A glance into India’s relationship with the most popular mind sport on Earth
Paplu and Flush used to be the card games that dominated India. But when Chris Moneymaker finally introduced poker to the TV masses, the country got infected with the poker bug just like the rest of the world. Texas Hold'em Comes to India
The first, televised Texas Hold'em tournament in India was broadcasted in 2004. By that time, the card game became popular in some parts of the country. However, it wasn’t until 2007 when poker’s popularity peaked in India. It was during this year when the country first held its biggest poker tournament in Goa, the Asian Poker Classic.
The 2007 Asian Poker Classic was a historical moment for India not only because it was the first professional tournament in the country but also a time when several Indian card sharks were featured on national TV. For the first time, Indian viewers weren’t watching the usual champions like the 13-time WSOP bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth or team Partypoker ambassador Mike Sexton. Instead, they were rooting for 15 of their fellow countrymen who were competing against professional card sharks in the tournament.
The results of India’s first Asian Poker Classic were satisfactory for the Indian people. Out of the 15 players, 5 were able to cash in at the event including Pranav Bathija of Team Maharajah. Pranav became a sensation in India after it was discovered that he had only been playing for four months prior to the tournament. Pranav secured third place in the event.
"We are proud to support Indian poker players by giving them the opportunity to compete in a live poker tournament in their home country,” said Sachin Pawa, CEO of Maharajah Club. “So often Indian poker players have to travel to half way around the world to compete in a live poker tournament, bringing this great sport to India has given many more Indian poker players a chance to compete and win in a professional poker tournament that competes in prize money with the best tournaments in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo.”
It seems that poker continues to grow in the country. Today, online poker providers aren’t only offering Euros and US dollar denominations in their game rooms but also Indian Rupees. In addition, the country continues to be a host of major poker tournaments. Just last year, India became the tournament grounds for the Indian Poker Series, Indian Poker Championship, and Asian Poker Tour.