand-new Dynamite Series, a two-week poker extravaganza running from November 11 to 24. With a ₹1.50 Crores guaranteed prize pool and a lineup of thrilling tournaments, this series is just the first of many exciting offerings from this gaming giant.

In other news, the World Poker Tour (WPT) just hit the jackpot by signing a multi-year deal that makes CBS Sports Network the exclusive broadcast partner for WPT premiere episodes! Starting this November, prepare to be glued to your screens as the high-stakes action of Season XXI and beyond unfolds before your very eyes.

Delta Corp Ltd., the publicly-listed casino and online gaming giant, is facing a storm of regulatory challenges. Their recent Q2 earnings report paints a stark picture: the heavy hand of GST on casinos and gaming is taking its toll, with key metrics like net profit, revenue, and operating margins feeling the squeeze.

This news follows Delta Corp’s strategic move to demerge its hospitality and real estate operations from its core gaming business, a calculated manoeuvre aimed at unlocking shareholder value. However, the Q2 FY25 financial performance reveals the harsh reality of regulatory changes, particularly the high GST imposed on gaming and casino operations since last October.

The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Monte Carlo has been an absolute spectacle! From November 1 to 14, the world’s elite poker players descended upon the glamorous Sporting Monte-Carlo for 16 high-octane events presented in partnership with WPT Global.

Finnish poker legend Patrik Antonius proved that he’s still at the top of his game by conquering the $200K Triton Invitational.. In a field packed with some of the best players in the world, the Poker Hall of Famer navigated his way through 102 entries to claim the $5.13 Million top prize – the biggest single win of his illustrious career! This victory, coming just a week after his fifth-place finish in Event #2: $30K NLHE 8-Handed for $298,000, has pushed his career live earnings past $29 Million, ranking him #28 on poker’s all-time money list.

Adding to the excitement of the Triton Invitational was the unexpected rise of Vladimir “Gambledore” Korzinin, a 69-year-old Estonian newcomer to the high-roller scene. With his distinctive long white beard and fearless playing style, Korzinin captivated the poker world. Despite ultimately falling short of victory, his second-place finish earned him a remarkable $3.47 million. This impressive sum, only his third recorded live cash, catapulted his earnings to over $3.50 Million, instantly placing him at the top of Estonia’s all-time money list.

But Gambeldore wasn’t done yet! Two days later, Korzinin tore through the 121-entry field of Event #12: $150K NLH 8-Handed. The Estonian’s aggressive play, coupled with daring bluffs and bold moves, stunned a packed field of Triton stalwarts as Korzinin claimed an eye-popping $4.35 Million victory, a new personal best. Finland’s Ossi Ketola, another newcomer, bagged the runner-up finish in the $150K NLH 8-Handed, taking home a career-best $2.97 Million payday.

Bryn Kenney, the legendary American poker pro, further cemented his legacy by capturing Event #10: $125K NLH Main Event. Kenney’s commanding performance earned him a staggering $4.41 Million and his fourth Triton title. At 38 years old, Kenney has already achieved unparalleled success, reigning supreme as the all-time leader in poker earnings. This latest victory elevates his career total to over $71.425 million, with an astounding $43.38 million stemming from Triton tournaments alone. Kenney’s dominance is undeniable, as he now leads second-place Justin Bonomo by a comfortable $7.30 Million in all-time winnings.

Kenney’s victory in the Main Event also came with a unique reward: an exquisite Jacob & Co timepiece crafted exclusively for Triton Series Main Event champions. This was Kenney’s first opportunity to don the prestigious watch, a symbol of his triumph under Triton’s partnership with the renowned luxury watchmaker. In a thrilling heads-up battle, Kenney defeated Malaysia’s Wai Leong Chan, who earned a respectable $2.97 Million for his second-place finish. Thailand`s all-time money leader Punnat Punsri, also vying for his second Main Event title, scored a commendable third place and $2.045 Million.

Event #6: $100K NLH 8-Handed witnessed Belgian high roller Pieter Aerts deliver a masterclass, overcoming a formidable field of 131 entries to claim his second Triton title and a remarkable $2.234 Million.

Russian poker phenomenon Artur Martirosian captured his first Triton trophy in Event #7: $30K NLH Bounty Quattro. Martirosian’s journey to victory was marked by intense action and clutch plays, culminating in a thrilling heads-up duel. His impressive performance earned him $891,000, including $360,000 in bounties.

Event #9: $50K NLH 7-Handed saw American poker pro Jesse Lonis rise to the occasion, battling through a tough field to secure his first-ever Triton title and a massive $1.50 Million prize. Punnat Punsri claimed a well-deserved second place and $1.021 Million.

Ukrainian poker pro Igor Yaroshevskyy triumphed in Event #11: $60K NLH 8-Handed Turbo, snagging his second Triton trophy in just six months. After a heads-up deal, Yaroshevskyy claimed $862,357, while Alex Theologis finished as runner-up for $860,143.

The PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) made a highly anticipated return to the dazzling Resorts World Las Vegas from November 1 to 10. Building on the success of its relaunch last year, this year’s series crowned 30 champions across 11 days of intense poker action.

Nick Marchington stole the show with a dominant performance in the $5,300 Main Event. This 26-year-old UK pro navigated a massive field of 895 entries with incredible skill and composure, claiming the coveted NAPT title and a whopping $765,200 top prize. His performance will be etched in the annals of poker history as one of the most dominant final table displays in recent memory. USA’s Joel Micka finished runner-up for a respectable $478,450.

The $25,000 NAPT Super High Roller was another tournament everyone had their eyes on. Stephen Song, a true poker maestro, orchestrated a flawless performance to seize the prestigious PokerStars shard trophy and a massive $439,400 prize. Song’s journey to victory culminated in a thrilling heads-up battle against Sean Winter. Despite Winter’s formidable reputation, Song’s relentless pressure proved too much to handle. Winter, a force to be reckoned with in his own right, claimed a commendable $288,100 for his runner-up finish.

Sam Soverel, the renowned American high-stakes poker pro, proved that even a “party hangover” cannot stop him from crushing the competition. Soverel conquered the $10,300 NAPT High Roller, outlasting a field of 170 entries to claim a hefty $385,750 payday. Despite admitting to a less-than-ideal night’s sleep, Soverel’s skills were as sharp as ever. He stormed into the final day with a commanding chip lead and never looked

The series also witnessed the electrifying performance of Croatian poker pro Gregor Sverko, who championed the $550 Mystery Bounty in dramatic fashion. Sverko navigated a huge field of 1,201 entries with a combination of skill, strategy, and a touch of good fortune. His victory earned him the prestigious PokerStars shard trophy and a cool $66,300, including $19,500 in bounties. Daniel Samson, despite a strong showing, had to settle for the runner-up spot and $37,300, including $8,500 in bounties.

PokerStars also made waves at the NAPT with a thrilling announcement: elite high-stakes player Jason Koon and comedic content creator Caitlin Comeskey are now the newest members of their ambassador lineup! This bold move highlights PokerStars’ commitment to broadening its appeal by blending top-tier poker expertise with engaging, relatable entertainment.

While the Triton Poker SHRS and the NAPT Las Vegas were stealing the spotlight, Ari Engel, the poker legend with the most WSOP Circuit rings, added another impressive accomplishment to his resume: his fourth WSOP gold bracelet! And he did it in incredible fashion, conquering the online bracelet arena while simultaneously battling it out in a live tournament.

Engel was deep in the $550 Cardplayer Lifestyle H.E.R.O.S. event at the NAPT when he pulled off this incredible double-duty victory. At the same time, he was navigating the treacherous waters of Event #29: $400 NL Hold ’em Turbo at the WSOP Online Series. The online tournament, a turbo-charged battleground with a $400 buy-in, attracted a 500 entries. Engel, a master of multitasking, emerged victorious after just over six hours of play, claiming his second online bracelet and his fourth overall. And as if that wasn’t enough, he even cashed in the H.E.R.O.S. event, finishing ninth for $1,510.

Dan Lowrey etched his name into poker history by capturing his 16th World Series of Poker Circuit ring! This remarkable achievement unfolded in Event #9: $250 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em at the Choctaw Casino and Resort, where he outlasted a field of 500 entries to claim the title and the lion’s share of the $100,000 prize pool worth $18,682. Brian Green finished runner-up for $12,451. This latest triumph places Lowrey in a tie with Maurice Hawkins for second place on the all-time WSOP Circuit ring list, two rings behind the current leader, Ari Engel.

The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) concluded its ninth leg of the 2024 season with a bang, as Indo-British poker ace Ravi Sheth emerged as GUKPT Blackpool Main Event champion. Sheth, a senior finance professional, navigated his way through a challenging field to claim the coveted title and a hefty £68,580 (~₹74.20 Lakhs) payday.

A slew of other international winners were also crowned this week, including Indo-Austrian Aaron Pahlawani (Won 2024 PLO Grand Slam €5,200 PLO Opener for €176,100), Domenico Lando (Won 2024 Malta Poker Festival €550 Grand Event for €140,000), Chiehchi Liu (Won 2024 TMT Championship NT$ 20 Million GTD Main Event for NT$ 4.539 Million), Phil Bertram (Won WSOPC Choctaw Durant Event #14: $1,700 Main Event for $237,307), Mario Perati (Won WSOP-C Sanremo €1,000 Main Event for €123,140), and Dane Miller (Won $1,000 buy-in RGPS Main Event for $98,607).

The Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WiPHoF) has unveiled its Class of 2024 inductees, honouring three remarkable women who have left a lasting mark on the game. This year, Kristen Bicknell Foxen and Jeanne David were inducted for their exceptional contributions, while the late Starla Brodie became the inaugural Pioneer Inductee, a tribute to her groundbreaking legacy in poker. The induction ceremony, set for next month, promises to be an inspiring celebration of these trailblazing women and their profound influence on the poker world.

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