Poker is considered the biggest game of skill in the gambling world. Online poker has become the most popular in India for over a decade. However, only some people interested in the game have earned a star-like reputation. Let’s help you learn about the top poker players in India and notable events they have emerged top. Some have made it to the list of top of the poker players in the world.
Vivek Rajkumar
Vivek is known to be a man who takes enormous risks and has shown people that taking risks can lead to huge rewards. He is an all-time outstanding poker player who has won multiple events. In 2008, he won the World poker tour main event, taking home $ 1,424,500. In the same year, he won field events like the L. A poker classic is securing $ 2,500. He won the same event the following year, scooping up $ 9,900. Vivek offers poker tips and is known to inspire poker lovers in India and globally.
Aditya Agarwal
Aditya started playing poker on online platforms and soon caught the big breakthrough. In no time, he was playing live events, including the WSOP(World Series of Poker) in the United States. His total career winnings are close to $2,201,866. Most of it comes from online poker games; however, he made close $700,000 in live tournaments.
Raghav Bansal
Raghav Bansal is considered one of the most famous players in the poker world. His total earnings amount to $735,024, with his live earnings amounting to $ 335 910 of his total winnings. His achievements include winning $ 25,000 at the Macau Poker Cup and taking home Rs 3,060,000 after winning the No Limit Hold’ em main event at the Delta Poker Tournament in Goa.
Ankit Ahuja
Ankit Ahuja has been actively playing tournament poker for over two years. He is a 33-year-old business and tech consultant from Delhi, India, connected to the gaming industry. In India’s all-time list, he is ranked 6th, and according to The Hendon Mob, Ahuja has over $600,000 in live tournament cash.
Paawan Bansal
Paawan hails from the great city of Meerut. His rise to fame started in 2017 when he finished second at the NHL knockout event at Macau Poker Event 27. He earned H.K. $ 71,624 in the tournament. He participated in the NLH event in the same series, winning first place and taking home H.K. $ 75,000. In 2018, he won second place at the 49th WSOP NLH and scooped up $378,765. Paawan is ranked 8th in India’s all-time money list.
Dhaval Mudgal
If you are looking for inspiration, Dhaval Mudgal certainly makes that list. Originating from New Delhi, this young man has played over 85 poker tournaments and amassed vast sums of money in winnings. One of his most significant earnings came from a tournament where he earned $104,418. His total winnings, although growing exponentially, were last recorded at $527,853. Dhaval is a cheerful man with a smile at all times. No one can say he is a pool shark just by looking at him.
Kunal Patni
Kunal comes from Mumbai and ranks as a high-stakes shark poker player. He has played in international tournaments in Manila during the Asia Pacific Poker Tour. He amassed a significant P 960,000 in winnings and won the second position in the WPT Deepstacks No Limit Holdem Berlin, earning close to 96140 euros.
Kunal is a practised player with a great sense of identifying his opponent’s weaknesses. His poker face is one to learn. You can never tell if he is lost in thought or simply bored.
Aditya Sushant
Another happy-go-lucky that everyone enjoys having at their table is Aditya Sushant. He comes from Chennai, India. Not only does Aditya rank among the top Indian poker players, but he also holds the 2690th rank among professional poker players worldwide.
Top Female Poker Players in India
Aside from the men, some female players have built a name for themselves and are making the country proud. Here are some of them that are well-known.
Nikita Luther
Nikita is known as the superwoman of the Indian Poker World. Having been in the poker field for ten years, she became the first female player to win the WSOP bracelet and World Series of poker. In 2020, she was ranked number one in the GPI India ladies. In India’s all-time list, she has been ranked 18th and has acquired $ 207 940 in live earnings.
Minissha Lamba
Many know Minissha from various Hindi films. However, she is also a pro poker player. Her first encounter with the game was at a Diwali party, where she fell in love with it. She is ranked 68th on India’s all-time list, and in 2018 she acquired high scores at the Deltin Poker Tournaments and World Poker Tour.
Muskan Sethi
Muskan developed an interest in poker by learning to play tricks in a game of cards with her elders. She first played on Facebook and has never looked back. Among the female poker players, she is ranked third and 78th in the all-time money list with $ 55,044 in live earnings. She scored her best by finishing 5th for $6,682 in Goa’s DPT February high roller.
Suchi Chamaria
Suchi is one of the most talented females in the Indian poker world. She managed to get her breakthrough in 2019. With the help of her husband, Aditya Agarwal, who is also a pro, she has conquered the game online and offline.
Amrita Sethi
Amrita Sethi is a model, fashion designer and professional poker player who does everything within her reach. She is part of the Spartan poker team and will participate in many live tournaments this year.
Babita Agarwal
Babita Agarwal is sitting at 5th among the top female players in the GPI India Ladies POY 2018, with 95.59 points. In February 2022, she played in the Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) series and posted a decent score in the DPT High Roller, where she finished 6th for $5,693 (INR 3,64,300).
