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Tag: Pranav Bagai

  • 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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  • Our partnership with JioCinema and Pocket52 has been very instrumental: Pranav Bagai

    Our partnership with JioCinema and Pocket52 has been very instrumental: Pranav Bagai

    Mumbai: The Poker Sports League (PSL) Season 6 has wrapped up its Qualifiers, marking a new milestone with an extraordinary turnout. This season saw 20,927 unique participants, further cementing PSL’s reputation as the World’s largest poker league.

    The Qualifiers, which kicked off on 16 June, drew over 5000 participants in the first qualifier alone, a testament to the growing popularity of poker as a game of skill in India. Over 50 days, players competed in daily open qualifiers on Pocket52, with the top 42 players earning coveted spots on the 7 teams advancing to the league matches. Additionally, the top 1,000 participants were rewarded with prizes totaling over Rs. 40 lakhs, significantly enhancing engagement and excitement around the contest.

    Indiantelevision.com reached out to Poker Sports League founder & CEO Pranav Bagai, where he discussed the specific elements that will take PSL to new heights and much more.

    Edited excerpts

    Describe the specific elements or changes that have been introduced in Season 6 that you believe will take PSL to new heights.

    We have made some exciting changes in PSL Season 6.

    The biggest change is that there are 7 teams in Season 6. The introduction of a new team has happened after three seasons and we plan to introduce two more teams in the next two seasons. This will bring us to our cap of 9 teams in Season 8.

    The prize pool has been increased from 1.5 crores in the last season to 2 crores for Season 6.

    We have added a professional poker player in each team to increase the competitiveness between teams.

    Fans can look forward to more highlights, key moments from our streams, and, for the first time, short-form content like winning moments, best hands, crazy bluffs, glory moments, and more. 

    With Season 5 achieving global recognition, what strategies are in place to further PSL’s international reach in Season 6?

    Pre-covid we used to have two international players per team. In the coming seasons, we will make it a norm to include international players once again. This will not only add newer skill sets to the team but also create a pathway to reach out to a wider audience.

    How have the partnerships with JioCinema and Pocket52 evolved, and what role do they play in the success of PSL?

    Our partnership with JioCinema and Pocket52 has been very, very instrumental. JioCinema has the largest OTT network in the country. We worked very closely with them last year and we managed 12.5 million views, making PSL Season 5 one of the most viewed poker events – globally. They helped us boost our viewership by 600% from Season 4 to Season 5. We hope to double our viewership in Season 6 by including Hindi commentary.

    Meanwhile, talking about Pocket52, they have played a huge role in the success of Poker Sports League. Season 6 is the third time that Pocket52 has been the title sponsor for PSL. Unless you are a professional poker player who makes it through the draft, the only way to make it to PSL season 6 is through the Poker Sports League season 6 qualifiers – which are held exclusively on the Pocket52 platform. The Pocket 52 app’s recent UI/UX enhancements have significantly boosted its growth by prominently featuring PSL on the app.

    How do you see the landscape of poker evolving in India and globally over the next five years, and what role will PSL play in this evolution?

    Over the next five years, the landscape of poker in India and globally is poised for exponential growth. Over the last few months, we have seen an increase in the number of smaller apps or websites that are coming up with Poker on their platforms. Since October last year, we have seen a lot of newer companies get into poker. A lot of the rummy portals that were not in poker before have recently launched their platform. Additionally, there has been a significant rise in the number of Poker-related ads seen on TV, especially during IPL.

    So, globally, poker has been growing. It has been estimated that globally we can expect nearly 11% to 12% CAGR. The growth rate in India, however, is higher than that globally. India is expected to witness a growth rate of 16.9% CAGR. This makes India a great market for Poker. Speaking about the contribution of PSL, I believe that the platform we are providing will act as a bridge to reduce the gap and taboo around the industry. I believe we’re on the tip of the iceberg today and poker is just about starting in India. Its going to explode in the next 5 years. 

  • Pocket52 Poker Sports League exclusively streaming on JioCinema

    Pocket52 Poker Sports League exclusively streaming on JioCinema

    Mumbai: Poker Sports League (PSL), is back for its highly anticipated Season 6, promising to deal out even more excitement than ever before.

    With over 12.5 million views (6x growth from the previous season), Season 5 firmly established PSL as one of the most viewed poker events – globally. Reflecting on the resounding success of PSL Season 5 which captivated audiences and set new benchmarks in the realm of tournament poker, Poker Sports League CEO & founder Pranav Bagai stated, “PSL Season 6 is poised to transcend even greater heights and promises unparalleled excitement, intensified competition, and thrilling gameplay for all poker enthusiasts. This season, we’re not just raising the bar; we’re setting new standards.”

