One of the biggest global brands World Poker Tour® (WPT) that declared its expansion plan in the Asia-Pacific region earlier this year by announcing the WPT India and the WPT India Player of the Year award is set to foray into the Indian poker market with its first-ever WPT India series running from 7th to 13th November aboard the India’s largest and most luxurious casino – Deltin Royale Goa.
Founded back in 2002, WPT has evolved as a prestigious brand in the poker world, and its debut series -WPT India in collaboration with India’s largest poker site-Adda52.com is certainly a giant step.
WPT India series is not only expected to establish India in the global poker scene, but it is also believed that the series will be the biggest field for any live event in Indian poker history. The series will kick off on 7th November and will be headlined by 55K Main Event from 10th to 13th November.
The series will feature WPT India Player of the Year (POY) Award. The POY leaderboard points will be based on standings from Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT) July, DPT September, WPT India and 2018 DPT events scheduled prior to the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions.
The winner of the WPT India POY will receive a $5,000 buy-in credit for WPT events and designated Deltin events during Season XVII of WPT. The race for POY India is already on and is tightening up as WPT India inches closer. Adda52 Team Pro-Amit Jain is one of the strong contenders for POY title along with Nitin Gupta, Rajnish Kumar, Vikram Kumar and Jaydeep Dawer to name a few.
To check out WPT India POY standings, please check out this link HERE
How India’s Poker Community Reacts to WPT India Series Ahead
Indian players are super excited about WPT India series and consider it as a giant step to change poker scene in the country. They believe the series will get poker the respect it deserves in India. Let’s check out what actually they have to say about the upcoming WPT India at Deltin Royale Goa:
1.Abhishek Goindi
The Punjab Bluffer’s mentor Abhishek from Bangalore who won No Limit Hold’em – High Roller at APT – Asian Poker Series Manila 2012 for $ 39,773 believes that WPT India is going to be a historic event.
“WPT India is going to be a historic event! Growing up as a kid, WSOP and WPT were the two main brands that were the most aspirational brands and to see them coming down to India is very exciting. Moreover, handling the WPT relationship and helping them execute this event holds a lot of value. Poker is growing in this country. I have been here since its inception and to see where the game has reached today is remarkable. The DPT has given the local players a chance to showcase themselves. The WPT India will bring in a new flavor and give the local talents a platform to rise”, said Abhishek Goindi.
2.Sumit Sapra
Sumit who recently won the $550 Pot Limit Omaha Deepstack at the World Poker Tour National Cambodia believes WPT India will feature a better structure and mix of international players. However, strategy-wise, it will remain the same except the Main Event with longer blind levels.
“The difference for me is going to be the bigger buy-ins, slightly better structures and a mix of international players. Strategy wise won’t be a big difference except for the Main Event which has longer blind levels, especially on the final table. So once you get to the FT, you have a little more time before it gets to the stage where you have to go for a double up or go bust,” said Sumit Sapra.
3.Sanjay Taneja
A veteran player from Delhi, Sanjay feels WPT India will get poker the respect it deserves.
“WPT India is a giant step for getting Poker the respect it deserves in India.” Said Taneja
4.Abhineet Jain
Abhineet from Pune who finished 2nd in ₱ 33,000 NLH/PLO event at PokerStars Festival Manila 2017 feels that WPT India will change the mindset of the world about the state of poker in India.
“I think WPT India would help in changing the mindset of the world about the state of poker in India as many international players I have met are either skeptical or have no clue about the poker in India. This would expose them to world-class facilities that India can offer in poker and also display the mettle of Indian poker players to global piney community”, said Abhineet Jain.
5.Deepak Bothra
Bothra who finished runner-up in 15K Bounty of DPT February 2017 and later on won the DPT Tag Team Event at DPT April 2017 edition considers WPT India as the biggest event and is super excited to play it.
“WPT India is the biggest tournament I would be playing since I started playing poker. Expecting best international players to participate in the event and have to ensure my game is one notch up. I am super excited to play”, said Deepak Bothra.
6.Anuj Kumar Kodam
The young gun of poker in India, Anuj Kumar who recently won Adda52 Millions High Roller believes that the upcoming WPT India series will establish India in global poker scene.
“It’s definitely a great step in establishing India in the global poker scene. WPT being a global brand, a lot of regs keep note of all its locations. Now that it is getting into India, it will get their attention and in turn, it will place India on the global MTT scene, which would then incentivize a lot of other bigger brands to do Indian series. Also, Indian players getting exposed to international players is a good step for people doing international trips themselves”, Said Anuj Kumar Kodam.
7.Vivek Rughani
One of India’s well-known live player, Rughani who finished runner-up in DPT High Roller last year and cashed out across several DPT events this year believes WPT India will be the biggest field for any live series in India
“WPT India will be the biggest field for any live series in India till date. It will give everyone who does not travel abroad a shot at the enormous prize pools and the world poker tour pride they dream of. It will change the future of upcoming tours in India. I wish everyone the best of luck and can’t wait to be on the ship on the 7th November to be in the mix playing for the WPT title,” said Rughani.
8. Anup Palod
Another well-known player Palod from Mumbai city who made it to the final table in DPT 15K Kickoff in April this year believes that the upcoming WPT India series is going to give a big boost to poker ecosystem in the country.
“A brand as big as WPT entering Indian Poker scene is definitely going to boost the poker ecosystem in the country. With their arrival, India gets on the global map for poker now and hopefully, it will bring much-needed attention to this beautiful mind sport, which has been treated like a stepchild in the society”, said Anup Palod.
Play WPT Satellites on Adda52.com to Win Ticket to WPT India Series
To the delight of the poker players planning to enter WPT India events, Adda52.com is hosting exclusive online satellites, which have already started and will run through 7th Nov on Adda52. Make sure to join the satellite series and experience high-octane action in Deltin Royale, Goa.
For the details on satellites, check out this link – https://www.adda52.com/promotions/wptindia.