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Tag: Navkiran Singh

  • PSL 7 shuffles the deck with influencers, free entry and a high-stakes Goa finale

    PSL 7 shuffles the deck with influencers, free entry and a high-stakes Goa finale

    MUMBAI: India’s most high-stakes, high-drama poker league is back. Poker Sports League (PSL) — billed as the world’s largest poker league — has shuffled up and dealt out its plans for Season 7, promising a mind-sport spectacle of skill, grit, and serious gameplay. With PokerBaazi as title sponsor and JioHotstar as official streaming partner, the league is going all-in with a raft of upgrades and innovations.

    From free-to-enter qualifiers and influencer-led showdowns to the introduction of mandatory female poker pros and a franchise revenue-sharing model, PSL is betting big on inclusion, digital scale, and edge-of-your-seat action.

    Speaking on the synergy with PokerBaazi and JioHotstar, Poker Sports League CEO & co-founder, Pranav Bagai said, “With PokerBaazi’s credibility in competitive poker and JioHotstar’s extensive digital reach, PSL Season 7 is well-positioned to reach a wider, more engaged audience. This season brings together scale, skill, and immersive storytelling to elevate the profile of poker as a mind sport in India. By combining strategic gameplay with high-quality digital content, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the broader mind sports ecosystem in the country.”

    “Each season of PSL is rooted in our commitment to innovation and inclusion. Season 7 introduces several firsts, from mandatory female poker pros and influencer showdowns to a new revenue sharing model for franchises and a massive finale in Goa. This is more than just competition, it’s a celebration of poker as a modern, mind-driven sport. We invite poker players and fans across the country to be a part of this journey.” Bagai added.

    What’s new this season?

    ●    8 franchise teams battle it out for poker supremacy (soon to expand to 9)

    ●    Revenue-sharing model makes PSL India’s first league to give franchisees a cut

    ●    Mandatory female pros on every team – a strong push for representation

    ●    Influencer face-offs – bringing creators and celebs into the mix

    ●    Live-streamed matches on JioHotstar, including qualifiers, auctions and the grand finale

    ●    5-day finale in South Goa, loaded with high-stakes drama and resort glamour

    Following a blockbuster Season 6 that clocked 20,927 unique participants, Season 7 is now live on PokerBaazi with daily free qualifiers running from 25 June to 3 August. Players can compete in up to 8 events, climb the leaderboard, and land in the top 40 for a shot at the auction, with a base bid of Rs 50,000 and a confirmed team spot.

    Baazi Games founder and CEO, Navkiran Singh commented, “PSL introduces a unique team format for Poker and has grown quite popular over the years. As a mind sport that demands strategy, skill, and composure, Poker is on the rise, and we believe Season 7 will build on this momentum to take the sport to new heights.”

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  • Sony LIV’s Shark Tank India 4 nets record sponsors and high viewer interest

    Sony LIV’s Shark Tank India 4 nets record sponsors and high viewer interest

    MUMBAI: Buckle up, entrepreneurs and dreamers! Shark Tank India 4 is back on Sony LIV, and this season isn’t just swimming in talent—it’s making waves with a powerhouse lineup of sponsors. The much-loved reality show, now streaming, continues to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences by shining a spotlight on India’s most ambitious and innovative business minds. With bold pitches, high-stakes deals, and cutting-edge ideas, this season is set to redefine entrepreneurship for the country.

    The show’s impressive sponsor roster includes Acko, Pokerbaazi, and Swiggy Instamart as co-presenting sponsors, along with Adani and Jaguar as co-powered sponsors. Partner sponsors Rayzon Solar, Icici Direct, Lenskart, and Sofy have also joined the entrepreneurial bandwagon, leveraging Shark Tank’s wide reach to connect with India’s ever-growing startup ecosystem.

    This season, a star-studded panel of sharks leads the charge. Returning favourites like Anupam Mittal (People Group), Aman Gupta (boAt Lifestyle), Namita Thapar (Emcure Pharmaceuticals), Peyush Bansal (Lenskart), and Vineeta Singh (Sugar Cosmetics) are joined by new faces, including Ritesh Agarwal (OYO), Kunal Bahl (Snapdeal), and Varun Dua (Acko). Each brings their unique expertise to enrich conversations and inspire India’s next wave of entrepreneurs.

    Sony LIV head of ad sales revenue Ranjana Mangla highlighted the show’s success, “Shark Tank India has redefined reality TV in the country, blending inspiration with entertainment to captivate viewers. It offers brands a unique platform to showcase impactful campaigns and connect with a diverse audience. Partnering with the show taps into the entrepreneurial spirit, fostering meaningful connections and leaving a lasting impression. The show’s phenomenal success, driving 40 per cent growth on CTV and 27 per cent growth in engagement, is fuelled by great content. This season also features a wide range of business pitches, from traditional ventures to cutting-edge tech.”