    Fuelling the global rise of poker, PSL has become a breeding ground for talent and a platform for passionate players across India to be discovered and make a name for themselves in the poker world. This season builds on that legacy, with 42 new players, who will have a chance to be a part of PSL by playing the free qualifiers on Pocket52. Bagai, further added, “PSL is not just a tournament; it’s a movement towards establishing poker in a viewer friendly, team format. Our unique format and business model have played a pivotal role in helping establish PSL as the largest Poker league in the world – in terms of prize pool, participation and viewership”.

    Key Highlights of PSL Season 6:

    . Expansion to seven teams from six, each featuring the top professional players in India.

    .  Free entry and open qualifiers on Pocket52, providing new opportunities for aspiring players across India.

    . Contestants can compete in upto 8 daily PSL tournaments over the next 45 days to collect leaderboard points on Pocket52.

    . Top 42 players on the P52 PSL leaderboard are guaranteed a spot in one of the teams. .

    . Top 1000 players on P52 PSL leaderboard are assured  prizes worth over 40 Lakhs.

    . Addition of Hindi commentary on JioCinema enhances accessibility & the viewing experience for a broader audience.

    .  Poker Sports League is free to enter and the try-outs are held exclusively on Pocket52.

    .  The qualifiers kicked off on June 16th, with over 5,000 people participating in the first qualifier.

    Continuing its successful partnership with JioCinema as the official streaming partner and Pocket52 as the title sponsor, PSL Season 6 boasts a record-breaking prize pool of Rs two crores. Bagai further expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, stating, “We are immensely excited to announce continuing our successful partnership with JioCinema and Pocket52. This year, we are not only increasing the prize pool but also expanding the number of teams from 6 to 7, promising an exhilarating event that will engage and entertain audiences like never before. Building on the immense success of Season 5, we are confident that PSL Season 6 will surpass all previous records and set even higher standards in the world of poker entertainment.”

    Commenting on the association, head – Branded Content, Vivek Mohan Sharma said, “At Viacom18, we are thrilled to continue our collaboration with the Poker Sports League for its sixth season. The unparalleled excitement and competition of PSL resonate with our vision of delivering premium sports entertainment. JioCinema’s platform will bring the thrill of poker to an even broader audience, enhancing the viewing experience with innovations like Hindi commentary. As we witness PSL set new benchmarks, we are proud to support this extraordinary league that champions both talent and the spirit of the game.”

    Pocket52 VP – Business, Nitesh Salvi, expressed pride in supporting PSL once again, stating, “We are thrilled to announce our title sponsorship of the Poker Sports League (PSL). Pocket52 PSL gives players a unique opportunity to play free qualifiers on Pocket52, compete with India’s top poker talent, play live in Goa, and feature on JioCinema. Pocket52 is dedicated to providing a safe and secure platform for both professional and recreational players. Our new app, launched alongside PSL, offers enhanced features for a superior gameplay experience. The online poker industry is growing rapidly, and Pocket52 is committed to leading this charge with continuous innovation and exciting new opportunities for our players. Join us and experience poker at its finest”

    Pocket52

  • Poker Sports League S4 to be livestreamed on Voot

    Poker Sports League S4 to be livestreamed on Voot

    Mumbai: The fourth season of Poker Sports League (PSL) will be live streamed on Viacom18-owned streaming service, Voot. Fairplay News is associated with the tournament as the ‘powered by’ partner.

    PSL season four started on 29 March and will go on till 13 April with six to seven matches every week. This year’s league is in phygital format with Deltin Royale and Adda52 as venue partner and online partner, respectively.

    The season finale will be hosted live on-ground from 20-24 April for the first time since the pandemic.

    “We are thrilled to partner again this year with Voot for our upcoming season,” said Poker Sports League CEO and founder Pranav Bagai. “As our majority of the audience are tech savvy and shifting towards OTT platforms to consume various modes of entertainment, partnering with Voot for streaming was a prudent option. Through this association we endeavour to provide our users with the finest experience of poker possible.”

    The focus of this season are the upcoming qualifiers along with key pro- players, with high investment biddings and significant retainers. There are six teams representing six different Indian provinces, namely Delhi Czars, Deccan Aces, Goan Nuts, Gujarat Falcons, Mumbai Anchors, and Kolkata Kings. A total of 36 qualifiers, 12 pro-players are going to be a part of this season. In addition to these it has six spots for women and six for substitutes.

    “Given the substantial shift in content consumption to digital platforms in India, and the dynamicity of the Indian online poker industry, we decided to reach a wider audience and encourage them to play in every season,” Bagai further said, adding, “Our partnership with Voot will screen an exclusive behind-the-scenes reality show ‘Poker Mantra’ in addition to the live streaming of the league.”

