As the holiday season sweeps across the globe, the poker world refuses to take a backseat. With online platforms and live tables bustling with action, Indian players are not only making waves but are etching their names in the record books. Let’s dive into the highlights of a truly unforgettable Thursday in Indian poker.
High-Stakes Action Dominates Indian Poker Tables
In India, Thursday turned into a goldmine for poker enthusiasts, with four players crossing the millionaire mark. PokerBaazi’s ₹35 Crores GTD WPT India Online series took center stage with a total of ₹2 Crores in guarantees spread across five tournaments. Natural8 India joined the frenzy with its millionaire-maker event, while Adda52 crowned another seven-figure winner. The night was packed with jaw-dropping victories, intense battles, and record-breaking performances.
Thursday Indian Poker Player Highlights:
1. Anant Purohit: Setting the Felt on Fire
Anant Purohit continues to dominate the Player of the Year (POY) leaderboard with a scorching run this December. Competing in Natural8 India’s Bounty Hunters HR 525, Purohit outplayed 661 entries to finish fourth, earning ₹20.04 Lakhs. He wasn’t done there—later in the night, he clinched a podium finish in PokerBaazi’s WPT#67 Super HighRoller, boosting his Thursday earnings to a staggering ₹30.98 Lakhs.
His December achievements are nothing short of phenomenal:
- Monthly earnings: ₹74.25 Lakhs
- Natural8 India total for 2024: ₹4.34 Crores
- Overall 2024 winnings: ₹5.61 Crores
This incredible run pushed Purohit to the #3 spot in the POY race, making him one of the hottest contenders as the year wraps up.
2. Gaurav Sood: The Consistent Champ
Three-time POY and Young Gun Gaurav Sood added another feather to his cap. After securing three WPT India Online titles last week, Sood claimed victory in Pocket52’s Pocket Magnets tournament for ₹1.76 Lakhs. Alongside three deep runs, including one in the WPT#69 (PLO-6), Sood amassed a total of ₹2 Lakhs for the day. His performance propelled him to the #3 spot on the WPT India Online leaderboard, reinforcing his reputation as one of India’s best.
3. Karan Thakker: Breaking the Drought
Ending a 1.5-month title drought, Karan Thakker triumphed in PokerBaazi’s WPT#65 Superstack. Striking a heads-up deal, Thakker pocketed ₹3.11 Lakhs—his personal best for the year. This victory marked a much-needed return to form for the talented player.
4. Nikhil Ramesh: Double WPT Titles
Nikhil Ramesh continued his winning streak, securing his second WPT title of 2024 in the WPT#69 (PLO-6). He navigated a tricky three-way deal to claim ₹3.64 Lakhs, his second-largest score on PokerBaazi. Ramesh’s consistency across events has made him a name to watch.
5. Pranay Chawla: Millionaire on a Roll
Known for his previous victories in marquee events like the Game Changer, Pranay Chawla delivered yet another outstanding performance. After winning PokerBaazi’s WPT#61 Mega Championship the night before, Chawla went on to conquer the WPT#67 Super HighRoller, adding ₹19.06 Lakhs to his bankroll. With this win, Chawla crossed ₹1 Crore in winnings for 2024 and secured a Day 2 seat in the WPT#86 Main Event, setting the stage for another deep run.
6. Samyak Sethi: Smashing Milestones
Samyak Sethi’s runner-up finish in the WPT#67 Super HighRoller earned him ₹13.82 Lakhs, adding to his already impressive Thursday haul of ₹13.95 Lakhs. This performance helped Sethi cross the ₹4 Crore mark in lifetime earnings, cementing his place among the elite.
7. Santhosh Suvarna: International Glory
The stellar performance of Santhosh Suvarna on the international stage. At the WSOP Paradise, Suvarna made it to the final table in the $5,000 The Closer NLHE Bounty Turbo. He walked away with an impressive $50,800 (~₹43.21 Lakhs), proving once again that Indian players are a force to be reckoned with on the global circuit.
8. Shravan Chhabria: Consistent Deep Runs
Shravan Chhabria made headlines with his runner-up finish in Adda52’s Godfather event, where he took home ₹3.85 Lakhs. He followed it up with two more deep runs, bringing his total Thursday winnings to ₹5.44 Lakhs—a testament to his consistency.
9. Vaibhav Temani: Career-Best Performances
Vaibhav Temani turned Thursday into a personal jackpot. He secured his first Godfather title on Adda52, winning ₹4 Lakhs, and followed it up with a runner-up finish in Natural8 India’s Bounty Fifty Stack 54 for ₹8.34 Lakhs. With two more deep runs, Temani’s total winnings for the day hit an impressive ₹12.44 Lakhs.
Underdogs and Rising Stars
Thursday wasn’t just about the big names. Several emerging players made their mark with exceptional performances:
- Arbaaz Ahmed: Secured his first marquee title.
- Junglee Poker’s ‘sportfire220479’: Won the Thursday Thunder for ₹1.26 Lakhs.
- Shivam Shukla, Paramjeet, and Nikku Agarwal: Clinched marquee events, showing their potential to compete with the best.
From record-breaking performances to thrilling deep runs, Thursday was nothing short of spectacular for Indian poker players. With the POY race heating up and several high-stakes tournaments on the horizon, the excitement is far from over. Who will emerge as the ultimate champion of 2024? Only time will tell.
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