This Week in Poker: October 4 – 10

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!

Since the start of October, the real money online gaming sector has been navigating tumultuous waters. The turbulence persisted this week, especially with the 52nd GST Council meeting on October 7 offering no succour for the industry. One major point of contention was the recently imposed 28% GST on player deposits across online gaming, casinos, and horse racing. Representatives from the states of Goa and Delhi voiced concerns over the excessively high GST notices dispatched by the Directorate-General of GST Intelligence. They highlighted that the GST demands appear to be back-dated, making them retrospective in nature, and the consequent financial burdens seem insurmountable for many companies. However, much to the sector’s chagrin, GST Council chairperson Nirmala Sitharaman and Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra bypassed this issue. They underscored that the GST application is forward-looking, not retrospective, emphasizing that the 28% tax obligation had always existed.

In the face of prevailing challenges, this week turned out to be a historic one for Indian poker, with PokerBaazi concluding the nation’s grandest online poker tournament, the ₹10 Crores GTD G.O.A.T. The platform facilitated 12 qualifying rounds leading to the grand finale, which attracted a staggering 15,376 participants and culminated with 1,455 finalists vying for the top spot on Monday, October 9. Arun Vijay Mutgi, an engineer from Bengaluru, playing just his eighth tournament on PokerBaazi, clinched the G.O.A.T title, pocketing a jaw-dropping ₹1,49,67,481 following a heads-up deal.

Interestingly, Sreekanth Narayan, the runner-up, walked away with a slightly higher ₹1,50,32,518 from the deal, writing this name in the record books as the single-biggest winner in an online tournament in the country. Narayan’s exemplary performance throughout the week catapulted his total earnings to a magnificent ₹1.54 Crores, crowning him both the week’s highest earner and our “PokerGuru Star of the Week.” His notable achievements in the G.O.A.T have catapulted him to the pinnacle in the online POY standings.

The week’s poker tableau also featured outstanding online performances by Chirag Khurrana, Vishal Bajaj, Vinay Rajpal, Akash Arora, Bharat Vasan, Siddharth Gangwar, Vikhyat Ahlawat, Parag Shah, Satyam Verma, Himanshu Singh, Nitin Rawat, Abhishek Sonu, and Vishal Ojha.

Undeterred by the current challenges in the industry, PokerBaazi has not taken a step back. They are lighting up the festive fervour with the launch of the Baazi Value Series, slated to unfold from October 13 to 22. This 10-day poker extravaganza is set to dazzle with a commendable ₹6 Crores in guaranteed prizes, spread across 42 expertly crafted events.

Meanwhile, Spartan Poker has rolled out the cricket-inspired promotional bonanza named “The Great Cash Pitch,” tailored for cash game aficionados. Available through November 19, this promotion promises players a substantial 60% cashback, coupled with many other alluring rewards like MG Hector SUVs, Harley Davidson bikes and the new iPhone 15.

PokerStars India, not to be outdone, has lit up October with enticing Spin & Go promotions. Players are presented with a golden chance to amplify their buy-ins by a staggering 40,000 times. The promotion is peppered with a suite of benefits, from complimentary tickets using deposit codes to daily leaderboards and enticing weekly raffles.

Transitioning to the live poker arena, the 15th rendition of the Deltin Poker Tournament set sail on October 11, charting a course through to October 16. Hosted at the renowned Casino Deltin Royale in Goa, this edition celebrates the casino’s illustrious decade in the business. Rising Star Ritwik Khanna claimed the inaugural title, the DPT Warmup NLH Turbo, capturing his first-ever live tournament victory and a striking ₹4.13 Lakhs cash prize.

Meanwhile, a significant Indian brigade is marking its presence at the World Poker Tour Vietnam “Passport to World Championship,” unfolding at the Crown Poker Club since October 6. High-stakes maestro Sriharsha Doddapaneni orchestrated a spectacular win in Event #7: VN₫ 55 Million Megastack High Roller, bagging his third live tournament title, a second WPT trophy, and a hefty VN₫ 824.50 Million (~₹28.12 Lakhs) prize.

Further augmenting India’s accolades, Sameer Agarwal triumphed in Event #14: VN₫ 11 Million PLO Turbo, taking home VN₫ 87 Million (~₹2.97 Lakhs).

In the WPT Opener, seven Indians made the cash list, with notable finishes by Deepankur Gupta (8th for VN₫164 Million) and Avneesh Munjal (8th for VN₫ 93 Million) gracing the final table. Others who contributed to the prize pool include Pradeep Sharma, Amit Kaushik, Manoj Pentakota, Raju Jaruplavath, and Sumit Sapra.