    “At Voot, we strive to ink partnerships that add value to our platform, and we are thrilled to once again partner with Poker Sports League,” stated Viacom18 Digital Ventures head – AVOD (Voot) Chanpreet Arora. “Through this partnership, Voot’s appeal to the young audiences will create a strong fan base for Poker in India and will provide us with an opportunity to captivate poker enthusiasts and provide them with a rewarding experience.”

  • Poker: Delhi Panthers win final table, takes home INR 11.5m

    MUMBAI: The first season of the Poker Sports League concluded at Deltin Casino Royale in Goa with Delhi Panthers being crowned the inaugural champions. After completing a magnificent run in the playoffs for five days, Delhi Panthers won the final table and took home the prize money of Rs 11.5 million. Mumbai Anchors finishes Runner-Up with the prize money of Rs 10 million, Kolkata Royals takes Rs 5 million and Punjab Bluffers takes Rs 3.5 million.

    The excitement of the tournament will be aired in a post-production show to showcase the journey of Poker Sport League for audience. With season one being a huge success by smashing expected views, PSL has big plans for season 2.

    Owned by Abhishek Jain of Leela Jewels, Gaurav Goel of Dhampur Sugar, Rishi Kajaria of Kajaria Ceramic, Ruchirans Jaipuria of Jaipuria Group, and the team was mentored by Akash Malik. The other team players included Vinod Megalmani, Aman Dhamija, Akshay Nasa, Samay Modi, Kunal Bhatia, Prashant Bhutoria, Dhruv Patel and Erik Rise. Delhi Panthers will now share the first prize as well as the honour of being the first team to win India’s first Poker Sports League.

    Speaking about the League, Pranav Bagai, CEO and Co-Founder, Poker Sports League, said, “The journey of the league has been a roller coaster ride and initially many could not believe that the league would materialise in to something as large as other sports leagues in the country. The never seen before structures and massive prize pool kept the adrenaline rush going for the players along with a chance to make some serious money. On closing our first season with a splendid grand finale, we are sure that this is definitely not a one-and-done season and we have plans to come up with season two next year.”
    The brainchild of Amit Burman (Vice Chairman, Dabur India Ltd) who partnered with Anuj Gupta (Co-Founder Adda52.com), India’s largest online Poker website for the league was spearheaded by Pranav Bagai, (Co-Founder and CEO) and Nikita Luther, (COO).

    Akash Malik, mentor of the winning team said, “Punjab Bluffers, Mumbai Anchors and Pune Sharks were also topping the leader board, but thanks to the amazing team and support of the team owners, Delhi Panthers has tasted the victory. Poker community really enjoyed the tournament and witnessed the game become a ‘sportified’ game in the country.”

    Day 1 of #PokerSportsLeague ended with amazing events. Pune Sharks was leading the #PSL Day 1 leader-board with 216000 points followed by Delhi Panthers with 212400 points & Punjab Bluffers with 189000 points. Day 2 of #PokerSportsLeague ended with massive action with Punjab Bluffers leading the leader-board followed by Chennai Bulls in 2nd place & Bengaluru Jokers in 3rd place. Punjab Bluffers continued to lead the league even on Day 3 with 458400 points, closely followed by Mumbai Anchors and Bengaluru

    Jokers. Day 4 witnessed a tough fight between Alec Torelli of Haryana Hunters & Sam Razavi of Kings Hyderabad in ‘Heads Up Holdem’ game. Over 2.8 million poker fans watched the league live streamed on the Facebook page of the league.

  • Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    MUMBAI: Creating a unique platform for skilled ‘mind sports’, Amit Burman has announced the launch of an exciting new league – Poker Sports League. The Poker Sports League forays into the space of intellectual and mind challenges and aims to popularize mind skill games. This game changing league will offer a never before experience to poker players with varying degree of expertise but a passion for the game, to unite and celebrate their love for the game as well as hone their poker skills under the guidance of well-established professional poker players.

    In its first season, the Poker Sports League will consist of 12 teams, seven of which have already been sold and the remaining five shall be made available for sale shortly. These teams are associated with some of the well-known names from corporate India such as Kunal Shah (Co-Founder, FreeCharge), Mehul Shah (Original Promoter, Anchor Electrical), Rishi Kajaria (Joint MD, Kajaria Ceramics), Karan Bhagat (Co-Founder, IIFL Wealth), Purrshottam Bhaggeria (Joint MD, Filatex Group), Ankkit Bahadur (Co-Owner, Playboy North India) and Gaurav Mohan (Founder, Eventwala) who strongly believe in the potential of the game and its ability to harness the latent talent from across the nation.

