GUTSHOT FEBRUARY 2021

Volume 2 | Issue 2 | Mumbai |

www.gutshotmagazine.com

February 2021 | Pages 41

ESPORTS AT ASIAN GAMES 2022

DEAL OR NO DEAL? SPORTS BETTING IN INDIA SPARTAN’S T10 BULL RUN

SUITED CONNECTORS

YUVRAJ AND AKANKSHA SINGH

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CONTENTS

05 Editor’s Note

06

Poker News

08

Rummy News

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Fantasy Sports News

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Esports News

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Numerology: Valentine’s

Day Special

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Blurring The Lines Between Social Media & Online Gaming

ESPORTS:

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Indian Gaming League: Shaking Up the Indian Esports Arena

31 Asian Games 2022 Welcomes Esports

POKER:

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The Esports Club: Riding High On The Gaming Boom

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PUBG or FAU-G?

FANTASY SPORTS:

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Reliable & Exclusive Fantasy Sports Tips Only On Read Scoops

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Living The Dream

CRICKET:

All Set! Poker Tournaments To Look Out For In Feb 2021

24 Yours Forever: Goonjan & Shachi Mall 26 Game, Set, Match: Anirban &

Mahima Walia Das

SPECIAL FEATURES:

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What’s The Deal With Sports Betting In India? Jay Satya Tells All

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Spartan Poker: Looking Through A Charitable Lens

COVER STORY:

Suited Connectors

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Spartan Poker’s Delhi Bulls Turn

Runner-up At 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League

14 PHOTOGRAPHY: KAPIL GULATI

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EDITOR’S NOTE

www.gutshotmagazine.com

February 2021

Volume 2

Issue 2

RMG + LIFESTYLE

MANAGING EDITOR Sameer Rattonsey EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Peter Abraham CONTENT Dwayne Fernandes Manthra Koliyer Donna Amo Mrinal Gujare CONTENT STRATEGY Shriya Ghate DESIGN HB Design Pvt. Ltd. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sajid Moinuddin Cover Photography Kapil Gulati Volume 2 I Issue 2 FEBRUARY 2021 Printed and Published by: Peter Abraham for Gutshot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., S/6-8 Khira Industrial Estate, B.M.Bhargava Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai-400054 Gutshot Magazine is not responsible for the opinions or views expressed by individuals or writers that may be included in any part of Gutshot Magazine. The views expressed are for encourage - ment and entertainment purposes only.

By being an author on this site all writers transfers copyright ownership of the manuscript to Gutshot Magazine. for publication in print, on line and in downloadable form. Permission is also given to publish all subsequent electronic media, reprints, and any other subsidiary print rights worldwide of this article for Gutshot Magazine. The author(s) will have the unrestricted right to reuse this material on condition that credits are included for prior publication in Gutshot Magazine, to include the issue and date of publication. Interviews are the personal opinions of the interviewee and are not necessarily the views of Gutshot Magazine or it’s Publishers Gutshot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. take no responsibility for any of their answers or comments. All interviews are subject to editing spelling, grammar, and any content that is not useful may be disregarded when posted/published.

Gutshot Magazine reserves the right to change, update this disclaimer and policy at will without any notice.

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aaaaand a glimmer of light at the end of the long dark tunnel called 2020 (and a bit beyond). Multiple Covid vaccines are now in play with various domestic and international pharmaceutical companies rolling out their vaccines in phases.

Here’s to hoping that everyone who needs it gets it in time as do the rest of us as and when.

February puts a lot of pressure on couples with Valentine’s Day. That said, when you’re in poker either as a pro or a serious hobbyist, how does one contend with the spouse/partner especially when they might not play? Or the flip side, what about when they do and are perhaps wiping the table with your behind?! That could lead to some interesting fireworks in the domestic domain.

And yet we come across, many couples in our little community who do manage to pull off the balancing act between life on and off the felts.

Our second cover of the year features a stylish and fun couple in Akanksha and Yuvraj Singh.

Their passion for the game as well as arts and entertainment took them away from their medical profession and smack into poker, music and digital content. Medicine’s loss was poker’s gain and we have a chat with this enthusiastic couple on their professional transition and what lies ahead. We also feature a number of other poker couples and get a lowdown from them all about the life and game that they’ve chosen to play and live.

Vaccine or no vaccine, we’re still very much in it so please continue to take all necessary precautions. Till next time, stay safe and keep crushing!

PETER ABRAHAM Editor-In-Chief GUTSHOT

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POKER NEWSS

World Poker Tour sold for USD 78.25 Million Allied Esports sold World Poker Tour for USD 78.25 million to growth equity firm Element Partners.

As per the agreement, Allied Esports will receive an up-front payment of USD 68.25 million. Furthermore, for a period of three years after the deal is closed, the esports entertainment company will receive a fully guaranteed revenue share of 5% from the WPT-branded tournament entry fees on Element Partners licensed or owned gaming platforms up to a maximum of USD 10 million.

