When you have the skill and the grit, the spotlight eventually finds you. And right now, there are few names in the Indian poker and gaming scene shining brighter than Nikita Luther. One of the country’s most recognisable poker professionals and its top-ranked female player, Luther was recently honoured with the prestigious Shakti Award for Gaming at the We Women Want Conclave in New Delhi.
Nikita Luther: A Growing Legacy Among Icons
The Shakti Awards, established in memory of Smt. Shakti Rani Sharma, honoured over 80 women, placing Luther in the esteemed company of icons like Shabana Azmi, Ekta Kapoor, Sunny Leone, and Dia Mirza. Luther’s recognition of Gaming stands out as a symbol of the increasing mainstream acceptance of poker as a respected mind sport.
Luther expressed her gratitude, stating, “This award represents more than personal achievement; it’s a step forward for visibility and inclusion of women in gaming and poker.” She added, “The response after The Traitors’ win has been overwhelming in the best way. Right now, I’m focused on using this momentum to advocate for more representation and to keep pushing boundaries in both the gaming and entertainment spaces.”
From Curiosity to a Career: The Origins of Nikita Luther’s Poker Journey
Coming from a military family, a career in professional poker wasn’t the expected path for Luther. After studying at Sanskriti School and graduating from Delhi University, she first encountered poker through Zynga and small-stakes home games. What began as a curiosity soon turned into a passion as Luther realised that poker’s reward system—based on mathematics, structure, and disciplined decision-making—aligned with her strengths.
Her rise in the poker world was swift. Luther won her first live title in 2015 at the Indian Poker Championship Ladies Event in Goa. By 2017, she was part of the founding team of the Poker Sports League as its COO. That year, she achieved multiple accolades, including a win at the Macau Poker Cup Team Event and a fifth-place finish in the Aria Poker Classic Main Event for $65,000. In 2018, she reached a career milestone by becoming the first Indian woman to win a World Series of Poker bracelet in the Tag Team Event with Giuseppe Pantaleo in Las Vegas.
Also Read: Karan Johar’s Bold Introduction of Nikita Luther in The Traitors Grabs Attention
Luther’s Mainstream Crossover: The Traitors & Beyond
Luther’s competitive edge continued to sharpen with time. In 2023, she made history by finishing 96th in the WSOP Main Event, marking the best-ever finish by an Indian woman in the prestigious tournament. That same year, she featured in GGPoker’s Game of Gold, a high-pressure tournament streamed for a global audience.
However, her biggest crossover came in 2025 when she participated in Amazon Prime Video’s The Traitors India. Hosted by Karan Johar at the Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer, the show revolved around bluffing, deduction, and social strategies—traits familiar to any seasoned poker player. After a twist that brought her back into the game, Luther went on to win the opening season, sharing the ₹70.05 Lakhs prize with social media personality Uorfi Javed. The show went viral in India, trending at #1 for weeks, introducing poker’s strategic elements to a mass audience and positioning Luther as a leading figure in both gaming and entertainment.
Why the Shakti Award Matters Now
The timing of the Shakti Award could not be more significant. In a year when the conclave brought together lawmakers and cultural icons, recognising a poker professional highlights the growing acceptance of mind sports as legitimate forms of achievement in India.
Luther’s award is only the second time a female poker player from India has received such a high-profile, non-poker national honour, following Muskan Sethi’s President’s “First Ladies” Award in 2018.
As the real-money gaming sector continues to face legal and regulatory challenges, awards like the Shakti Award shift the narrative. They emphasise poker’s strategic depth and skill-based nature, showing that mind sports are aspirational pursuits. Recognising Luther alongside leaders from business, public service, and the arts reinforces the message that women have a central role to play in these fields.
Image Courtesy: POKERGURU
Content Courtesy: POKER PRO NEWS
