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WPT India Main Event Winners List

World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the world’s top poker series. It is a series of televised poker tournaments that began in 2002. The WPT is one of the most popular poker tours in the world, and it has helped to popularize poker among a wider audience.

The WPT features a variety of different tournaments, including No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud. The tournaments are held in different locations around the world, and they attract some of the best poker players in the world.

The WPT is known for its high stakes, and the tournaments often have prize pools of over $1 million. The WPT also features a Player of the Year (POY) award, which is given to the player who accumulates the most points throughout the season.

The WPT has helped to make poker a mainstream spectator sport. The tournaments are televised on ESPN, and they have attracted a large following of fans. The WPT has also helped to raise the profile of poker players, and some of the top WPT players have become celebrities.

Some of the most famous WPT winners include Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, and Daniel Negreanu. Hellmuth is a 15-time WPT winner, and he is considered to be one of the greatest poker players of all time. Moneymaker won the 2003 WSOP Main Event, and he is credited with helping to popularize poker among a wider audience. Negreanu is a six-time WPT winner, and he is one of the most popular poker players in the world.

The WPT has helped to make poker a global phenomenon. The tournaments are held in different locations around the world, and they attract players from all over the world. The WPT has also helped to raise the profile of poker, and it has made poker a more popular spectator sport.

The WPT has been a staple of the poker world for over two decades, and in 2017, it made its debut in India. The WPT India tour has since grown to become one of the most popular poker tours in the country, attracting some of the best players from India and around the world. The WPT title and trophy are considered one of the most prestigious poker titles in the world. And ever since its debut in India in 2017, there have been three successful editions held at Deltin Royale Casino in Goa. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a standstill to the series. After a hiatus of almost three years, the series returned to India with WPT Prime India 2023. The series was held between the 12th to 18th April, 2023. 

In the past there have been several Indian pros who have made a mark for themselves as well as for Indian poker by representing and winning at global stages like the WPT. Plus, the fact that WPT hosts regular series in India is itself a testament to the growing popularity of the game in India. So let’s look at the glorious WPT Main Events over the past WPT India editions. 

WPT India Main Event Winners

Vikash Mantri – 2017 WPT India Main Event 

Vikash Mantri

The 2017 edition of WPT India was the first-ever live WPT series hosted in India. It took place from 7th November to 13th November 2017. The schedule of the 2017 WPT India edition had nine events. The coveted Main Event was won by Vikash Mantri, who exhibited exceptional poker prowess, making well-timed decisions, reading opponents accurately, and displaying a deep understanding of the game’s nuances. Mantri displayed the perfect balance of skill and experience to walk home a cash prize of ₹60.03 Lakh for his top finish.

Winning a WPT Main Event is a testament to a player’s skill, resilience, and strategic acumen. And for Mantri, it was more remarkable since he won the inaugural event making his name go down in history/ It not only brought him substantial financial rewards but also earned him immense respect and recognition within the poker community.

The ₹55,000 buy-in Main Event gathered a total of 527 entries battling it out. I had tough competition from seasoned poker professionals and aspiring amateurs alike. Over the course of the tournament, players navigated through multiple days of flights of intense play, thus facing both triumphs and setbacks on their journey to the final table.

Nikunj Jhunjhunwala – 2018 WPT India Main Event

Nikunj Jhunjhunwala

The WPT India series returned for a second live season in 2018, between the 13th to 19th of November 2018. The most anticipated Main Event held between 16th to 19th November 2018, broke the previous year’s record by generating a total of 697 entries.

The players battled it out across starting flights for four days before reaching the final day, which was then taken down by Nikunj Jhunjhunwala. He beat popular player Sahil Mahboobani in the heads-up to take home a pay cheque of ₹66.35 Lakh. His victory in the prestigious tournament showcased his exceptional poker skills and earned him a place among the elite players in the poker community. Mahboobani, on the other hand, walked away with the second largest share of ₹46.53 Lakh.

Nikunj Jhunjhunwala’s triumph would have been the result of his dedication, strategic acumen, and ability to maintain composure in high-pressure situations. Winning a WPT Main Event requires players to demonstrate consistency and skill throughout the tournament, outlasting hundreds of competitors to reach the final table.

As he navigated through various stages of the tournament, Jhunjhunwala faced tough opponents, each vying for the coveted title and the substantial cash prize. His ability to read his opponents, make calculated moves, and capitalize on opportunities would have played a crucial role in securing his victory.

The final table of the 2018 WPT India Main Event would have been a thrilling display of poker talent, with Jhunjhunwala showcasing his expertise and determination to emerge as the ultimate champion. His accomplishment not only brought him financial rewards but also earned him respect and admiration from fellow players and fans alike.

Winning the 2018 WPT India Main Event was undoubtedly a career-defining moment for Nikunj Jhunjhunwala, cementing his position as one of India’s top poker players. His success in such a prestigious tournament also served as a source of inspiration for aspiring poker enthusiasts in the country, showcasing that dedication and skill can lead to remarkable achievements in the world of poker.

Ashish Munot – 2019 WPT India Main Event 

Ashish Munot

The last successful edition of WPT India was held in 2019. The ₹55,000 buy-in event registered a total of 630 entries to surpass its ₹3.25 Crore guarantee to record a final prize pool of ₹3.28 Crore. The top 79 places were paid at this Main Event.

The 2019 World Poker Tour India Main Event was won by Ashish Munot, a professional poker player from Mumbai, India. Ashish Munot beat Yuvraj Chaudhary in heads-up to clinch his first-ever WPT title. The title also marked his career-best live cash, which remains to be the best of his career to date. Munot surpassed a field of 630 entries to win the ₹60,99,885 (~$82,000) top prize.

Munot is a seasoned poker player who has been playing for over 10 years. He has won several major tournaments in India, including the 2017 WPT DeepStacks India Main Event. The 2019 WPT India Main Event was his biggest victory to date.

In the final hand of the tournament, Munot held AK against Yuvraj Chaudhary’s QJ. The board ran out T9874, and Munot won the hand, thanks to his Ace, to become the champion. Munot’s win is a testament to his skill and determination. He is a true grinder who has put in the hard work to become one of the best poker players in India. His victory is an inspiration to all Indian poker players, and it shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Prasit Chowdhury – 2023 WPT Prime India Main Event

The WPT Prime India 2023 Main Event was won by Prasit Chowdhury, a 32-year-old professional poker player from Kolkata, India. Chowdhury defeated a field of 857 entries to win the ₹86,60,000 (~$105,809) top prize. The tournament was held at the Deltin Royale Casino in Goa, India, and was the largest WPT event ever held in India.

Chowdhury is a relative newcomer to the poker scene, having only started playing in 2019. However, he has quickly made a name for himself, winning several major tournaments in India. In 2022, he won the WPT DeepStacks Mumbai Main Event for ₹27,55,000.

The WPT Prime India 2023 Main Event was a long and grueling event, lasting four days and seven hours. Chowdhury was one of the chip leaders heading into the final table, and he never looked back. He won the tournament in dramatic fashion, defeating Amit Tejura heads-up.

The tournament broke all previous records to generate the highest prize pool, the biggest entry field, and the biggest top prize in the history of WPT India. The record-breaking Main featured players from all over the world, including India, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Chowdhury’s victory is a major accomplishment for Indian poker, and it is sure to inspire other Indian players to pursue their dreams of winning a WPT title.

For more news and updates, keep reading Gutshot Magazine. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram.

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