Further on, the likes of Rising Star Pratibh Saluja, Mahadeva Kurkhepally, Avneesh Munjal, and Amit Kaushik marked their territory with final table standings across assorted events in Vietnam.

On a parallel note, Poker Dream 7 Vietnam 2023, held at the Hoiana Resort & Golf in Hoi An, concluded its saga. Indian contender Deep Raina was a formidable force throughout the series, clocking nine significant finishes and amassing a remarkable VN₫ 320.19 Million (~₹10.94 Lakhs).

Concluding the series on a high, Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Bao An championed the VN₫ 20 Billion GTD Main Event, finalizing a tripartite deal to claim the Dream Golden Dragon trophy and a staggering VN₫ 2.345 Billion.

Moving to the west, the 2023 PGT Mixed Games II series, featuring nine tournaments, kicked off at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas on October 5. Four of these events have already culminated, while results for Event #5 are anticipated shortly. The triumphant roster so far comprises David Funkhouser (Event #1: $10,200 H.O.R.S.E for $187,200), Dzmitry Urbanovich (Event #4: $10,200 8-Game for $179,200), Chino Rheem (Event #2: $10,200 Big Bet Mix for $171,000), and David Prociak (Event #3: $5,100 10-Game Mini-Championship for $93,600).

On a different note, the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports has reiterated its concerns to the government regarding the 28% GST imposed on online gaming. They voiced apprehensions that such a steep tax rate might discourage potential investors from venturing into the once-burgeoning sector.

In corporate manoeuvres, Dream11 has expanded its portfolio by acquiring the fantasy stock trading platform Sixer. Concurrently, Nodwin Gaming has officially annexed Publishme, a game marketing agency formerly under the umbrella of its parent entity, Nazara Technologies. In international expansion news, WinZO has earmarked an investment of $25 Million to penetrate the Brazilian market.

Online Railbird Report

The digital felt witnessed high-voltage poker drama this week as some of the country’s most formidable players vied for dominance. At the forefront were the top contenders of PokerBaazi’s colossal ₹10 Crores GTD G.O.A.T., which drew poker enthusiasts from every corner of the country.

Sreekanth Narayan, the former runner-up in the ₹2 Crores GTD FTS #58 G.O.D and the celebrated The Millionaire victor is an online poker powerhouse whose reputation precedes him. This Monday, he added a monumental achievement to his poker legacy, securing the runner-up position in PokerBaazi’s ₹10 Crores GTD G.O.A.T. Displaying impeccable skill throughout the week, Narayan accumulated a staggering ₹1.54 Crores across seven distinguished games. It was his exceptional gameplay in two major events, in particular, that earned him the esteemed title of our “PokerGuru Star of the Week.“

PokerBaazi’s ₹10 Crores GTD G.O.A.T stood out as a beacon for poker enthusiasts, thanks to its compelling 20,000X value on a modest buy-in of just ₹5,500. This irresistible proposition led to an overwhelming participation of 15,376 hopefuls, consisting of 10,908 unique entries across 12 qualifying flights. Of these, only 1,455 of the most skilled players managed to secure their spots for the grand finale, which commenced at 8 PM on Monday.

In this arena of seasoned poker aficionados, Narayan’s prowess shone brightly. He entered a mutually beneficial heads-up deal with Arun Vijay Mutgi, who went on to wear the crown as the G.O.A.T 2.0 champion with a jaw-dropping prize of ₹1.50 Crores. Following their arrangement, Narayan claimed a career-topping ₹1.50 Crores as his reward.

Narayan’s epic performance saw him breaking through several milestones:

> Jumped from #15 to #1 in the Player of the Year Rankings (Total Cashes)

> Jumped from #7 to #1 in Annual Profits

> Crossed the ₹10 Crores mark in online winnings

> First player to cross the ₹4 Crores mark in annual winnings

> First player to cross the ₹2 Crores mark in annual profits

> Ended Young Gun Gaurav Sood‘s 16-week-long domination on the POY standings

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in PokerBaazi’s G.O.A.T. for ₹1,50,32,518* (heads-up deal)

> 4th in PokerBaazi’s (7-Max) BSS Championship for ₹2,15,600

Arun Vijay Mutgi wrote his name in the history books as the winner of the country`s grandest online poker tournament to date, the ₹10 Crores GTD G.O.A.T, securing a staggering ₹1.50 Crores after a heads-up deal with Sreekanth Narayan. This impeccable victory positioned Mutgi as the week’s second-top earner.

