As the curtains closed on the financial year, much of India was buried in spreadsheets—calculating deductions, reviewing investments, and planning for the year ahead. But for India’s online poker community, it wasn’t just about tax planning. It was about title chasing, bankroll building, and staking a claim at the tables.
With a new financial year now underway, India’s top online grinders wasted no time in turning the page. Platforms like Natural8 India and PokerBaazi kicked off the first week of FY25 with high-stakes action and jaw-dropping prize pools. From circuit championships to flagship tournaments, some of the country’s sharpest minds put on a masterclass in performance and precision.
Here’s a look at the biggest poker news from the weekend and the players redefining the game in Poker India.
Natural8 India – Sunday Majors & Circuit Crushers
Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram (SoonaPaana) – ₹8,03,656
Tournament: Super Monday Monster Stack 1500
Highlight: Nishaanth crushed the deep-stacked Monster Stack, taking home the biggest payout of the day on Natural8 India. With surgical precision and tournament poise, he bagged a staggering ₹8.03 Lakh.
GiGGity- – ₹7,03,363
Tournaments:
- Super Monday Bounty Hunters HR 525 – ₹5,58,058
- WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525 – ₹1,45,305
Highlight: One of the breakout performers of the night, GiGGity- racked up scores in both a bounty crusher and the WSOP circuit grind. Totaling over ₹7 Lakh, this was a dominant showing from a bounty expert.
Shreyansh Sharma (jINX7701) – ₹5,23,389
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: Shreyansh delivered a commanding deep run in the WSOP Circuit Main, adding over ₹5.23 Lakh to his tally and solidifying his status among the circuit’s sharpest players.
BollywoodBlinds – ₹5,01,974
Tournaments:
- Super Saver 50 – ₹3,56,669
- WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525 – ₹1,45,305
Highlight: BollywoodBlinds continues to be a consistent force, bagging two major scores this week. The Super Saver win was a standout, demonstrating disciplined, high-level play.
soyachap – ₹4,89,943
Tournaments:
- WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525 – ₹2,74,940
- GGMasters High Rollers 1050 – ₹2,15,003
Highlight: With sharp reads and solid fundamentals, soyachap came through in two major events—highlighting their adaptability in high-roller formats and circuit events.
Siddharth Arya Jolly (BleffGawd) – ₹3,04,624
Tournament: PLO Bounty Main Event 150
Highlight: Siddharth crushed the PLO bounty landscape, banking over ₹3 Lakh in the high-action event. His ability to balance aggression and control in 4-card formats paid off handsomely.
Meet Jariwala (Audax_xX) – ₹2,74,940
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: With a composed run through the Main Event field, Meet locked up a top-tier ₹2.74 Lakh score, showcasing strong ICM awareness and deep-stack discipline.
Anant Purohit (EasyShips) – ₹2,74,940
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: Consistent as ever, Anant once again found success in the WSOP Circuit Main, adding another strong result to his Natural8 India résumé.
YYYsoSERIOUS – ₹1,99,638
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: YYYsoSERIOUS secured a strong ₹1.99 Lakh score in the circuit flagship, standing tall against some of the toughest fields in Poker India.
rosarioai – ₹1,81,729
Tournament: GGMasters 150
Highlight: A deep run in the GGMasters 150 earned rosarioai a solid ₹1.81 Lakh. Known for their structured game and timely aggression, they continue to put up results in big fields.
Tushar Bhartia (BitcoinTrader) – ₹1,45,305
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: A deep run from Tushar earned him ₹1.45 Lakh, contributing to a night filled with stacked Main Event finishes.
Arun Sriram (DaemonTargaryen) – ₹1,45,305
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: A solid showing from Arun in the WSOP Main adds yet another strong score to his already decorated circuit history.
Tarun Goyal (Uncapped) – ₹1,45,305
Tournament: WSOP Super Circuit Main Event 525
Highlight: Tarun’s patient approach in the long-format circuit event led to a ₹1.45 Lakh cash, reflecting his steady hand in major tournament fields.
PokerBaazi – Big Showdowns and Bigger Scores
Abilash Bala (Steelbala) – ₹3,88,000
Tournament: The Big Show (₹30 Lakh GTD)
Highlight: Abilash Bala outlasted a deep and competitive field in PokerBaazi’s marquee event, taking home ₹3.88 Lakh. Known for his fearless style and clinical execution, Steelbala’s win was a statement-making finish to close out the weekend.
Abbc – ₹3,62,000
Tournament: The Big Show (₹30 Lakh GTD)
Highlight: Arbaaz Ahmed, playing under the ID Abbc, secured a third-place finish worth ₹3.62 Lakh. With solid reads and strong post-flop play, he fought through a stacked final table to lock up one of the event’s biggest prizes.
Praswar19 – ₹3,52,000
Tournament: The Big Show (₹30 Lakh GTD)
Highlight: Finishing runner-up, Praswar19 put on a resilient show, turning key pots at the right time and walking away with ₹3.52 Lakh.
Abheek Nagpal (SHIPITUP18) – ₹2,16,000
Tournament: The Big Show Lite (₹10 Lakh GTD)
Highlight: Abheek Nagpal shipped The Big Show Lite in dominant fashion, bagging ₹2.16 Lakh. With crisp decisions and a commanding chip lead at the final table, SHIPITUP18 delivered one of the most impressive runs of the night.
Navneet Tanwar (AlligatorN) – ₹1,42,000
Tournament: The Big Show Lite (₹10 Lakh GTD)
Highlight: Navneet Tanwar came close to victory, finishing second for ₹1.42 Lakh. Known for his aggressive tempo, AlligatorN’s finish was the result of consistent pressure throughout the tournament.
Shiven Meena (Sampapa) – ₹1,05,000
Tournament: The Big Show Lite (₹10 Lakh GTD)
Highlight: Rounding out the final table, Shiven Meena made a deep run to finish third, pocketing ₹1.05 Lakh in the process. His balanced style and late-stage adaptability stood out in a competitive field.
Poker in India Is Thriving
As FY25 begins, it’s clear that Poker in India isn’t slowing down. With guaranteed prize pools soaring and tournament quality hitting new highs, platforms like Natural8 India and PokerBaazi continue to lead the charge in shaping India’s online poker future.
From tax season to table domination, India’s top poker players are proving that discipline, planning, and sharp instincts don’t just belong in finances—they belong on the felt.