    Acko CMO Ashish Mishra, explained their commitment to the show, “Acko’s association with Shark Tank India has always celebrated change. We want to continue putting a spotlight on changemakers – the entrepreneurs who have the vision to drive positive change in society. Our changemakers have always had bold ideas and creative solutions and used their skills for the betterment of our country. With the Changemaker Wall, we have taken this spotlight to the next level. We worked with talented artists from across the country and asked them to express their interpretation of positive change. These incredible pieces of art, along with the talented entrepreneurs from Shark Tank, come together to showcase our commitment towards positive change. Together, we are championing a future where innovation meets purpose.”

    Baazi Games CEO Navkiran Singh shared a unique perspective, “Both Poker and entrepreneurship thrive on strategy, risk management, and adaptability. The skills required to build a business, such as making calculated decisions and staying resilient, are equally vital in Poker, making the two deeply interconnected. That’s why we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Shark Tank for its third season. This platform is a celebration of the ‘Make in India for the World’ vision and a catalyst for empowering entrepreneurs to build exceptional businesses. Its growing popularity perfectly aligns with the spirit of innovation and strategy that we at Baazi Games deeply value.”

    Swiggy Instamart CEO Amitesh Jha expressed his excitement about the collaboration, “We’re just a week into the launch of Shark Tank 4, and already, we’re witnessing some incredible products and promising entrepreneurs. This partnership is particularly exciting for us at Swiggy Instamart, as we’re always looking for ways to bring exciting new D2C brands to users and it aligns with our core value of making innovation both a reality and easily accessible to consumers. What’s also exciting is that we get to offer these debut products to our customers through Swiggy Instamart, delivering them within minutes giving a great boost to these brands.”

    With its growing popularity, Shark Tank India 4 promises not only to entertain but also to empower. By pairing inspiring entrepreneurial stories with top-tier brand partnerships, the show cements its role as a beacon for innovation and ambition in India.

    Catch Shark Tank India 4 every Monday to Friday at 8 pm, exclusively on Sony LIV.

  • National Poker Series India 2025 unveils Rs 100 crore prize pool

    National Poker Series India 2025 unveils Rs 100 crore prize pool

    Mumbai: The National Poker Series India (NPS) in its fifth edition in March 2025, promises to elevate India’s poker landscape to newer heights. Exclusively hosted on PokerBaazi, NPS 2025 boasts an unprecedented ₹100 crore prize pool, positioning it as the biggest and most prestigious poker event in the country’s history.

    Baazi Games founder & CEO Navkiran Singh commented, “The National Poker Series India is a platform that transcends mere competition; it is a movement that recognizes poker as a serious skill-based mind sport in India. Each edition is designed to emphasize strategy, precision, and mental endurance, enabling players to refine their abilities while promoting the sport across the nation. We are proud to host the National Poker Series India for its fifth edition with a ₹100 crore prize pool—the biggest our country has seen yet. We aim to deliver an unparalleled experience at PokerBaazi, to empower the talent of poker players across India.”

    Building on the overwhelming success of the 2024 edition, which drew over 2.25 lakh entries and offered a prize pool of ₹62.5 crore and 450 medals, NPS 2025 is set to raise the bar even higher. Players can anticipate an event of extraordinary scale in 2025, making the fifth edition the most competitive and rewarding yet.

    Since its inception, the National Poker Series India has attracted over 5.33 lakh entries, hosted 404 high-stakes tournaments, and awarded 1,221 players with medals, solidifying its position as India’s premier platform for competitive poker. In the 2024 edition, Deepak Singh from Delhi emerged as the overall champion with three gold, one silver, and one bronze medals. The competition was fierce, with Abhishek Sonu from Bihar and Samay Modi from Maharashtra also securing podium finishes. Maharashtra led the medal tally with over 100 medals, closely followed by Delhi with 83, illustrating the regional pride and intense rivalry that NPS has come to symbolize.

    The schedule of the tournament series that surpasses the rewards of some of the country’s largest sports leagues is expected to follow soon.

  • PokerBaazi launches its ‘Tu Poker Khelta Hai Kya?’ campaign

    PokerBaazi launches its ‘Tu Poker Khelta Hai Kya?’ campaign

    Mumbai: PokerBaazi has released its latest brand campaign, ‘Tu Poker Khelta Hai Kya?’. The campaign features the company’s brand ambassador and Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor. The campaign intricately highlights how every Indian possesses innate Poker skills that are part of their day-to-day interactions and can be leveraged to become a Poker player.

    Conveying the core message ‘Jo life mein khelta hai wo Poker bhi khel sakta hai’, the ads are filmed satirically to capture how the protagonist (Shahid Kapoor) uses skills that are often used in Poker, like quick thinking, outsmarting the opponent, reading people, calculating on the go, acting under pressure and calling a bluff, during various real life situations which make people around him believe that he is a Poker player.

    Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Baazi Games founder and CEO Navkiran Singh shared, “Poker is a mind sport and through our messaging we have been able to establish the fact that like any other sport even Poker requires certain skills. In our latest campaign we are talking about a simple fact that we, as Indians, possess some of these skills which we use in our daily lives. You can use them to play Poker and at the same time playing Poker can make you get better at these life skills.”

