Despite its controversial image, poker, a classic card game often associated with smoke-filled backrooms and high-stakes betting, has become a popular pastime for many people. In this game of skill, strategy, and nerve, players compete against each other using well-thought-out moves and cleverness.
India’s poker scene has boomed in recent years with talented players making their mark domestically and internationally. We are going to talk about the world of Indian poker, the top 20 players who have impressed with their strategic gameplay and unwavering determination.
Top 20 Richest Poker Players In India
| Sr No. | Player Name | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vivek Rajkumar | $8,080,012 |
| 2 | Santosh Suvarna | $7,396,993 |
| 3 | Nipun Java | $2,989,317 |
| 4 | Ankit Ahuja | $2,622,522 |
| 5 | Abhinav Iyer | $1,775,224 |
| 6 | Aditya Agarwal | $1,569,636 |
| 7 | Kartik Ved | $1,272,393 |
| 8 | Raghav Bansal | $1,140,580 |
| 9 | Kunal Patni | $944,920 |
| 10 | Aditya Sushant | $851,828 |
| 11 | Zarvan Tumboli | $792,133 |
| 12 | Paawan Bansal | $765,370 |
| 13 | Nishant Sharma | $684,419 |
| 14 | Dhaval Mudgal | $655,239 |
| 15 | Vasu Amarapu | $590,615 |
| 16 | Ashish Munot | $554,268 |
| 17 | Nikita Luther | $535,583 |
| 18 | Aditya Gurunath Systla | $527,499 |
| 19 | Akshay Nasa | $497,424 |
| 20 | Kalyan Chakravarthy Cheekuri | $485,517 |
1. Vivek Rajkumar
Rajkumar began his poker journey in 2006 by winning a WPT Series tournament in Canada for $30,022. His breakthrough came in 2008 in the L.A. Poker Classic, where he won and earned $113,425. Another milestone was reached when he earned $1,424,500 by defeating veteran players at the World Poker Tour event in Atlantic City.
Rajkumar’s success brought Indian poker into the spotlight, with his age initially being doubted due to his youthful appearance. He continued to excel, moving to L.A. in 2009 for $350,000. Won the Poker Classic and tied for second place in 2010 for $78,600. In 2019, he claimed fifth place at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in London with earnings of $3,652,345 – his highest payout to date.
2. Santosh Surwana
Santosh Surwana is a talented poker player who has made a name for himself in the world of poker. Originally from India, Santosh has gained recognition for his skills in online and live competitions. He is known for his strategic thinking and ability to make smart decisions during the game.
Santosh Suvarna made waves by reaching the final table in Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Event #5: $75K NLHE 8-Handed 8th. Although he didn’t win, finishing 8th in such a prestigious event is remarkable. The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series attracts top professionals from around the world, making Gold’s performance even more impressive.
3. Nipun Java
Nipun Java is a famous poker player from India. He is proficient in both playing online poker and playing live tournaments in person. People started paying attention to him because he won a major poker event called the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2017.
He won it with another player named Aditya Sushant. They played together in a special event called $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em. Nipun has also performed very well in other poker tournaments, winning a lot of money and reaching the final table several times. People think he is one of the best poker players.
4. Ankit Ahuja
Ankit Ahuja is a rising star in the poker world, known for his talent and dedication to the game. Hailing from India, Ahuja has excelled in both live and online competitions, showcasing his skill and strategic mind. Ahuja’s consistent performance and passion for the game has earned him respect in the poker community.
With a promising future ahead, he continues to hone his skills and make his mark on the global poker scene, poised for even greater success in the coming years.
5. Abhinav Iyer
Abhinav Iyer received a WSOP Gold Bracelet in 2019 by winning the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em – The Closer event for $565,346. With WSOP earnings of $588,579 from eight cashes, his outstanding win is his career high in live tournaments. In particular, his 2020 online performance during the pandemic was notable, with $1,111 out of $127,571 in 15 cashes for the COVID relief program, including fourth place.
Iyer’s versatility extends to live cash games and online poker, where he has demonstrated expertise on a variety of platforms and cemented his reputation as a formidable force in the poker world.
6. Aditya Agarwal
Aditya Agarwal’s journey started with modest success on the WSOP circuit in 2007, which gradually turned into remarkable performances in prestigious tournaments like EPT Barcelona and WSOP Main Event. Despite occasional droughts, he showed consistency and skill and earned considerable cash on various international circuits. Agarwal’s profile online is extensive, with earnings exceeding USD$4 million.
Looking forward to the WSOP Main Event, his unwavering dedication and skill promises gold bracelets in the future. In 2018, Agarwal’s momentum continued with an impressive performance, including a runner-up finish in the APPT Main Event.
7. Kartik Ved
Kartik Ved is a prominent figure in the poker world, known for his excellent performances in online and live tournaments. Notable among his achievements is his victory at the prestigious World Poker Tour (WPT) event, where he defeated experienced competitors to win a significant cash prize. Additionally, Ved has showcased his skills in online poker, achieving impressive wins and prestigious titles on various platforms. His dedication and talent have solidified his reputation as one of the best players in the global poker community.
