May 26th was a thrilling rollercoaster for India’s poker champs! On Natural8 India, Shiven Meena crushed it in the Lotus Bounty Challenge 55, raking in a cool ₹7,41,143. Not far behind, Neeraj Sattawat and Bajaj Ankit Omprakash made their mark with sharp plays and big wins. Over at PokerBaazi, the stakes were sky-high, with Anurag Srivastava dominating #26 The MoneyMaker and pocketing a massive ₹12,82,000. Big shoutouts to Siddhanth Kripalani, Kritagya Sharma, and Ganesh Kamat for their fierce grit and genius moves. It was a day packed with epic bluffs, killer strategies, and pure poker magic.

Meanwhile, the Real Money Gaming sector caught a major breather, with the Supreme Court temporarily staying a colossal ₹5,712 Crore GST demand against Paytm’s First Games. This relief, coming shortly after a show-cause notice from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence, has injected fresh optimism into the industry.

Also Read: May 25 Poker Recap: Snehil Aggarwal, YouKnowMe!!!!, Shouryaanga & Avijt Jaiswal Shine Bright

Natural8 India – Featured Winners

Shiven Meena (Sammy199) – ₹7,41,143

• Tournament: Lotus Bounty Challenge 55

Highlight: Shiven Meena, playing under the name Sammy199, showcased exceptional skill and composure in the Lotus Bounty Challenge 55, accumulating a total prize of ₹7,41,143. His strategic bounty hunting and consistent chip management were key to his impressive victory.

A few days ago, Shiven Meena (Sampapa) won the NPS#89 (6-MAX) SPRINT, taking home ₹3,41,000 after outplaying a challenging field.

Read the entire article HERE

Neeraj Sattawat (Furyan) – ₹3,31,790

• Tournament: The European Classic 30

Highlight: Neeraj Sattawat, known as Furyan at the tables, delivered a focused and steady performance in The European Classic 30, earning a total of ₹3,31,790 through sharp play and resilience against tough opponents.

A few days ago, Neeraj Sattawat (Dattebayo) claimed first place in PokerBaazi’s #5 The ManyMaker (₹10,000 Buy-in | ₹1 Crore GTD), winning ₹15,00,000.

Bajaj Ankit Omprakash (Naturalm8) – ₹1,29,149

PC: GUTSHOT

• Tournament: Lotus Bounty Challenge 55

Highlight: Bajaj Ankit Omprakash, playing as Naturalm8, fought skillfully in the Lotus Bounty Challenge 55 to secure ₹1,29,149. His tactical approach and timely aggression helped him capitalize on bounty opportunities.

Not long ago, Bajaj Ankit Omprakash, playing as Naturalm8, showcased solid skills in the Bounty Hunters Daily Main 525, securing ₹1,39,516 with steady gameplay and smart bounty grabs.

Snehil Aggarwal (Gaurav_Sood) – ₹1,26,435

• Tournament: Bounty Hunters Mega Main 525

Highlight: Snehil Aggarwal, known online as Gaurav_Sood, demonstrated sharp bounty hunting skills and tactical prowess in the Bounty Hunters Mega Main 525, winning ₹1,26,435 by maintaining pressure on opponents and carefully controlling the game flow.

PokerBaazi – Featured Winners

#26 The MoneyMaker (₹10,000 Buy-in | ₹1 Crore GTD)

1. Karan Pantola (Mahadevpoker) – ₹12,18,000
2. Anurag Srivastava (Rebuy2Survive) – ₹12,82,000
3. likeaboss85 – ₹7,00,000

Highlight: Anurag Srivastava put up a stellar performance in #26 The MoneyMaker, earning the biggest prize of ₹12,82,000 in a fiercely competitive final table.

The Big Show Lite (₹5,750 Buy-in | ₹50 Lakh GTD)

PC: Instagaram (siddhanthkripalani)

1. Siddhanth Kripalani (ender) – ₹4,24,000
2. Sidddhant Singh (aajnahiaana) – ₹3,76,000
3. Daksh Kapoor (KidwithaDream) – ₹2,40,000

Highlight: Siddhanth Kripalani dominated The Big Show Lite, taking home ₹4,24,000 in a high-stakes finale filled with skilled contenders.

Daily Last Chance (₹2,500 Buy-in | ₹10 Lakh GTD)

1. Kritagya Sharma (Foldnhihota) – ₹1,94,000
2. Rajneesh Thakur (msdhoni) – ₹1,27,000
3. IuxurlousDeal2 – ₹95,550

Highlight: Kritagya Sharma secured a strong win in the Daily Last Chance tournament, claiming the top prize of ₹1,94,000 after a competitive final table.

The Big Show (₹2,000 Buy-in | ₹10 Lakh GTD)

1. Ganesh Kamat (JesseLivermore) – ₹1,61,000
2. Lucky9960 – ₹1,76,000
3. Puneeth B N (Ruzzanaire) – ₹99,020

Highlight: The Big Show witnessed an intense battle with Lucky9960 finishing runner-up with ₹1,76,000, while Ganesh Kamat triumphed to earn ₹1,61,000.

Conclusion

May 26th proved to be an electrifying day for India’s poker community, with remarkable performances and hefty winnings lighting up the tables on both Natural8 India and PokerBaazi. From Shiven Meena’s tactical brilliance to Anurag Srivastava’s dominance, the day showcased the best of poker strategy and competitive spirit. Meanwhile, the Real Money Gaming sector received a significant boost as the Supreme Court’s stay on the hefty GST demand against Paytm’s First Games brought much-needed relief and optimism to the industry’s future.

FAQs

1. What were the major poker tournaments held on May 26th?
   Major tournaments included the Lotus Bounty Challenge 55, The European Classic 30, Bounty Hunters Mega Main 525 on Natural8 India, and #26 The MoneyMaker, The Big Show Lite, Daily Last Chance, and The Big Show on PokerBaazi.
   
2. Who were the standout poker winners on May 26th?
   Shiven Meena, Anurag Srivastava, Karan Pantola, Siddhanth Kripalani, Kritagya Sharma, and Ganesh Kamat were among the top performers.
   
3. What was the biggest prize won on May 26th?
   Anurag Srivastava won the highest prize of ₹12,82,000 in #26 The MoneyMaker tournament on PokerBaazi.
   
4. What recent legal relief did the Real Money Gaming sector receive?
   The Supreme Court temporarily stayed a ₹5,712 Crore GST demand against Paytm’s First Games, offering relief to the sector.
   
5. How does this legal development affect the Real Money Gaming industry?
   It injects optimism and provides temporary respite from heavy tax scrutiny, allowing the industry to focus on growth and compliance.