Hailing from Bengaluru, Mutgi is an alumnus of RV College of Engineering with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He further honed his academic prowess with postgraduate studies in Materials Science and Engineering from the prestigious Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. His triumph resonates with an evolving narrative – Indian engineers developing a keen affinity for poker. Intriguingly, despite entering his first PokerBaazi tournament in March 2020, this victory was his inaugural cash finish, achieved in merely seven tournaments on the platform. Talk about making a grand entrance!

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s G.O.A.T. for ₹1,49,67,481* (heads-up deal)

Although Chirag Khurrana started as a subtle contender in the vibrant online MTT scene, his recent stellar third-place finish in PokerBaazi’s ₹10 Crores GTD G.O.A.T. netted him an astounding ₹50 Lakhs, catapulting him to prominence. Displaying tenacity, composure, and indisputable skill, Khurrana’s recent achievements serve as a testament to the fact that unwavering commitment pays off. His sole earning for the week came from this remarkable podium finish, positioning him at third in the weekly scorer’s tally.

His top finishes include:

> 3rd in PokerBaazi’s G.O.A.T. for ₹50,00,000

Earning accolades as the “PokerGuru Star of the Week” just two weeks ago, Vishal Bajaj is a name that now resonates with poker supremacy. Demonstrating unyielding prowess, Bajaj amassed a colossal ₹44.45 Lakhs from seven distinguished finishes this past week, encompassing two championship titles, a second-place tally, and a commendable fourth-place finish. This young poker maestro’s exceptional performance this week has propelled him to the esteemed #2 spot in the Player of the Year rankings and cemented his position at fourth on the week’s leaderboard.

His top finishes include:

> 4th in PokerBaazi’s G.O.A.T. for ₹33,00,000

> 1st in Adda52’s Godfather for ₹6,14,400

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s The Weekly HighRoller for ₹2,84,439

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s Super Over (6 Max) for ₹2,07,867

Another online stalwart, Vinay Rajpal, bagged away ₹24.76 Lakhs from five deep runs since our last update, including two notable fifth-place finishes, rounding out the week`s top-five scorers.

His top finishes include:

> 5th in PokerBaazi’s G.O.A.T. for ₹23,07,000

> 5th in PokerBaazi’s (6-Max) BSS HighRoller for ₹1,22,492

Akash Arora, Bharat Vasan, Siddharth Gangwar, Vikhyat Ahlawat, Parag Shah, Satyam Verma, Himanshu Singh, Nitin Rawat, Young Gun Abhishek Sonu and Vishal Ojha were the week`s other top online scorers.

Notable Winners of the Week

PokerBaazi’s Rolls Out ₹6 Crores GTD Baazi Value Series (October 13 – 22)

PokerBaazi is set to deliver another value offering to MTT players. The premier poker platform recently announced the Baazi Value Series, an MTT gale that unfolds from October 13 to 22, boasting a guaranteed prize pool of ₹6 Crores. This 10-day extravaganza will spotlight 42 meticulously crafted events, offering buy-ins ranging from an affordable ₹500 to a grand ₹3,300. The pièce de résistance, the ₹60 Lakhs GTD Main Event, is scheduled for October 22 at 6 PM, carrying a ₹3,300 entry fee.

Read the complete report here

Spartan Poker`s Cricket-Themed Great Cash Pitch Has Rich Rewards For Cash Game Players (October 8 – November 19)

Capturing the essence of cricket, Spartan Poker’s The Great Cash Pitch kicked off on October 8 and is set to captivate enthusiasts until November 19. Coinciding with the fervour of the ongoing 2023 Cricket World Cup, the brand is dishing out an enticing 60% cashback in fan-favourite poker variants such as Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), and Open Face Chinese (OFC). Players have a plethora of stakes to select from and the chance to win lavish rewards like an MG Hector SUV, a Harley Davidson bike, and the latest iPhone 15.

Read the complete report here

PokerStars India Introduces Exciting Spin & Go Promotions This October

This October, dive into the exhilarating Spin & Go promotions presented by PokerStars India, where players have the opportunity to amplify their buy-in by a staggering 40,000 times.

Highlight features encompass:

• Deposit Bonuses: Utilize codes SPIN500 or SPIN2500 to grab tickets valued at up to ₹2,700.
• Daily Standings: Ascend the leaderboard and clinch a portion of ₹5K in T-Money.
• Weekly Draws: Enter the fray for a chance to pocket up to ₹15K in T-Money.

