POKER PLAYER PROFILES

Best professional poker players in India

Poker has evolved from being a recreational game to a highly competitive sport, and India has witnessed an impressive surge in poker talent over the years. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see hundreds of professional poker players in India, who eat, sleep, sleep, and breathe poker as a means of living.

The following list highlights the top 10 poker players in India, individuals who have demonstrated their exceptional skills and left a mark on both the national and international poker scene. This is a list of some of the top professional poker players in India, in no particular order or preference. PS. The list primarily takes into consideration active tournament players in India, and not cash game players.

1. Aditya Agarwal – Aditya Agarwal, known as "Intervention" in the online poker world, is one of the pioneers of Indian poker. As the first Indian to join PokerStars Team Pro, he has amassed over $1.5 million in live tournament winnings and is celebrated as one of India's foremost poker ambassadors. Adi is to poker what Sachin Tendulkar is to cricket in this country.
2. Raghav Bansal – Raghav Bansal, also known as "thatssosick", is a prominent name in the Indian poker community. With several deep runs in WSOP events and numerous online successes, he has carved a niche for himself among the top players in India.
3. Sriharsha Doddapaneni – Gutshot Magazine ran a players’ poll once in 2020 to ask the community on who they think is the best all-round Indian poker player, and Sriharsha was the answer they came up with. He’s got some insane scores in online poker, while making a splash in live poker too, including a 16^th place finish in a bracelet event at WSOP 2023.
4. Sumit Sapra – Sumit Sapra, known as "hammer_head" online, is known for his consistent performance in the Indian poker circuit. He boasts multiple online victories and deep runs in live events, firmly establishing himself as a top poker player. He also temporarily moved outside India to pursue a more profitable career as a professional Indian poker player.
5. Abhishek Goindi – One of the most versatile Indian poker players around, Goindi has not only proved himself in online and live poker, but he’s also gone ahead and become a very successful poker coach too. Co-founding Poker Bootcamp India (PBCI) with Tanay Hargunaney, he’s helped quite a few newbie poker players to learn the ABC of the game of poker.
6. Kanishka Samant – Kanishka Samant, known as "Wildflower" in the online poker world, has been a consistent performer in online tournaments. With numerous victories and deep runs, he emerged as a rising star in the Indian poker community, often considered among some of the best Indian poker players.
7. Abhinav Iyer – Abhinav Iyer is an accomplished poker player known for his online poker alias "checkshove." His remarkable performances in both live and online tournaments have earned him a spot among India's top poker players, becoming India’s first solo bracelet winner when he took down The Closer in WSOP 2019. He’s always considered in any list of top Indian poker players who travel around Asia and the rest of the world.

The Indian poker landscape is thriving, thanks to the remarkable talent of these top 10 players. They have not only showcased their poker prowess but have also contributed to the growth and recognition of poker in India. As these players continue to make strides on the international stage, they inspire a new generation of upcoming poker players to aim high and chase their poker dreams. The future of poker in India looks bright, with more emerging talents waiting to join the ranks of these accomplished players.