    The 12 teams will consist of a total of 108 players who will play for the prize money of INR 3.36 crore. These teams will be selected through 70+ qualifying rounds held across various cities for a period of nearly 3 months, as well as through online tournaments that will begin early in 2017. The players who qualify to the 12 teams will then compete to play at the Mega Finals, where the best and the finest of India’s poker talent will be invited to a display of skill and entertainment.

    The league would include four amateur players, who would be selected through nationwide qualifiers which will be held both online and offline. Two wild cards players would make-up the team to nine players. The qualifiers would begin early 2017 and the finals are scheduled to take place in mid-2017.

    PSL founder Amit Burman said, “Poker is a popular mind sport across the globe and has gained tremendous traction within India, amongst individuals looking to challenge their mind, grit and decision making abilities. Although the game is played with cards and there is an element of luck – the vast majority of the game depends on pure skill, mathematics, probability and decision making strategy. With no entry fee and sizeable prize money to aim for, the Poker Sports League is a unique opportunity for players of the game to hone their skills as well as popularise the game that is set to be recognized by the International Mind Sports association along with Chess, Bridge and Draughts”.

    True to its vision of harnessing talent across India, the Poker Sports League will offer players an opportunity to play and learn from some of the best players in India. Every team will also have a professional poker player as a mentor and captain to develop team strategy and help young players sharpen their skills during the play.

    At the helm of the Poker Sports League will be a core team that includes some of the well known names associated with poker in India, and known for their expertise, knowledge and passion for the game. The team includes India’s largest poker portal Adda52.com founder Anuj Gupta, who is also a co-founder of Poker Sports League.

    The team is further strengthened by India Poker founder Pranav Bagai. Besides, being the co-founder of the league, Pranav has also been appointed as the CEO of PSL, and Nikita Luther, who is India’s top female Poker professional, will take charge as COO for the league.

  • Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    Poker Sports League to excite Indian minds in 2017

    MUMBAI: Creating a unique platform for skilled ‘mind sports’, Amit Burman has announced the launch of an exciting new league – Poker Sports League. The Poker Sports League forays into the space of intellectual and mind challenges and aims to popularize mind skill games. This game changing league will offer a never before experience to poker players with varying degree of expertise but a passion for the game, to unite and celebrate their love for the game as well as hone their poker skills under the guidance of well-established professional poker players.

    In its first season, the Poker Sports League will consist of 12 teams, seven of which have already been sold and the remaining five shall be made available for sale shortly. These teams are associated with some of the well-known names from corporate India such as Kunal Shah (Co-Founder, FreeCharge), Mehul Shah (Original Promoter, Anchor Electrical), Rishi Kajaria (Joint MD, Kajaria Ceramics), Karan Bhagat (Co-Founder, IIFL Wealth), Purrshottam Bhaggeria (Joint MD, Filatex Group), Ankkit Bahadur (Co-Owner, Playboy North India) and Gaurav Mohan (Founder, Eventwala) who strongly believe in the potential of the game and its ability to harness the latent talent from across the nation.

    The 12 teams will consist of a total of 108 players who will play for the prize money of INR 3.36 crore. These teams will be selected through 70+ qualifying rounds held across various cities for a period of nearly 3 months, as well as through online tournaments that will begin early in 2017. The players who qualify to the 12 teams will then compete to play at the Mega Finals, where the best and the finest of India’s poker talent will be invited to a display of skill and entertainment.

    The league would include four amateur players, who would be selected through nationwide qualifiers which will be held both online and offline. Two wild cards players would make-up the team to nine players. The qualifiers would begin early 2017 and the finals are scheduled to take place in mid-2017.

    PSL founder Amit Burman said, “Poker is a popular mind sport across the globe and has gained tremendous traction within India, amongst individuals looking to challenge their mind, grit and decision making abilities. Although the game is played with cards and there is an element of luck – the vast majority of the game depends on pure skill, mathematics, probability and decision making strategy. With no entry fee and sizeable prize money to aim for, the Poker Sports League is a unique opportunity for players of the game to hone their skills as well as popularise the game that is set to be recognized by the International Mind Sports association along with Chess, Bridge and Draughts”.

    True to its vision of harnessing talent across India, the Poker Sports League will offer players an opportunity to play and learn from some of the best players in India. Every team will also have a professional poker player as a mentor and captain to develop team strategy and help young players sharpen their skills during the play.

    At the helm of the Poker Sports League will be a core team that includes some of the well known names associated with poker in India, and known for their expertise, knowledge and passion for the game. The team includes India’s largest poker portal Adda52.com founder Anuj Gupta, who is also a co-founder of Poker Sports League.

    The team is further strengthened by India Poker founder Pranav Bagai. Besides, being the co-founder of the league, Pranav has also been appointed as the CEO of PSL, and Nikita Luther, who is India’s top female Poker professional, will take charge as COO for the league.