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!

While the online gaming industry grapples with the new 28% GST on all player deposits, the fervour in the Indian poker community remains unshaken. With festive vibes pervading the country, this energy is anticipated to lead to grander celebrations in November.

Highlighting the week is the riveting narrative from the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Monte Carlo. Here, the spotlight shone brightly on India’s high-stakes maestro, Santhosh Suvarna. A recognized face in Triton Poker events, Suvarna exhibited exceptional prowess, narrowly missing out on his second Triton Poker Super High Roller title. Nevertheless, his commendable third-place finish in the $125K NLH Main Event earned him a monumental $1.77 Million (~ ₹14.76 Crores). Suvarna’s outstanding performance has solidified his status as our “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”

On the home front, the virtual poker tables witnessed prodigious performances. Young Gun Gaurav Sood dazzled the poker community, accumulating an astonishing ₹17.50 Lakhs and standing tall as the week’s leading online scorer. While Sood’s trailblazing run has pushed him back in the driver`s seat to win the Player of the Year title for a record third time, players like Ayush Goyal (weekly earnings – ₹11.85 Lakhs), Shagun Jain (weekly earnings – ₹11.71 lakhs), and Advait Rajguru (weekly earnings – ₹10.25 Lakhs) showcased their calibre with staggering seven-figure hauls.

Other notable online achievers for the week include Avneesh Munjal, Vikhyat Ahlawat, Vishal Bajaj, Ashish Munot, Rising Star Aman Parakh, Anish Arora, Harsh Bubna, Sandeep Singh, and Rising Star Ritwik Khanna.

The poker community is abuzz with discussions centred around the GST notices issued by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI). However, it’s heartening to witness the proactive steps taken by online poker platforms to safeguard and bolster the gaming landscape.

In light of the recent 28% GST imposition on deposits, Pocket52 has innovatively introduced Tournament Discount Credit (TDC) and Discount Credit (DC) on its platform. These initiatives are designed to bestow players with considerable advantages while also ensuring transparency, efficiency, and a strengthened player-centric ecosystem to counter the GST challenges.

Natural8 India, with its unwavering focus on player welfare, has adeptly recalibrated its Launch Party Deposit Bonus Program to align with the modifications in India’s GST regulations. Players now stand to benefit from an enhanced deposit bonus, raised from 15% to a generous 28% on all deposits, regardless of the amount. This will be credited as a bonus, either in Cash or Tournament Points, with infinite validity, underlining the brand’s dedication to offering unparalleled player incentives.

Moreover, Natural8 India is all set to enthral poker enthusiasts with the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Hanoi Billions – India Exclusive tournament on November 5 at 9 PM. This captivating event promises participants a shot at the coveted APT trophy and an all-expenses paid trip to what is being touted as the biggest APT festival ever, the APT Hanoi Billions, from December 1 – 10. Furthermore, the top four finishers get a free Main Event ticket worth a whopping ₹1.25 Lakhs.

Meanwhile, the poker circuit was lit up by Spartan Poker’s Oktober Super Series from October 25 to 29, encompassing 31 events. Moreover, MPL Poker is hosting the third edition of the Poker Master Series, running from October 27 to November 11, and set to distribute an enticing ₹2 Crores in cash prizes across 80 tournaments.

As November dawns, poker aficionados will be treated to PokerStars India`s year-end mainstay, the Diwali Rush Series. Celebrating its sixth iteration, this series will unfold over five days, from November 1 to 5, with a staggering prize pool of over ₹90 Lakhs up for grabs!

In other news, Delta Corp. has advanced in its legal tussle against the DGGI notices. The Bombay High Court, situated in Goa, has recognized the company’s petition contesting the GST notices from DGGI, prompting responses from both Union and State governments, as well as GST authorities. Furthermore, the Sikkim High Court has stayed the ₹628 Crore GST claim from DGGI Hyderabad pertaining to outstanding dues from Delta’s Casino Deltin Denzong.

