Mumbai: The National Poker Series India, hosted on PokerBaazi, is expected to commence its third edition in 2023. The National Poker Series India has had tremendous success in the last two editions. The overwhelming participation was not just restricted to the metros; even tier two and tier three cities saw an impressive number of players playing and winning the medals thereby proving the growing popularity of poker across India.
The company said that the tournament’s year-on-year growth has been an eye-opener for many, with the 2021 edition registering 83,000 entries and last year’s edition drawing as many as 96,000 entries. The National Poker Series, since its inception, has glorified the heroes of Indian poker and recognises the skill involved in this mind sport.
In the last two editions, Maharashtra (94) and New Delhi (82) have been leading the medal tally, with Rajasthan (46) and Uttar Pradesh (41), as well as Haryana (39) completing the top five. While states have been giving each other a run for their glory, individual players have also ensured that they give each other cut-throat competition.
In 2021, Mohd. Azhar Tak (3) - Rajasthan, Ankit Wadhawan (3) - Punjab, Kritagya Sharma (3) – New Delhi lead the medal tally. Whereas in 2022, Shagun Jain (6) - Rajasthan, Dhaval Doshi (4) – Maharashtra and, Rohit Begwani (4) - Rajasthan completed the podium positions with an even higher count of medals.
Poker, the company added, is fast capturing the minds and imaginations of people all over India, including prominent influencers and podcasters. People are posting on social media platforms about how the game is fun and thrilling and at the same time teaches so many valuable life lessons. Poker has transcended boundaries in the west, whereas India is now fast catching up to the idea of poker as a sport. With the tournament likely to see more participation, even from the hinterlands of India, the National Poker Series will continue with its tradition of giving an opportunity to its podium finishers to compete in the world's largest international poker tournament—in Las Vegas, Nevada.
