Finally, the wait is over! The poker world is descending on Las Vegas for the 50th World Series of Poker (WSOP) scheduled between 28th May – 16th July 2019. There has been a lot of buzz around the world’s biggest event and we are expecting a record-breaking Indian contingent with many new faces and several women attending it, including Adda52 Team Celebrity Pro Minissha Lamba.
Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba had joined Adda52 as its first Celebrity Pro in 2017 and she has been thoroughly enjoying her poker journey and her stint with India’s No. 1 Poker Site – Adda52. Known for films like ‘Yahaan’ (debut film 2005), ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ (2008) ‘Kidnap’ (2008), ‘Well Done Abba’ (2009) and ‘Bheja Fry 2’ (2011), the Delhi girl has been playing poker for several years and has come a long way in her poker career. She first got highlighted back in 2011 when she finished 4th in the INR 15K Weekend Kickoff Tournament at the India Poker Championship (IPC).
Since 2011, she has been working hard on her game and it is showing in her results. She has been doing pretty well, making deep runs across several DPT, WPT India and other big events. She has already won the DPT Ladies Event and has made deep runs across several DPT & WPT India events.
In April 2018, she finished runner-up in the DPT Colossus 50K Warm-Up for INR 5,73,700 and 2nd runner-up in the DPT Colossus 200K High Roller for INR 14,36,000. The same year in July, she scored a 14th place finish in the DPT High Roller. Continuing her momentum ahead in 2018, she then finished runner-up in the WPT India High Roller to claim her best live score of INR 23,63,000 .
Most recently, Lamba finished 21st in the February 2019 DPT Main Event and she is now looking to win big in Las Vegas. As Lamba gets ready for her WSOP trip, we caught-up with the poker lady to know about WSOP preparations, plans and a lot more. Here are the excerpts of the interview:
OPN: Hi Minissha, WSOP is every player’s dream. How have you been preparing yourself for the same?
Minissha: Yes, it an amazing dream. I have been to Las Vegas once before during the WSOP time. Though I didn’t play many poker tournaments, the energy was electrifying. So far preparations, I have been watching a lot of videos and playing tournaments online. Also, I have been sitting with my friends, watching their play styles and understanding different insights into decision making.
OPN: How excited are you for the dream event?
Minissha: I am too excited! I have been to Vegas before and this time I have planned my trip meticulously. Right from poker friends to party friends and to friends who I can do cultural stuff with. The lists have been made.
OPN: What is your travel schedule? What events will you be playing there?
Minissha: I am starting off my trip with the WPT 500 event, which I am really excited about. Placing well in this event will be exciting for me since I have finished 2nd in the 2018 WPT India High Roller event in Goa. It would be good fun to meet the crew again. Among the other poker tournaments, I plan to play are the Colossus, $888 Crazy Eights, Mini Main Event and an Omaha tournament.
OPN: Different things to look forward to! What are you looking forward to the most at WSOP 2019?
Minissha: The tournaments, of course. The cash games. The shows. The first week of July would be fun because the main event happens then. Still not sure if I would be playing the main event. It depends on how I do in the the earlier tournaments I play.
OPN: There are lots of big guns from India participating in WSOP events. Who is your favourite to win gold bracelet for India?
Minissha: I think, there are so many amazing players from India and they are beginning to get their due abroad. Of course, the big favorites are erstwhile winners and deep run finishers, who will be watched out carefully. We have such a bunch of talented players attending the WSOP 2019. I think, each one is capable of forging ahead and getting a couple of WSOP bracelets for India this year.