On May 31st, the poker scene was alive with exciting victories across major platforms. At Natural8 India, ALU777 dominated the Saturday Secret KO 25 tournament, taking home an impressive ₹12.81 Lakh prize through aggressive bounty hunting and consistent play. Accompanying this, accolade showcased sharp strategy to win the Hold’em Deepstack event for ₹4.30 Lakh. Confuseus, along with Furukawa Shimpei and Furunandesu, also made strong bounty runs in their respective events.
Meanwhile, PokerBaazi’s flagship #31 The MoneyMaker saw Arbaaz Ahmed claim the top prize of ₹15 Lakh, overcoming a tough field. Other winners like Mayank Maruka in Blockbuster, Animesh Thakur in Daily Last Chance, and Cholaraj G in Blockbuster Lite demonstrated exceptional skill and resilience in high-stakes and mid-stakes events alike, marking a day full of thrilling poker action.
The 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is also in full flow, with many Indian players competing fiercely on the global stage. Event #7, the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship, has narrowed down to the final four: Artur Martirosian, Patrick Leonard, Aliaksei Boika, and David Chen. After a dramatic upset eliminated fan-favorite Chance Kornuth, the battle for the $500,000 prize and coveted WSOP bracelet is intensifying.
Among India’s brightest stars at WSOP 2025 are high roller Santhosh Suvarna, veteran bracelet winner Aditya Agarwal, steady Kavin Shah, analytical Nipun Java, trailblazer Nikita Luther, and experienced Kartik Ved. Their skill and determination promise to keep Indian poker enthusiasts on the edge of their seats throughout the series.
Also Read: May 30 Poker Recap: POKERPANTA, racebegins, Furukawa Shimpei & More Shine
Natural8 India – Featured Winners
- ALU777 – ₹12,81,943
Tournament: Saturday Secret KO 25
Highlight: ALU777 delivered a commanding performance in the Saturday Secret KO 25, dominating opponents and capitalizing on bounty opportunities to win an impressive ₹12.81 Lakh prize through consistent deep-stack play and tactical aggression.
- acolade – ₹4,30,278
Tournament: Hold’em Deepstack
Highlight: accolade displayed exceptional focus and strategic skill to claim victory in the Hold’em Deepstack tournament. Battling a competitive field, they secured a significant ₹4.30 Lakh prize by applying consistent pressure and making calculated moves throughout the event.
A few days ago, Acolade’s calm strategy earned them ₹4,72,211, showcasing impressive tournament endurance.
Read The Whole Article HERE!
- Confuseus – ₹1,82,085
Tournament: Saturday Secret KO 25
Highlight: Confuseus showcased resilience and sharp decision-making in the Saturday Secret KO 25 tournament. Their tactical play and bounty hunting earned them an impressive ₹1.82 Lakh prize amidst fierce competition.
- Furukawa Shimpei (Furunandesu) – ₹1,27,014
Tournament: Speed Racer Bounty Closer 108
Highlight: Furukawa Shimpei also known as Furunandesu precision and aggressive bounty strategy to secure ₹1.27 Lakh in the Speed Racer Bounty Closer 108, navigating the fast-paced action with skillful execution.
A few days ago, Furukawa Shimpei (Furunandesu) won ₹1,27,014 in the Speed Racer Bounty Closer 108 tournament.
PokerBaazi – Featured Winners
#31 The MoneyMaker (₹10,000 Buy-in | ₹1 Crore GTD)
- 1st: Arbaaz Ahmed (Abbc) – ₹15,00,000
- 2nd: Mithun Mahesh (thepokeraja) – ₹9,78,000
- 3rd: Apoorv Kishore (Killsden) – ₹7,00,000
Highlight: Arbaaz Ahmed dominated #31 The MoneyMaker, the marquee high-stakes event, outlasting a fierce field to claim ₹15 Lakh and add a major title to his poker achievements.
Blockbuster (₹5,750 Buy-in | ₹30 Lakh GTD)
- 1st: Mayank Maruka (Newslolidcash) – ₹5,00,000
- 2nd: Saurabh Rohila (twister) – ₹3,00,000
- 3rd: Debayan Das (dbz19) – ₹2,40,000
Highlight: Mayank Maruka showcased exceptional skill and consistency in Blockbuster, securing the top prize of ₹5 Lakh and defeating strong contenders in this high buy-in event.
Daily Last Chance (₹2,500 Buy-in | ₹10 Lakh GTD)
- 1st: Animesh Thakur (TurnTerror) – ₹1,99,000
- 2nd: Rajneesh Thakur (msdhoni) – ₹1,80,000
- 3rd: CoreD – ₹1,81,000
Highlight: Animesh Thakur clinched victory in the Daily Last Chance event, navigating a tough field to take home nearly ₹2 Lakh and a coveted win in this popular mid-stakes tournament.
Blockbuster Lite (₹2,000 Buy-in | ₹10 Lakh GTD)
- 1st: Cholaraj G (C11R) – ₹1,91,000
- 2nd: Ashwin Vijay (Ashwinvijay99) – ₹1,25,000
- 3rd: Ganesh Kamat (JesseLivermore) – ₹92,320
Highlight: Cholaraj G emerged as the champion in Blockbuster Lite, overcoming fierce competition in this accessible yet competitive tournament to pocket ₹1.9 Lakh.
Conclusion
May 31st marked a thrilling day in Indian online poker, with top wins on Natural8 India and PokerBaazi. From ALU777’s bounty mastery to Arbaaz Ahmed’s high-stakes victory, players showed great skill and resilience. These results highlight India’s growing poker talent and popularity, signaling a strong presence on the global stage and excitement for future events.
FAQs
- Which tournament had the highest buy-in on May 31st?
The highest buy-in was PokerBaazi’s #31 The MoneyMaker with a ₹10,000 buy-in and a ₹1 Crore guaranteed prize pool. - Who won the largest prize on May 31st?
Arbaaz Ahmed won the largest prize of ₹15 Lakh by clinching first place in PokerBaazi’s #31 The MoneyMaker. - What is a ‘KO’ tournament mentioned in the results?
‘KO’ stands for Knockout tournament, where players earn bounty prizes for eliminating opponents in addition to their tournament winnings. - How do mid-stakes tournaments compare in prize pools to high-stakes events?
Mid-stakes tournaments like Daily Last Chance and Blockbuster Lite feature buy-ins around ₹2,000–₹2,500 with prize pools near ₹10 Lakh, whereas high-stakes events often have buy-ins from ₹5,000 upwards and prize pools exceeding ₹30 Lakh. - Are these poker tournaments open to players across India?
Yes, both Natural8 India and PokerBaazi host nationwide online tournaments accessible to players across India, contributing to a vibrant competitive poker ecosystem.
