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Power Couples In Poker

It’s Valentine’s Day! Love is in the air, with the world celebrating love with their loved ones. And as we feel the cupid energies surrounding us, we thought of why not have a look at the times when poker played cupid. 

In the poker fraternity, we have couples who are connected by poker and use poker as a medium to grow stronger in love and partnership. Here are five poker power couples wherein both partners enjoy a good game of poker. 

Poker Power Couples

Aditya Agarwal and Shuchi Chamaria

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Aditya ‘Intervention’ Agarwal (@adityainterventionagarwal)

They are one of the most influential and strongest couples in the Indian poker fraternity. The couple lived in the same neighbourhood in Kolkata, however, they did not know each other for almost 30 years. But once the cupid did their part, the couple only grew stronger and soared higher. 

Aditya Agarwal was one of the best poker players in the circuit. On the other hand, Shuchi had never played a single hand of poker. They got married within a year of meeting each other, and that’s when Shuchi, too, began to play the game of skill. Agarwal has mentored several poker players across the country and Shuchi, too, is one of his students. In fact, Shuchi happens to be his first female student who has risen to great heights and delivered amazing resulots in a relatively short poker career.

Now they travel together to play poker at various international destinations, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. The power couple has settled in India’s casino capital, Goa, and has helped shape the Indian poker scene through new dimensions.

Shuchi, who is often regarded as the ‘First Lady of Indian Poker’, has more some impressive online scores such as The Bout ₹10 Lakh GTD, where she cashed for ₹2.20 Lakh in March 2019 on PokerBaazi and the Super Tuesday ₹4 Lakh GTD for ₹1.18 Lakh in August, 2018. Her other titles include Battle Royale ₹10 Lakh GTD for ₹1.85 Lakh in March 2019 on PokerStars India. She also plays at the Poker Sports League for the Goan Nuts franchise. 

Gaurav Sood and Gunisha Sinha 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by PokerBaazi (@poker_baazi)

These childhood sweethearts are one of the most adorable and inspirational poker-power couples in the industry. The couple studied together in college and recently got married last year after years of courtship. 

Gunisha is a dentist; however, she started playing 2-3 tournaments every month with Gaurav Sood. During the lockdown, she studied more about the game and joined Poker Boot Camp India (PBCI). The two are often seen accompanying each other on poker tours. 

Recently, PokerBaazi released a video of the power couple as a part of their National Poker Series (NPS) campaign. Several poker players in the country adore and look up to this power couple for their blissfull married life and their respective passion for the game.

Anirban Das And Mahima Walia Das

Anirban Das and Mahima Walia Das

Anirban Das and Mahima Walia Das have been one of the most notable couples in the industry for the longest time. In Gutshot Magazine’s February 2021 edition, Mahima revealed in an interview that Anirban used to play poker after returning from work. Initially, it led to arguments; however, within just a week, she, too, was hooked on the game. Eventually, she started playing poker while studying MBA at IIM Ahmedabad. 

Mahima was one of the first-ever players to win Spartan Poker’s Millionaire United. She married Anirban Das back in 2015, and that’s when her love for poker began. Anirban was a popular player in the circuit. The IMT Ghaziabad pass-out worked in a start-up called ‘TapChief’ but enjoyed playing poker online in her free time. Talking about her passion for the game, she said, “I got married to Anirban in December 2014, and he had an inclination towards poker. Post-work, he would come back home and start playing poker. At first, it would lead to fights. But eventually, I developed an interest in the game as well.”

Ever since they have been crushing the poker felts, be it online poker, Poker Sports League (PSL), and others. The couple prefers playing poker recreationally, apart from their other interests and jobs. 

Yuvraj And Akanksha Singh

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Yuvraj Singh (@dr.yuvraj_singh)

No one in the poker world does not know about Yuvraj Singh and Akanksha Singh, also known as ‘Doctor Couple’ or ‘Suited Connectors.’ Both are doctors by profession. Yuvraj is an orthopaedic surgeon, while Akanksha is a dermatologist. They met each other while working in a hospital in Mumbai and fell in love. Interestingly they credit James Bond for their love for poker. In an interview, Yuvraj revealed that Akanksha had a crush on James Bond. That is where she saw him playing poker in the 007 movies. A common friend taught them both how to play poker and they started playing on small stakes. Gradually their interest and passion for the game developed. They started playing poker professionally together in 2013. 

But playing poker is not the only way they indulge in the game. They also create content around poker. From singing and dancing to creating poker enactments, this multi-talented couple does it all. During the lockdown, they came out with some really good content, like videos, to keep the audience entertained. They are often seen travelling and visiting poker series together. They were seen grinding at the India Poker Championship (IPC) Megastacks in Jhapa, Nepal, last year. 

Needless to say, they are the most loved poker power couple in the industry. We hope to see them create more content and keep crushing and entertaining us. 

Minissha Lamba and Akash Malik

Minissha Lamba and Akash Malik are two well-known names in the poker industry. The duo had been poker players for quite a long time; however, they played individually. 

In July 2021, the couple announced that they were dating via an Instagram post. The news was confirmed by Lamba, who told ETimes, one of the top entertainment publications in the country. “Yes, I have found love and I am happy. I feel blessed every day to have found togetherness,” she had said.

Interestingly, the couple met each other for the first time during a poker championship event in 2019. They haven’t been seen playing together, but we hope to see them arrive on the red carpets of live poker events soon.

Anant Purohit and Ruchika Purohit

Anant Purohit and Ruchika Purohit

You must have heard the phrase ‘Matches are made in heaven.’ This saying is what describes Anant Purohit and his wife Ruchika Purohit. The couple got married in an arranged marriage set-up but what kept them together is poker (Well, not completely, but partly, yes!). Ruchika had earlier shared that she was always inclined towards the game, but did not know how it was played. After she met Anant, who played poker professionally, he instantly turned her coach and mentor. 

A marketing and customer support professional, Ruchika now plays poker recreationally, along with looking after their little son. 

Gagandeep Malik and Ankita Malik

Gagandeep Malik is a well-known name in the Indian poker circuit who holds multiple poker titles to his mark sheet including DOPT ME, DPT Highroller, DPT Bounty, Mega Suits, AOPS Condalim, The Mint, WPT Monday feature, among several others. He participated in WPT China in 2016 and took down the ‘Win The Button – Hyper-Turbo’ event, followed by the ‘DPT Highroller’ event in DPT Goa Live Series the same year.

On the other hand, Ankita Malik, who is a former social media executive, is a five-time ‘Running Hot’ winner. She has managed to make some noise in the poker world with her exceptional poker skills at the tables. Donning multiple hats, Ankita is a great role model and inspiration for aspiring female poker players in the country.

On their very first date, Gagandeep confessed to her that he was a professional poker player. And to great surprise, Ankita expressed her willingness to be a part of his poker journey. Within a year of their marriage, Ankita quit her job and started playing poker online full-time. The cool and unruffled husband supported and guided her. Today he is proud of her achievements and her upward growth as a poker player.

They believe that healthy competition helps keep the spark in their relationship alive. The couple lives by the principle that unconditional support for each other helps them navigate through tough decisions and thus establish their identities and careers together.

The highlight point of their respective poker careers was when they played the against each other on the same table at the finals of ₹1 Crore GTD WPT Unreal.

We have other couples too who share and build on a common interest in poker. Let us know what you think of these poker power couples. Also, if you know any more couples who play poker, let us know in the comments section below. 

And yes, wishing all our beloved Gutshot readers Happy Valentine’s Day! Spread love, and keep grinding!

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

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