PokerBaazi’s ₹35 Crores GTD WPT India Online Series wrapped up with a bang. The action reached a fever pitch on the final day, dishing out a massive ₹7.45 Crores across five flagship events, including two coveted WPT trophies. But the spotlight shone brightest on Natural8 India, where the biggest winner of the day emerged from one of its high-stakes MTTs. Meanwhile, other platforms like Junglee Poker, Adda52, and Pocket52 kept the poker action alive, making for an unforgettable Sunday.
Shreyansh Sharma Dominates the Scene with ₹1.54 Crores Win
The star of the day was undoubtedly Shreyansh Sharma, who showcased a masterclass in tournament play. Sharma conquered the Bounty Hunters HR MAIN EVENT 525, overcoming a field of 2,870 players and clinching a mind-blowing ₹1.54 Crores — his largest payout to date and his first-ever eight-figure win.
But Sharma wasn’t done yet. In a display of true dominance, he earned additional ITM finishes in two more events, boosting his total earnings for the day to an incredible ₹1.57 Crores. This performance not only made him the highest earner of the day but also propelled him to second place on the December monthly rankings and sixth place in the POY 2024 race.
On Natural8 India, Sharma’s total earnings for the year crossed ₹4.33 Crores, cementing his place as one of the top players in the Indian poker community.
WPT India Online Main Event: Nitin Rawat Takes the Crown
Over at PokerBaazi, the WPT India Online Series reached its grand finale with the ₹5 Crores GTD WPT#88 Main Event. In a thrilling heads-up battle, Nitin Rawat emerged victorious, defeating Divanshu Khurana to take home a life-changing ₹63.50 Lakhs and the prestigious WPT trophy.
Rawat’s Sunday was nothing short of spectacular. Alongside his Main Event victory, he cashed in two more events, bringing his total Sunday winnings to ₹64.27 Lakhs. In a tense heads-up scenario, Khurana, despite being offered a deal, chose to continue playing, ultimately finishing in second place with ₹35.54 Lakhs. The event also saw Prithviaditya Singh achieve a career-best ₹23.46 Lakhs for his third-place finish.
Avneesh Munjal Clinches WPT Player of the Series Title
Another notable performer of the day was Avneesh Munjal, who capped off his stellar run with a win in the WPT#87 Championship. His victory earned him ₹17.28 Lakhs and the prestigious WPT Player of the Series title, along with a ₹10 Lakhs bonus. But Munjal wasn’t satisfied with just one win — he went on to cash in three additional events, taking his total Sunday earnings to an impressive ₹27.97 Lakhs.
With this win, Munjal added his fourth WPT title to his impressive resume, which includes a major victory at the 2023 WPT Prime Vietnam.
Rising Stars and Comebacks
The POY 2024 race saw some fierce competition, with Anant Purohit continuing his strong form. Currently ranked third in both the POY and December leaderboards, Purohit earned ₹9.14 Lakhs on Sunday, including a fifth-place finish in the Zodiac Goat High Roller. With his December earnings surpassing ₹75 Lakhs, Purohit’s total winnings for 2024 reached ₹5.63 Crores.
At Natural8 India, standout performances also came from ‘Shouryaanga’, who finished fifth in the Sunday Winter KICK-OFF 125, earning ₹6.50 Lakhs, and Shreyas Chopra, who secured ₹3.32 Lakhs for a fifth-place finish in the Omaholic Bounty 54.
Kovid Saraswat Breaks the Drought with a Big Win
One of the biggest stories of the day was the comeback of Kovid Saraswat, who broke a five-month title drought by winning the PokerBaazi WPT#83 Superstack for ₹7.50 Lakhs. Saraswat’s win, his first-ever WPT Online title, was all the more impressive considering it came after 26 final table appearances without a victory.
In total, Saraswat earned ₹8.14 Lakhs on Sunday, marking a significant achievement in his poker career.
Other Notable Winners: New and Experienced Players Shine
- Pranav Khandalkar made a triumphant return with a win in the WPT#89 Turbo Closer for ₹5.79 Lakhs, while Prem Chand Gope finished as the runner-up.
- Debayan Das, the MoneyMaker 88.0 champion, grabbed his first-ever WPT title in the WPT#86 Deepstack for ₹4.10 Lakhs.
- Siddharth Jolly, another consistent performer, earned ₹5.22 Lakhs across four events, showing his dominance on the virtual felts.
- JaiKiran Kumar added another victory to his 2024 tally, winning the Adda52 Millions for ₹4.89 Lakhs.
At Junglee Poker, ‘Jeevin’ made a sensational debut by winning the Sunday Special Knockout for ₹3.22 Lakhs, including bounties.
Seasoned pros like Dhaval Mudgal and Kunal Patni also made their presence felt, capturing Sunday’s flagship titles on Adda52.
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