    The campaign has been conceptualized in collaboration with the creative agency Talented. The brand films will be aired during the ongoing Indian Premier League on Jio. The campaign will also feature an exhaustive OOH presence across cities.

    PokerBaazi since its inception has been reiterating the precedence of skill and strategy when playing Poker. Recently, the company successfully hosted the 2024 edition of India’s biggest Poker series- National Poker Series India in which people from 23 states won 450 prestigious Poker medals. Recording over 80 per cent Y-o-Y growth in participation with over 2.3 Lac entries, the tournament series is a testament to the speedy growth of Poker in India. PokerBaazi’s latest brand campaign is bound to grow the category in India further.

  • Shark Tank India 3 soars to success with a remarkable 20 per cent increase in new users

    Shark Tank India 3 soars to success with a remarkable 20 per cent increase in new users

    Mumbai: In the exhilarating third season of Shark Tank India, innovation meets ambition as entrepreneurs from across the country pitch their groundbreaking ideas to an illustrious panel of 12 Sharks. With each passing episode, the reception has been nothing short of overwhelming, piquing the curiosity of audiences and investors alike. This season has seen an exceptional growth of 20 per cent increase in new users, and notably, 37 per cent increase in users who watched on CTV.

    In season 3, businesses like Pizza Galleria and Conscious Chemist have seen remarkable growth following their appearances on Shark Tank India. Pizza Galleria experienced a four-times surge in sales and a 20 times spike in web traffic, with over 1000 franchise inquiries. Conscious Chemist saw a four-times increase in revenue and a five times increase in website visitors. Tiggle and Koparo also achieved significant growth, with Tiggle’s sales increasing six times and website traffic five times, and Koparo’s sales growing six times and website traffic 10 times.

    Season three has received support from influential brands, strengthening its impact. ACKO has come on board as a co-presenting partner, maintaining a steadfast three-year alliance. PokerBaazi also continues the association stepping up as the co-presenting sponsor, enriching the Shark Tank India 3 experience with their engaging segment, Baazigar of the Day, expertly hosted by the witty Rahul Dua. This light-hearted addition brings a dose of fun and camaraderie into the high-stakes atmosphere of the show, allowing pitchers to unwind, showcase their personalities, and even bag exciting prizes along the way. The show is co-powered by upGrad, IDFC First Bank has come on board as the Banking partner, and ICICI Direct, Unicharm’s Sofy Feminine Care brand along with Sensodyne have joined as partner sponsors, enriching the show’s network of pivotal partnerships.

    Sony LIV head ad revenue Ranjana Mangla:

    Shark Tank India has led to a positive change within the society by promoting entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and empowering individuals to achieve their dreams. This season has seen more than 50 Cr of investment across 54 deals by the sharks so far, with businesses from Personal Care & Fashion, Technology and Food & Beverages getting most of the investment share. The show’s Impact has been such that many Startups after appearing on the show have seen massive growth in the sales and website traffics showcasing the immense potential of the show on the start-up ecosystem. This makes the show a great opportunity for brands as well.

    Baazi Games (parent group of Pokerbaazi) founder and CEO Navkiran Singh:

    Over the years, we have realized that the skills of a competent entrepreneur always make him win in any situation, Shark Tank India is all about making the right decisions under pressure, constantly analyzing the market opportunities with the perseverance to excel in the game, and this alignment makes our partnership with Shark Tank a natural fit.

    Tune in to Shark Tank India 3 streaming on Sony LIV, Monday to Friday at 10 pm.

  • Vijendra Singh, Indian Boxing Champion associates with Pokerbaazi

    Vijendra Singh, Indian Boxing Champion associates with Pokerbaazi

    MUMBAI: PokerBaazi.com, one of India’s pioneer online poker platforms has signed Vijender Singh as its new brand ambassador. Prior to roping in Indian professional boxer, Indian film star, actor, and model, Sunny Leone was the face of the brand. By roping in boxing champion Vijeder Singh as its brand ambassador, PokerBaazi has shown its commitment towards promoting poker in India as a serious game of pure skill and talent.

    Commenting on the appointment, PokerBaazi.com of Co-founder, Navkiran Singh said, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Vijender Singh on board as the brand ambassador of PokerBaazi.com. As a professional boxer, he has already won tremendous accolades for India in the past. His reputation as a serious sportsperson and champion will help us in promoting poker as a serious sport that only flourishes on sheer skill and talent. We are looking forward for a long term association with Vijender Singh.”

    On his current stint, Vijender Singh said, “As a sportsperson, it is always an honour for me to be part of campaigns or associate with brands that endeavour to promote sports in the nation. PokerBaazi is doing a great job of utilizing technology and letting Indians play online a game that they adore. I wish the best to the brand and hope that more Indians join its growing community of online poker players.”

    PokerBaazi.com was founded in October 2014 by Navkiran Singh, an engineer turned entrepreneur. The platform allows poker enthusiasts to enjoy a thrilling game with real money, from the very comforts of their homes. Players can join in for a freeroll – the free for all tournaments, or start from lower blinds of Rs. 1 or 2, taking it up to INR 500 or 1000.