The India Poker Championship (IPC) held the esteemed title of being the longest-standing live tournament series in India, tracing its roots back to a time when the India Poker Series (IPS) was the sole regular live poker series.
It was at Casino Royale in the vibrant coastal state of Goa where the IPC made its debut in December 2010. The four-event inaugural series spanned from December 2 to 5, marking the beginning of a poker legacy. The series repeated its success with three additional editions at Casino Royale across February, April, and June 2011.
Emerging from a period of repose, the IPC made a much-anticipated return in January 2015 at the plush Deltin Royale Poker Room aboard the Casino Deltin Royale. A succession of six series followed, culminating in the last one in February 2016, each adding to the lustre of the IPC’s reputation.
In a dramatic resurgence after another four-year hiatus, the IPC found a new venue at Casino Big Daddy in Goa. This comeback in January 2020 was nothing short of sensational, as record-breaking participation in the series made headlines. Pune’s Raj Talwar emerged victorious in the ₹35K Main Event amidst a staggering 777 entries, seizing a prize of ₹49.25 Lakhs. Meanwhile, Pranay Chawla from Noida clinched the ₹100K High Roller title and a mammoth ₹51.66 Lakhs. This Main Event entry record was broken by the 2022 Baazi Poker Tour ₹35K Main Event, which registered 900 entries.
IPC kicked off 2020 with an explosive series from January 14 to 19, hosted at the Spartan LIVE Poker Room at Casino Big Daddy. The highlight of the event was the Main Event ₹3.25 Crores GTD. Rubin Labroo claimed the prestigious title and was thus christened the new India Poker Champion. Alongside the illustrious IPC trophy, Labroo’s victory brought him ₹45.34 Lakhs in prize money and a bountiful one-year sponsorship deal worth ₹20 Lakhs from Spartan Poker, not to mention a magnificent Panerai watch!
Overcoming the two-year hiatus induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the IPC reemerged in May 2022 and reincarnated with a fresh allure. Moving away from Goa’s shores, the IPC ventured into the hills of Jhapa, Nepal. The IPC Megastacks debuted from May 17 to 22 at the Casino Vegas by Big Daddy, housed within the grand Hotel Mechi Crown.
The first to etch his name in this chapter of IPC history was Mahesh Shyamsundar, who clinched his maiden live title in the ₹25K Kick-Off, bagging a handsome ₹8.15 Lakhs prize. Alok Birewar won the ₹100K High Roller and a prize of ₹40.71 Lakhs. Vivek Singh reigned over the ₹15K Mystery Bounty, walking away with ₹3.14 Lakhs.
In the grand ₹60K Main Event, Young Gun Siddhanth Kripalani outlasted all, including WSOP bracelet winner Aditya Sushant, with whom he struck a deal heads-up. Kripalani took home his first live title and a career-high ₹39.72 Lakhs, while Sushant secured a ₹33.50 Lakhs prize for his second-place finish.