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Gutshot Magazine – Celebrating A Decade Of Success

It was sometime at the end of 2010 that the seed of Gutshot was first planted in our minds. Back then the thought was to popularise poker by getting everyone we could reach, to know about the India Poker Championship (IPC). Being a fledgeling sport, poker was still finding its feet in the Indian context. When Sameer Rattonsey and I co-founded the IPC, our motive was simple—get as many people together under one roof to play this sport we were in love with. The 2020-2011 season was a remarkable one as the IPC deepened its presence on the domestic poker circuit among several other brands which also launched around the same time. But we knew from our first event that IPC was something special. It was our baby and naturally was showered with all the love and attention that a newborn deserves.

As poker in the country and IPC started spreading its wings, we thought about how the sport could become more popular and it came down to individuals and their stories which usually capture our attention. And hence the thought of giving recognition to the top performers and showcasing their achievements took hold. That really was the genesis of Gutshot—a booklet you’d find at the IPC where you could read about the next superstar in the sport, check out schedules of upcoming poker events and get a rundown of winners and top finishers in recently concluded events.

From there it progressed to moving away from being a mere event booklet to becoming a proper magazine dedicated to the game. The domestic scene was still in its nascent stage so the news mix was more geared towards international events and players but as issues passed by that ratio started tilting in India’s favour. Our poker landscape was expanding and our players were making a mark not only in the country but in regional events taking place in Asia.

A few years ago, when the print magazine went into hiatus, we started to focus on the website. While the primary focus continued to be on poker, we thought about including other real money gaming news and information. The online medium was far more flexible and I believe there will come a time when Gutshot will be a full-fledged real money gaming news website with coverage from poker, rummy, fantasy sports, esports and much more. Because of the COVID-19 situation, our print magazine once again went into hiatus but this time the power of the internet allowed us to continue producing the magazine albeit with an ‘e’ in front of the name. The monthly Gutshot e-magazine is plugging the temporary gap left by the print magazine and is slowly but surely making strides in finding its own place in the ever-burgeoning gaming landscape of India. We might have crossed the 10 year milestone but it feels like there’s a whole other journey still waiting to happen and I am thankful to the people who have come along with us on this decade long journey.

And speaking of the virus, we live in unprecedented times. As we reach the end of April, India is grappling with the second wave of COVID-19 and we are struggling. Lack of oxygen and hospital beds along with the ever-mounting numbers of positive cases in the country are causing even deeper concern, and dare I say panic, among the general populace. We all know someone, within our close and extended circle of family and friends, who has had a loved one succumb to this virus.

This is a time for all of us to be ever more vigilant and aware of each other as human beings. You don’t need to be a healthcare professional to contribute. All you need to do is follow the safety protocol that we’ve all been aware of for over a year now, wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Get yourself vaccinated if and when that opportunity presents itself.

I don’t consider myself to be a particularly religious person, so prayers aside, I do believe in the power of positive thinking and good mojo. So let us do the right things, the safe things and contribute our little bit to combat this.
We will come out stronger. Stay safe and be well.

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