8. Raghav Bansal
One of the rising stars of the poker world, Raghav Bansal is a native of India who has made a mark with his remarkable achievements. Notably, he demonstrated his skill and determination internationally by winning the 2015 Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP) Main Event in Macau. Bansal’s win at such a prestigious event catapulted him into the limelight and earned him recognition and respect in the poker community.
Apart from this milestone, Bansal has continued to excel with impressive cashes and final table performances, cementing his reputation as one of India’s most promising and talented poker players.
9. Kunal Patni
Former private banker Kunal Patni became a successful professional poker player after winning the Asia Championship of Poker (ACOP) in Macau in 2014. Leaving behind a banking career with notable stints at IIFL, HSBC, and others, he dedicated 2015 to taking up poker full-time. Patani, ranked as India’s No. 2 player in his first year, has won the Asian Poker Tour, World Poker Tour, and Deltin Poker tournaments.
Notably, he finished second at the Berlin WPTDeepStacks in 2018. Patani’s leadership as captain of the Deccan Aces in the Poker Sports League underlines his influence on the Indian poker community.
10. Aditya Sushant
Indian poker sensation, Aditya Sushant has made a name for himself with remarkable performances in the game. Notably, in 2017, he made his mark in poker history by becoming the first Indian player to win a gold bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. His victory in the $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em event with Nipun Jawa showcased his prodigious skill and marked a milestone for Indian poker. Sushant’s success inspired many aspiring players in India and cemented his position as a major player in the country’s emerging poker scene.
11. Zarvan Tumboli
Zarvan Tumboli scored a big win at the VSOP Championship IX, where he finished first in the tournament. His great display of poker skills has earned him many fans as people who want to master poker and become big poker players.
12. Paawan Bansal
Paawan Bansal, a resident of Meerut, was once a famous Indian poker player. He is known for his strategic mind and excellent poker skills. Pawan has played in the World Series of Poker as well as the World Poker Tour and won wherever he went. He excels in poker strategy and gameplay with a total of 15 cash prizes.
13. Nishant Sharma
Nishant Sharma came into the poker limelight after winning the World Poker Championship in 2022. Earlier he played amazing poker in various tournaments but could not win but finally he got success in 2022.
14. Dhaval Mudgal
Dhaval Mudgal got 2nd place at the World Poker Tour Prime in May 2023 for his impressive win at the Asian Poker Tour 2023 in Vietnam and his impressive performance on his poker belt.
15. Vasu Amarapu
Vasu Amarapu is famous in the poker community for his win at the 2019 Los Angeles Poker Classic (LAPC). He has participated in various poker tournaments and played great poker in all of them. He currently resides in Bellingham, MA, United States. Vasu is ranked 15th in India’s all-time wealth list.
16. Ashish Munot
Ashish Munot is a powerhouse in the Indian poker scene. Although his online presence seems a bit sparse, his live tournament results show a skilled and ever-growing player. He is a rising Indian poker star with over $554,267 in live earnings. While a title is yet to come, his consistent flows of cash, including a second-place finish at the 2022 WPT Prime Vietnam for $87,237, showcase his talent. Mainly on the WPT circuit, Munot is a player to watch for future wins.
17. Nikita Luther
Nikita Luther is a prominent figure in the Indian poker community, known for her skill and success in the game. Hailing from Delhi, she has made significant progress in live and online poker tournaments. After becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2018, Luther grabbed attention.
His win came in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em – Tag Team event, where he partnered with German player Giuseppe Pantaleo. Luther’s success has cemented his position as one of the most respected and accomplished poker players in India, inspiring many aspiring players in the country.
18.Aditya Gurunath Systla
Aditya Gurunath Systla is a famous poker player who finished second in the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas in December 2022 and has participated in various poker tournaments over the past decade.
19. Akshay Nasa
Delhi-based poker pro-Akshay Nasa is a veteran player of the Indian poker scene, known for his skills in both live and online play. Along with significant live amounts of cash at the World Series of Poker and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour, Nasa’s career highlights include wins at events such as the World Series of Poker and the Asia Poker Tour, giving him nearly $500,000 in total live earnings as of December 2023. Known as ‘Sherlock52’. And ‘Wibux’ Online, NASA’s success extends to the virtual experience, with a score of ₹7,52,515 at the India Online Poker Championship. As one of the top 20 players in India, NASA’s journey promises excitement and success.
20. Kalyan Chakravarthy Cheekuri
Kalyan Chakravarthy Cheekuri is a professional poker player from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. He has played poker for over 10 years and won over $100,000 in live tournaments. Chikuri is a regular player on the Indian poker circuit and has won several tournaments including the ₹10,00,000 2017 India Poker Championship Main Event. He has also cashed in several major international tournaments, including the World Series of Poker Main Event. Chicuri has won over $50,000 in online tournaments.
Conclusion
For some, poker serves as a means of income, providing a platform where sharp minds can excel and turn a profit. Professional players hone their skills through practice and study and compete in tournaments worldwide for prestigious titles and substantial cash prizes.