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Tag: Pokerbaazi

  • Indian aces call the shots at WSOP 2025

    Indian aces call the shots at WSOP 2025

    MUMBAI: India’s high rollers and card sharks just raised the stakes on the global stage. At the 56th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) – held at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas – Indian players went all in, pulling off one of their best runs yet. From final tables to gold bracelets, Team India’s performance wasn’t just impressive, it was a royal flush.

    This year’s WSOP shattered records with 100 live tournaments, drawing thousands of players from across the globe. Amidst the buzz and billion-dollar pots, Indian players made their presence known, notching up seven final tables and even a bracelet win.

    Leading the pack was seasoned pro and former WSOP champ Aditya Agarwal, who clinched India’s only bracelet of the season in the WSOP Online NLHE Championship. Not far behind, Laksh Pal Singh cashed in on eight events and reached the final table in the Poker Hall of Fame Bounty. A familiar face in the Indian poker scene, Laksh is also a game ambassador for PokerBaazi.

    Ankit Ahuja, ranked India’s Global Poker Index (GPI) Player of the Year—twice over—grabbed seven cashes, including a final table in the $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship. Zarvan Tumboli battled it out across six events, placing 119th in the prestigious Main Event and shining in Omaha. He took reps at PokerBaazi, flying the flag for Maharashtra and the National Poker Championship.

    Former bracelet winner Aditya Sushant added four cashes to his name, including a deep run in the PokerNews Deepstack Championship. Meanwhile, Santhosh Suvarna – already a two-time WSOP bracelet winner – made three strong finishes, including a 16th-place run in the High Roller and a title win at the Wynn Classic.

    And it didn’t stop there. WSOP vets like Nipun Java, Abhinav Iyer, and Kartik Ved returned to form, joined by crowd favourites like Kunal Patni, Nishant Sharma, Shrey Maheshwary, Tarun Goyal, Bhargav Kakani, Gaurav Sood, and many more. Whether representing PokerBaazi or gunning for solo glory, the Indian contingent didn’t just ante up—they dominated.

    Even beyond the WSOP tables, Indians were busy stacking chips across Vegas. Breakout star Gunisha Sinha, the dentist-turned-poker pro from Delhi, stole the spotlight with a cracking win at the Resorts World Las Vegas 2025 Summer Series in the $360 NLHE – PLON Ladies tournament. Gunisha, now the latest PokerBaazi game ambassador, also clinched a title in The Circuit: Season 3, proving that when it comes to poker, she’s no novice.

    Closing out the series in style, Florida’s Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi took home the WSOP Main Event crown, his eighth career bracelet and a cool $10 million payday. That win also earned him a coveted seat in the Poker Hall of Fame.

    India’s performance at WSOP 2025 isn’t just a blip, it’s a bold declaration: the country is no longer an outsider in global poker. These players aren’t here to watch—they’re here to win.

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  • 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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  • 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.

  • This Diwali ‘it’s all about loving one’s family’: Brands celebrate the joy of homecoming

    This Diwali ‘it’s all about loving one’s family’: Brands celebrate the joy of homecoming

    MUMBAI: It’s that time of the year when advertisers spend the major portion of their annual ad spends in going all out to woo the Indian consumer. With the Festival of Lights upon us, marketers and brands are doing everything they can to unlock the year’s biggest festive blitzkrieg by ensuring their campaign stands out this Diwali.

    With families separated by the pandemic for long, it’s time to come home, sit together, and catch up. After all, festivals are all about celebrating togetherness, and what better way to celebrate than to be home with one’s loved ones? With this understanding, brands across categories have released ad films centred around family reunions and bonding sessions. After all, ‘it’s all about loving one’s parents/ family’.

    Backed by a heart-warming narrative, Vivo released a Diwali special digital film communicating the “Joy of Homecoming”. Starring actor Kanwaljit Singh, the ad film conceptualised by Dentsu Impact encapsulates the role of the smartphone in rekindling the joy of connection. 

    Another ad from Anand Sweets also highlights the simple joys of attending the rituals and traditions with family members. The ad takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane showcasing the fun activities that defined festivity during one’s childhood. The script drafted by Norm creative strategic agency brings out the emotions, love, and lore of Diwali.

    With their new Diwali campaign video ‘Kissa Kaaju Katli Ka’, online poker platform, PokerBaazi gave a sweet twist to enjoying a game with family, where members apply their Poker skills to understand and read their opponent while trying to win a pot of sweets.

    In a message which would resonate with today’s generation, telecom operator Vodafone Idea’s Diwali campaign #LookUp says mere physical presence is not enough if one is not mindfully present in the moment. Vi has launched a digital video highlighting the importance of virtual platforms, yet encouraging real conversations during special occasions. The campaign throws light on how one can miss out on the special times despite being there and gives out a call: ‘it’s time to shut our screens’ and truly be there to celebrate with our loved ones.

    Taking a dig at all the other so-called ‘cliched’ Diwali ads, tech brand DIZO realme’s released a new ad – “Not-So-Clichéd Diwali Ad”. The ad executed by White Rivers Media is a light-hearted take on the most commonly used format of storytelling in Diwali campaigns while going on to do just that even as it cleverly integrates the tech brand’s product into the narrative.

    Taking a step further is surfacing solutions brand, Greenlam Industries which has rolled out a digital campaign that humorously underlines the importance of taking time out to ‘celebrate at home and celebrate home’, this Diwali. The short film conceptualised by Mirum India showcases an American boss delegating work to his team in India over a video call on Diwali while stressing that the timeline is crucial and needs to go out immediately. The team manages to get out of the sticky situation by pulling a fast one over the boss unitedly. Watch how they do it:

  • 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.