The first two bracelets at the 2023 WSOP Europe have been awarded at King’s Resort in Rozvadov. Lukas Pazma conquered Event #1: €350 NLH Opener for €110,000 and Omar Eljach dominated Event #2: €550 Pot Limit Omaha 8-Max, netting €65,900.

At the 2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus, notable champions included Russia’s Ilia Pavlov, who clinched the $10,300 EPT High Roller title with a prize of $787,400, and Lebanon’s Albert Daher taking down the $25,000 NL Hold’em VI for $264,690.

Also, the 2023 PGT PLO Series II, which took place at the PokerGO Studio from October 19 to November 1, saw remarkable victors such as the series champion Daniel Geeng (Event #9: $25,200 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship for $487,500), Bryce Yockey (Event #5: $10,100 PLO for $239,400), Stephen Hubbard (Event #3: $10,100 PLO for $231,750), Benjamin Juhasz (Event #7: $10,100 PLO for $206,400), Joao Simao (Event #6: $10,100 PLO Dealer’s Choice for $182,000), Zhen Cai (Event #8: $10,100 PLO for $176,000), Adam Hendrix (Event #4: $15,100 PLO Progressive Bounty for $152,000), Matthew Wantman (Event #1: $5,100 PLO for $150,500), Eelis Parssinen (Event #2: $7,600 PLO Bounty for $149,000), and David Wang (Event #10: $2,100 5-Card Pot-Limit Omaha for $32,640).

Online Railbird Report

Young Gun Gaurav Sood continues to solidify his reputation as the most formidable tournament player on our tracked database. His consistent and fierce gameplay, combined with sheer determination, has rightfully positioned him as a powerhouse in poker, and his achievements over the past week echo this stature.

Kicking off the week with a bang, Sood delivered a commendable performance, securing second place in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum – Ticket Drop Edition on Thursday. But he didn’t stop there. Sood sustained his winning streak into Friday, marking wins in the OSS #13 Highroller and The Ballers. Capping off a week of laudable achievements, he landed a runner-up spot in Spartan Poker’s OSS #24 Deepstack Turbo come Sunday.

While each victory in itself speaks volumes, the cumulative prize pool he gathered over the week truly sets him apart. Amassing a remarkable ₹17.50 Lakhs, Sood emerged as the reigning champion on the weekly online leaderboard. Amidst a time when tournament guarantees are relatively subdued, his lucrative winnings are a testament to his unparalleled prowess.

However, it’s essential to recognize that Sood’s journey isn’t solely driven by monetary accomplishments. His gameplay resonates with passion and ambition, signalling competitors that he’s in it for more than just the financial windfall. Aiming to clinch the POY title for an unprecedented third time, Sood already seems poised to set new benchmarks.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s OSS #13 High Roller for ₹5,88,744

> 1st in Adda52’s The Ballers for ₹5,49,000

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s OSS #24 Deepstack Turbo for ₹2,25,745

> 2nd in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum – Ticket Drop Edition for ₹2,11,301* (heads-up deal)

Ayush Goyal, initially a quiet presence in the bustling online MTT arena, recently burst into the spotlight. His remarkable triumphs in Natural8 India’s GGMasters Bounty Warm-Up Special Edition 25 and Sunday’s Speed Racer Bounty earned him a striking total of ₹10.92 Lakhs. This boosted his weekly haul to ₹11.85 Lakhs, propelling him to second place on the weekly leaderboard.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Natural8 India’s GGMasters Bounty Warm-Up Special Edition 25 for ₹9.10 Lakhs

> 1st in Natural8 India’s Speed Racer Bounty for ₹1.82 Lakhs

Online high-stakes virtuoso Shagun Jain (opted out of our tracking) made a rare appearance on mainstream Indian platforms. This past Sunday, enticed by the promise of substantial winnings, he made his presence felt at the emerging hub of Indian poker, Natural8 India. Living up to his esteemed reputation, Jain delivered an outstanding performance, sealing the second position in the Sunday Kick-Off 125 [Paradise Edition]. This feat saw him adding an impressive ₹11.71 lakhs to his coffers, ensuring his ranking as the third top online earner for the week.