Read the complete report here

WPT Vietnam 2023 Updates

Hanoi’s distinguished Crown Poker Club is currently in the midst of hosting the grandeur of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Vietnam “Passport to World Championship.” Beginning October 6, this gala event offers players an 11-day poker spectacle characterized by intense competition and a VN₫ 35 Billion guarantee. The series is set to award packages worth $2,850 each to the season-ending WPT World Championship in Las Vegas.

The Indian contingent has hit the ground running. Sriharsha Doddapaneni stands out, clinching the top spot in Event #7: VN₫ 55 Million Megastack High Roller, marking his third live title win, his second WPT trophy, and pocketing a grand VN₫ 824.50 Million (~₹28.12 Lakhs).

In the PLO arena, Sameer Agarwal shone bright, bagging the title in Event #14: VN₫ 11 Million PLO Turbo, further bolstering his impressive PLO credentials with a prize of VN₫ 87 Million (~₹2.97 Lakhs).

The series was inaugurated with the VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #1: VN₫ 11 Million WPT Opener. France’s Anthony Cierco emerged victorious among 355 competitors, seizing VN₫ 657.50 Million and the coveted WPT Prime Championship Package, complete with a luxurious Vegas sojourn at the renowned Wynn Encore.

Seven Indian players made their mark in the WPT Opener, with Deepankur Gupta (8th for VN₫164 Million) and Avneesh Munjal (8th for VN₫ 93 Million) making standout finishes on the final table.

Other notables included Pradeep Sharma (13th for VN₫ 52 Million – ₹1.77 Lakhs), Amit Kaushik (22nd for VN₫ 29 Million – ₹98,905), Manoj Pentakota (25th for VN₫ 25 Million – ₹85,262), Raju Jaruplavath (36th for VN₫ 21 Million – ₹71,621), and Sumit Sapra (40th for VN₫ 17.50 Million – ₹59,864).

In the side events, Rising Star Pratibh Saluja (7th for VN₫ 27 Million – ₹92,086) and Mahadeva Kurkhepally (8th for VN₫ 22 Million – ₹75,033) clinched final table positions in Event #6: VN₫ 8.8 Million Superstack.

Avneesh Munjal showcased his skills in Event 9: VN₫ 11 Million 8 Max Deepstack Turbo (6th for VN₫ 21.80 Million – ₹74,351), and Amit Kaushik made a close run to the finish line in Event 4: VN₫ 4.4 Million Turbo (4th for VN₫ 13.80 Million – ₹43,656).

Read the complete report here

The VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #11: VN₫16.50 Million Survivor Bounty 8-Max registered a turnout of 524 entries across three starting flights. The anticipated winner’s reward is set at a handsome VN₫ 824.70 Million, along with the enviable WPT Prime Championship Package.

The Indian brigade remains robust, with Deepak Bothra (772,000) leading the pack of 67 players, advancing to Day 2 and heading a quartet of Indians in the fray. Joining him are fellow countrymen Nishant Sharma (364,000), Avneesh Munjal (191,000), and Sumit Sapra (58,500).

Read the complete report here

Poker Dream 7 Vietnam 2023

Poker Dream 7 Vietnam 2023 concluded its captivating ten-day saga on October 8. Hosted at the opulent Hoiana Resort & Golf in Hoi An, this poker carnival, brimming with exhilaration and strategy, celebrated a monumental victory in the VN₫ 20 Billion GTD Main Event by Vietnam’s pride, Nguyen Thi Bao An. Her victory set a precedent, making her the first woman to clinch the Main Event title in the tour`s history. Adding flair to her entry, she secured her seat via the unique Halloween Costume Championship Contest. Rising to the occasion, Bao An clinched the coveted Dream Golden Dragon trophy and a staggering VN₫ 2.345 Billion prize after a tripartite deal.

Sharing the limelight with Bao An were France’s ace Malouch Jean-Mathieu and Vietnam’s Nguyen Duc Anh, securing winnings of VN₫ 2.345 Billion and VN₫ 2.561 Billion, respectively.

In another headline act, the USA’s five-time WSOP bracelet victor, John Juanda, emerged triumphant in Event #17: Super High Roller, amassing an eye-watering VN₫ 6 Billion. Malaysia’s poker sensation, Victor Chong, gave a tough fight, finishing second with a cool VN₫ 4.163 Billion purse.

Among the Indian contenders, Deep Raina stood out, delivering nine stellar performances and accumulating a whopping VN₫ 320.19 Million (~₹10.94 Lakhs).

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.