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In Conversation with Abhishek Sharma, DPT Xpress 2025 Mystery Bounty Winner

Indian poker player Abhishek Sharma has snagged himself a place in poker history by shipping the Mystery Bounty event at DPT XPress 2025. But apart from that, Sharma is a literal high-flyer in real life, too. He is a pilot instructor and trainer and says he has now created a balance between his profession and passion—poker. Gutshot Magazine spoke to him recently and discussed various aspects of the game, including his experience at the Deltin Royale. This is the transcript of that conversation.

Congratulations on your victory at DPT Xpress 2025. How was your experience at Deltin Royale?

I am accustomed to Deltin Royale, but the system with Adda52 was much better. Adda52 made the entire process of logging in, attending events, and taking cashouts straightforward.

How has your poker journey been in 2025?

Last month, I attended Poker Dream 15. I almost bricked the tournament and lost a lot of money. I was not supposed to go to DPT Xpress 2025, but somehow, as the dates were nearing, I thought about going for three days. I was busted from Mystery Bounty within 30 minutes. But on Day 2, I won the trophy.

Tell us about your time at Xpress 2025.

I came only for three days. Right when the registration closed, when you can’t have more players enter the tournament, I won due to a triple-up. I had Kings, somebody had an Ace Queen, and someone else had Aces. I was never lucky enough to crack Aces with my Kings, but somehow, on the river, I got a King. That boost of chips, after the late registration, came at the right time. I could propel and catapult my stack to a better position on Day 2 and eventually to the Final Table and win the trophy.

Tell us about the players at Deltin Xpress 2025.

There were some outstanding players at the tournament, like Chirag Sodha. Thankfully, he was short-stacked. He was grinding four to five big blinds, and he had been doing this for a long time. He didn’t receive any moves or tips to play around with, and if he had, it would have been tough for me to deal with it. The other player was lucky and knew how to play; that is a dangerous combination.

That player was Gopal Bajaj. He has played a lot of online poker, but this was his third or fourth live tournament. I was happy when he busted his third. The heads-up was pretty okay. The heads-up was with a player named Tejas, and it was pretty easy for me, as I know how cash games work.

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ALSO READ: Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT Xpress) February 2025 Winners

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Where do you plan to travel next for poker?

In April, I will be going to Poker Dream in Malaysia.

What would you like to tell aspiring poker players about bankroll management?

I am at a semi-pro level. Thankfully, I don’t have to think much about the bankroll. So, let’s suppose all my poker earnings are whittled down, and I will not play for the next couple of months. If you are managing your poker bankroll with just your winnings, you should look for smaller buy-ins, play a stack that you can manage, and avoid going overboard.

Yes, when a player goes to a live tournament, the idea is usually that “We will get something. If not the trophy, at least we will be in the ITM or the top three.” But live poker is cruel. If someone has a bankroll of ₹5 Lakh, I think I am bidding adieu to this money.

In fact, knowing the kind of play that I have, I may even need more. I am ready for it. If one has a thought process that I am taking this amount, and it should double, that is a negative thought.

Who is that one player, current or past, that you would like to have a heads-up play with?

I would like to go ahead and say a heads-up with Phil Ivey. I am sure many other poker players will give you the same answer. He has been in the game for a long time. The level of mystery he has, he doesn’t talk much, and there is a mystery behind the way he stares. So, playing with him is bound to be an intense experience. I would love to play a heads-up with somebody who has been playing for a long time.

And what is the one poker achievement you are awaiting?

Of course, it’s the WSOP Main Event bracelet. That is far off. As of right now, I would like to win the WPT Championship Cup, that is, the Mike Sexton Championship Cup. I wish I could win that one day.

We wish Abhishek all the very best in his endeavour and once again congratulate him on his recent win. Keep reading Gutshot Magazine for more such interviews.

Gutshot Magazine provides all the latest updates on the real-money gaming and poker industry. We also have exclusive coverage of poker tournaments.

We have it all, from itineraries to winners lists to interviews with some of the industry’s biggest names. We also provide information about any federal and corporate decisions that might impact the real-money gaming market.

 

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