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in Natural8 India’s Sunday Kick-Off 125 [Paradise Edition] for ₹11,71,250

Advait Rajguru (opted out of our tracking), the 26-year-old poker dynamo from Bengaluru and the recent ITM #100 Thursday Big Turbo champion, continued his dominance on the domestic online poker scene. He secured an outstanding sum of at least ₹10.25 Lakhs this week, a feat backed by a tournament win and two other notable final table performances. This commendable haul positioned him at fourth place on the week’s top earners leaderboard.

The pinnacle of Rajguru’s week was his sterling victory in Spartan Poker’s OSS #26 Full Toss on Sunday. Beyond this, he demonstrated his skill and determination with praiseworthy results in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum and Eliminator.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in Spartan Poker’s OSS #26 Full Toss for ₹9,04,363* (from two stacks and a heads-up deal)

> 5th in PokerStars India’s The Colosseum – Ticket Drop Edition for ₹79,107

Avneesh Munjal, the WPT Prime Vietnam Opener champion from May, is making waves again. This past week, he boosted his earnings by a significant ₹9.74 Lakhs, carving out a notable fifth position on the week’s top earners list.

Munjal’s stellar Sunday run was the buzz, with a resounding win in PokerBaazi’s BSS Super Value, netting him a tidy ₹2.45 Lakhs. He further accentuated his weekly haul with standout finishes in marquee events such as Spartan Poker’s OSS #8 NL Holdem, OSS #13 Highroller, and Hitman – PKO, along with impressive showings in PokerBaazi’s WTF and Adda52’s Iron Man.

His top finishes include:

> 1st in PokerBaazi’s BSS Super Value for ₹2,45,387* (three-way deal)

> 3rd in Spartan Poker’s OSS #8 NL Holdem for ₹2,08,681

> 4th in Spartan Poker’s OSS #13 Highroller for ₹2,14,110

> 4th in PokerBaazi’s WTF for ₹1,43,902

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s Hitman – PKO for ₹60,596

> 5th in Adda52’s Iron Man for ₹44,898

Consistently proving his prowess in the online mid-stakes arena, Vikhyat Ahlawat made a mark this week, securing a laudable sixth spot on the leaderboard and enriching his earnings by ₹9.33 Lakhs. The highlight of his week was undoubtedly his Sunday performance in Spartan Poker’s OSS #26 Full Toss. While the title eluded him, Ahlawat didn’t walk away empty-handed. Thanks to a strategic heads-up deal with Advait Rajguru, he claimed a substantial ₹8.82 Lakhs as the event’s runner-up.

His top finishes include:

> 2nd in Spartan Poker’s OSS #26 Full Toss for ₹8,81,884* (heads-up deal)

Vishal Bajaj, Ashish Munot, Rising Star Aman Parakh, Anish Arora, Harsh Bubna, Sandeep Singh, and Rising Star Ritwik Khanna were the week`s other top online scorers.

Notable Online Winners of the Week

Pocket52 Unveils TDC & DC: Elevating the Online Poker Experience For Players!

In a strategic move to counter the recently introduced 28% GST on player deposits, Pocket52 has unveiled the innovative Tournament Discount Credit (TDC) and Discount Credit (DC) to promote transparency, efficiency, and player empowerment. This ground-breaking initiative ensures that the excitement of the game remains undiminished, all while providing exceptional benefits to players.

Reinforcing its dedication to offering unmatched value, Pocket52 has revamped its wallet transaction flow: Tournament Discount Credits (TDC) → Cash Balance → Winnings → Deposit Credits (DC). Impressively, both TDC and DC are 100% usable, and neither is locked.

This revamped flow, though seemingly simple, brings a plethora of benefits to players. For one, tournament players can now prioritize using TDC credits, optimizing their gameplay and profitability.

