Gracing this week`s #WomenInPoker feature is Ankita Ajay Malik, a former social media executive turned full-time poker pro.

Originally from Bhilai, Ankita currently lives in Raipur and has a B. Tech in Computer Science. Following her graduation, she worked in digital marketing but quit her job to become a full-time poker player after marriage.

Now, spouses being inspired by their better half is nothing new, and Ankita`s poker journey, too, follows a similar storyline.

Talking about her introduction to the game, Ankita says, “I was introduced to poker by my better half, Gagan Malik, when we started dating each other three years ago. However, I started playing poker only after our marriage, which was about a year ago.”

“When we met, I had no idea what poker was all about, but after our marriage and watching Gagan play, I decided to quit my job and learn the game from him. Now I play the game daily and have become a full-time professional.”

Finding support from your life partner is crucial for success, and Ankita fits the role perfectly. She was always eager to accompany her husband on poker trips to Goa and used the opportunity to witness the game being played professionally up close. And she was not just a spectator as she played cash games and even tournaments, and that too at marquee stops like the Deltin Poker Tournament & Baazi Poker Tour.

With the COVID outbreak, Ankita had to shift to playing online mostly. She tells us, “I play only on Adda52, so till now, my biggest score is a second-place finish in the Big Slick for ₹1.96 Lakhs!”

Ankita may very well be the next poker talent to take the virtual felts by storm. She has worked up an impressive record of title victories and FT finishes quickly and currently boasts over ₹12.72 Lakhs in net profits on the site.

Some of her most significant achievements include:

• Finishing 2nd in Big Slick for ₹1,96,462
• Winning the World Poker Tour (WPT) Mini 6-Max for ₹1,63,118
• Winning the Running Hot an incredible four times

Winning AOPS Siesta, Afternoon Adda (twice), Quad KO – 4 Max, Holdem Bash, and Nano Godfather, to name a few.

When we asked her if she had any favourite players she admired, Ankita said, “Just after our marriage, we went to PokerBaazi LIVE for the Baazi Poker Tour in January 2020. There I was inspired by Maria Kirloskar and Muskan Sethi. These are the two players for whom I always look up to.”

Ankita believes that it is the best time to be a poker player in India. The game’s awareness is constantly increasing, as evidenced by the guarantees of flagship tournaments being crushed regularly. For now, she is keen on continuously improving her game and hopes to ship a significant live tournament once normalcy is restored.

When asked if she had a mantra that kept her motivated, she told us, “I find the serenity prayer comforting, and I think this is relevant for all poker players. The prayer goes – ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things which I can, and the wisdom to understand the difference.’ This prayer does make a difference.”

Cheers to Ankita and her passion for poker. We hope to see her inspiring other poker players, especially women, to follow their dreams for years to come!