In addition to this, Allied Esports is looking for ways to explore strategic options for its esports business and to rebrand itself as a public trading company.

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Damian Salas wins WSOP Main Event 2020 Argentinian poker player Damian Salas won the World Series Of Poker (WSOP) 2020 Main Event. Salas also won the international leg of the hybrid version of the WSOP 2020 in the past. This proud player from Argentina beamed with pride as he waved the Argentinian flag while he played the WSOP 2020 tournament.

Laksh Pal Singh lifts The IOPC Jan 2021 title Among the 4000 entries for the Main Event, Laksh Pal Singh aka ‘LuckyBhai$’ won the title. He battled it out with Avijit Jaiswal aka ‘evilpotato’ in heads-up. Singh has been awarded an 18K Gold Badge, a diamond studded gold crown and INR 51.8 Lakh in prize money. Singh is a regular player on the felts of Spartan Poker.

The Main Event of the Final Table ran for about an hour and 17 minutes, and was live streamed across all social media platforms. The top 695 players were paid minimum cash.

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RUMMY NEWS

TORF Urges Govt to Set Up Self-Regulatory Body A recent draft report submitted by Niti Aayog caused quite a stir in the online gaming industry as it proposed to set up a self-regulatory body for fantasy sports. The report titled ‘Guiding Principles for the Uniform National-Level Regulation of Online Fantasy Sports Platforms in India’ caused many organizations like The Online Rummy Federation (TORF) to urge Niti Aayog to include the entire online gaming industry instead of just singling out fantasy sports. India’s complex and dated laws on gambling have hampered the growth of the online gaming sector. A selfregulatory body, officially set up by the government could have tremendous benefits for the industry as a whole.

Dangal Games Raises $1 Million To Fund Expansion Dangal Games is among the leading companies in the skill gaming industry. The company raised USD

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Virat Kohli In Legal Soup After Kerala HC Issues A Notice The Kerala High Court issued a legal notice to Virat Kohli due to his association with an online rummy brand. Along with Kohli, actors Aju Varghese and Tamanna Bhatia also received the legal notice. A divisional bench of the High Court led by Chief Justice S Manikumar had sent out the notice, after a plea seeking to ban online rummy sites was submitted by a Thissur resident. The victim alleged that the partnership between these influential figures and online rummy platforms were enticing users to gamble away their life savings. The plea also referenced the death of an ISRO employee who took his own life after falling into a debt of INR 21 Lakh.

1 Million in a ‘Series A’ fund from an unknown strategic investor. Founded

by Varun Mahna, Varun Puri, Shashwat Jain, Karan Gandhi and Manan Sobti, it has grown to become one of the top skill gaming brands. The Delhi-based firm will use the fund to expand its portfolio further and build the ‘technological capabilities’ of the company. Along with PokerDangal the brand launched RummyDangal to offer rummy fans an enjoyable playing experience. They are now looking to expand into fantasy sports as well.

FA N TA SY S P O R T S N E W S

11 Sixes brings on Randeep Hooda as Brand Ambassador Actor and sports buff, Randeep Hooda, has been brought on board as brand ambassador for fantasy gaming platform 11 Sixes. “We are confident that our association with Mr. Randeep Hooda is going to increase the amount of fun involved,” said a spokesperson at Radialrust Technologies and Media Services Pvt. Ltd., the owners of

11 Sixes. Speaking about the app, Randeep Hooda said that he found the app to be “A much better and userfriendly app than other fantasy sports apps in the market.” 11 Sixes offers only cricket as of now, but is looking to add more games including kaddadi, hockey and basketball among others to its repertoire.

College professor in the US wins $2.5 million A college professor from the University of Connecticut recently won a prize of USD 2.5 million playing the DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports World Championship, a fantasy football (American) championship.

“I’m using the skills I’ve learned since I was a child, the way you think as a mathematician transcends to everything you do in life,” said David Bergman, who teaches information management and operations. When asked what he was going to do with the prize, Bergman told reporter s that

part of the winnings would go towards his children’s education and some towards charity. Bergman says he used a combination of high-end players and non-mainstream players to create a winning team.

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ESPORTS NEWS

Talon eSports & KFC Thailand join hands for upcoming Arena of Valor team Arena of Valor, formerly known as Strike of Kings, a 5v5 MOBA game developed by a Hong Kong based esports organization, Talon, have announced partnership with KFC Thailand & dtac, a Thailand based telecommunication company. Commercial terms were not disclosed to the public.

However, as a part of this partnership, KFC Thailand will be featured on the front of the dtac Talon players’ jerseys. We can expect some co-branded marketing content and activations through this deal.

Following this partnership, Talon’s RoV team will be rebranded as dtac Talon in all their upcoming tournaments of 2021. The interesting bit here is that Talon earlier this

month had also signed a partnership with ESPAT, a digital media licensing platform, and in October 2020 Talon completed a USD 2 million funding round by Hana Digital transformation Fund. Considering these developments, one can assume that Talon esports–has a larger vision which will be clearer to all the gamers soon.