Read the complete report here

MPL Poker’s ₹2+ Crores GTD Poker Master Series is Well Underway (October 27 – November 11)

MPL Poker is in the thick of the third edition of its popular Poker Master Series. Spanning from October 27 to November 11, this mesmerizing series promises 80 pulse-pounding tournaments. Players who prefer low to mid-stakes have much to anticipate as the combined prize pool soars past the ₹2 Crore mark. Notably, the 8:30 PM tournament each day emerges as the crown jewel, drawing ample attention and excitement.

Read the complete report here

Win a Trip to APT Hanoi Billion in Natural8 India’s APT Hanoi Billions Event on November 5 & Enjoy Maximum Value on Deposits

Newcomer Natural8 India is making waves with the unveiling of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Hanoi Billions – India Exclusive tournament. Slated for Sunday, November 5 at 9 PM, this unique online event carries a ₹15,000 buy-in, with the champion receiving the prestigious APT trophy. The grand finale, a live showdown, is set to be a part of the APT Hanoi Billions series at the illustrious National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam. As an added incentive, Natural8 India will foot the bill for the top eight finalists’ journey to Hanoi, where fans can tune into the exhilarating endgame streamed live. Notably, the leading quartet will secure a seat in the Main Event, each valued at ₹1.25 Lakhs.

Read the complete report here

Addressing recent modifications in the GST regulations on online gaming and keen on championing player benefits, Natural8 India has refined its Launch Party Deposit Bonus program. The Deposit Bonus has seen a leap from 15% to a generous 28%. Players can choose to receive this as Cash or Tournament Points. Impressively, both options come with unlimited validity, granting players the liberty to deploy their Cash and Tournament Points whenever they wish. As the icing on the cake, players are under no obligation to deplete their cash reserves first, ensuring no point goes unused.

Read the complete report here

Dive Into PokerStars India’s Diwali Rush Series With Over ₹90 Lakhs on the Line (November 1 – 5)

Get ready to join the Diwali cash frenzy! PokerStars India has rolled out its much-anticipated sixth edition of the Diwali Rush Series. Scheduled between November 1 and 5, the series boasts an array of 16 riveting tournaments. To heighten the adrenaline, players can indulge in enticing opportunities like Daily Freerolls, Freebuys, and Satellites, all set to distribute a jaw-dropping ₹90+ Lakhs in guaranteed prizes.

Read the complete report here

Triton Poker SHR Series Monte Carlo Updates

The luxurious Salle des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club is the chosen venue for the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Monte Carlo. Spanning from October 24 to November 4, this elite 13-event series has already crowned five champions.

The $125K NLH Main Event became the talk of the series, especially within the Indian poker circles. The Dubai-based Indian casino operator Santhosh Suvarna turned heads with his commendable presence at the final table of this prestigious event. Beginning as the second-shortest stack, Suvarna’s determination and prowess saw him clinching a third-place finish, bagging a whopping $1.77 Million (~₹14.76 Crores). This monumental achievement makes Survarna our “PokerGuru Star of the Week!”

However, it was Matthias Eibinger who emerged as the Main Event champion, outlasting a formidable pool of 135 competitors. Post a heads-up deal with Adrian Mateos, who settled for a $3.12 Million second-place prize, Eibinger secured a colossal $3.46 Million. In addition to the monetary reward, Eibinger was gifted an exquisite wristwatch by Jacob & Co, a mark of honour for Triton Series main event winners. The celebrations for Eibinger extended beyond the poker table, as he was treated to a two-day luxury yacht stay by the high-end brand Bombay, a gesture allowing him to relish the moment with up to five of his closest friends.

Read the complete report here

As the series progressed, esteemed players such as Dan Smith (Event #2 $200K Triton Invitational for $3,870,000), Christoph Vogelsang (Event #6: $100K NLH 8-Handed for $2.644 Million), Steve O’Dwyer (Event #5 $25K NLH Turbo for $416,000), and Jonathan Jaffe (Event #1: $50K NLH Turbo for $501,000) added Triton Poker titles to their distinguished poker resumes.

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.