PokerStars India has made a significant move to strengthen its presence in the burgeoning Indian poker market by announcing the appointment of four new brand ambassadors: Kanchan Sharma, Goonjan Mall, Siddharth Karia, and Neel Joshi. These players are celebrated figures in the Indian poker community, each bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record in both online and live poker tournaments.
Kanchan Sharma is a poker powerhouse with impressive runs in both live and online poker. This female poker player took the runner-up spot in the ₱100,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller 6-Handed Shot Clock Turbo event for a payday of ₱ 891,050 (~₹13 Lakh). This remains to be her biggest live cash till date. Sharma who hails from Agra has grabbed headlines on several occasions due to her top-notch grinding skills. With an unending list of live cashes from both domestic and international events, Sharma sits at the 149th position in the India All Time Money List. Sharma’s journey in poker has been inspirational, making her an ideal ambassador for promoting the game and PokerStars’ brand in India.
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Goonjan Mall is not a new name in the Indian poker circuit. This Bangalore-based player grinds in both live and online poker tournaments with multiple finishes in the top 10. Apart from being a poker player, Mall is an entrepreneur and an angel investor. Mall who’s known as ‘gmtesting’ on the virtual felts has over ₹14 Crore in total online earrings. (source: PokerGuru)
Mall has a series of accolades to his name, including significant wins and deep runs in major online poker tournaments. His analytical approach to the game and his dedication to continuous improvement make him a perfect representative of the PokerStars brand, appealing to both seasoned players and newcomers.
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Siddharth Karia, Gutshot Magazine April 2021 cover star, is known for his aggressive and fearless playing style. He is a well-respected figure in the Indian poker scene. Karia’s achievements in live tournaments and online poker platforms have established him as a formidable competitor. With close to $200K in total live earrings, Karia, who hails from Gujarat, sits on the 54th spot of the India All Time Money List. Karia, also known as ‘Schemer’, registered his biggest cash online through Spartan Poker’s Final Table Series (FTS) in March 2021 when he claimed the numero uno spot in the Main Event.
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Neel Joshi rounds out the quartet of ambassadors with his exceptional record in both live and online poker. Joshi has consistently demonstrated his expertise and strategic depth, earning him recognition and respect among his peers. Joshi’s biggest online cash came from PokerBaazi’s EndBoss (April 2020) when he became the runner-up for a little over ₹65 Lakh. When it comes to this Pune-based player’s WSOP earnings, the pro has close to $300K to his credit.
The Player of the Year (PokerGuru) race increasingly seems like an one-sided affair as Joshi takes a commanding lead. This year, Joshi has raked in an impressive ₹4.69 Crore, boasting a profit of ₹2.76 Crore (source: PokerGuru). His dominant performance is cemented by 11 astounding victories, each earning him seven-figure payouts, making him the clear favourite to win the race. Joshi’s commitment to the game and his impressive performances in various high-stakes tournaments align perfectly with PokerStars’ values and vision.
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By onboarding the above-mentioned distinguished players, PokerStars India aims to leverage their influence and success to promote the game of poker across the country. The ambassadors will not only represent the brand in various capacities but also engage with the poker community, fostering a deeper connection between PokerStars and its Indian audience.
For more updates from the poker world, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.
Roy D’Silva is a published author and has covered various beats in his decade-long experience, including Bollywood, OTT and now poker. An avid cyclist and documentary buff, Roy’s looking to be right, front, and center of that one big story in the poker world.
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