Evil Geniuses step in the Valorant Arena!

With the rising fever of Riot Games’ Valorant, one of the top esports teams, EG (Evil Geniuses), has entered the fray announcing that it will compete professionally in Valorant’s upcoming tournaments. They have also ensured gender diversity when it comes to the team formation as the team will consist of two female and three male players. The leader of the clan will be Christine Chi (Potter) along with Ronan Javelona (Osias), Nolan Pepper (Temperature), Claudia Che (Clawdia) & Aleksandar Hinojosa (Aleksandar). Leader Chi is a known player in the world of esports after being 7 times global CS GO world champion while playing with team 10

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CLG & Res Gaming. Christine Chi will be marking this as her return to the world of esports professionally after she took a break for a year in 2020.

EG will also be joining Dignitas who field a team entirely of women for all the open events with women in leading roles.

POKER

All Set! Poker Tournaments To Look Out For In February 2021 WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

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major tournament series like the IOPC January 2021 kept all hands on deck while it lasted. This poker festival concluded on February 1 with the Main Event–The Crown, being live-streamed. But wait, there is a lot happening after the first month of the year. Many poker tournaments, both domestic and 12

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international, will be taking place at various locations across the globe. Poker pros will be eyeing the top spots in these tournaments.

Let’s take a look at what we have for the coming future.

CPPT IX - DeepStack Extravaganza I: This tournament starts on 2 February and goes on till 2021

28 February. The Venetian Poker Room’s favourite, CPPT IX - DeepStack Extravaganza I is a highly anticipated event in poker.

APL North Queensland Poker Classic: This poker event will be held between February 3-7 to February.

The APL North Queensland Poker Classic will be back in a bolder avatar. There are 12 events listed which

include the $ 330 Main Event, the $ 1,250 JACKSTAR High Roller and the $ 1,000 Big Bucks among others. The venue for this event is at the The Ville Resort-Casino, Townsville, Australia.

will be back for its fourth edition in February 2021.

The event is touted to go on from 12 February to 3 March. This exciting tournament is expected to have a $5,300 buy-in Main Event.

Tampa Poker Classic: This poker fiesta will run from February 17-28 to February at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. The highlight for this tournament is its $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. The Main Event will have a buyin of $1,600.

WPT Russia: Last year witnessed many live poker tournaments getting cancelled owing to the COVID -19 pandemic. But slowly things are looking up and live poker is returning.

WPT Russia will begin from 19-28 February at Casino Sochi. This event will have a $3,300 buy-in

WSOP Online Circuit Series 2021: This WSOP tournament series started on 14 January and will see tournaments run till December 2021. Last year, Damian Salas won the WSOP Main Event and made headlines. This major win by Salas served as inspiration for poker fans.

WSOP Online Circuit Series 2021 will include the tournament called Planet Hollywood Circuit. This tourney will run from 17-28 February and has 12 gold rings on offer. What’s more? A Freeroll worth $25,000 on 2 March. Don’t miss out on this one if online poker is your thing.

for the Main Event. This one may not be a grand tournament but will surely give the players a sense of normalcy.

Players who wish to travel abroad to participate in live poker tournaments will have to abide by the laws and regulations put forth by the respective governments. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, all live poker tournaments were cancelled which left poker pros high and dry. But, things are looking up in 2021 as live poker makes a scintillating comeback.

Partypoker MILLIONS Online: This tournament GUTSHOT

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COVER STORY

If there was ever a first couple of poker in India, it would be Yuvraj and Akanksha Singh. Known to us all as the Suited Connectors, this couple has been taking the poker community by storm with their hilarious and entertaining videos. On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, which also happens to be their seventh wedding anniversary, we find out just what makes this doctor-turned-poker-player couple special. “Our love song is ‘We Found Love in a Hopeless Place’ because we met at the hospital,” says Yuvraj, bursting into peals of laughter. Need we say more?

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PHOTOGRAPHER: KAPIL GULATI

Suited Connectors

Akanksha: I think it was he who was playing more often. We were still dating at the time. And while I was into James Bond, it was more about watching these guys play. I used to wonder what is so great about it? Then I decided that I too wanted to give it a go.

That day I won one or two hands and that’s when I said “This is for me!”

This was while you were dating. What role would you say poker played in your relationship?

Yuvraj: We used to spend a lot of time together because of poker. In the hospital she was in a different department and we used to work for maybe 18-20 hours at a stretch. We used

PHOTOGRAPHER: KAPIL GULATI

Who got into poker first? You or Akanksha?

Yuvraj: A few of us friends would play Teen Patti at the time. Akanksha was fascinated with James Bond, so one day she asked us if we knew anything about poker and how poker was played.

Luckily, one of our friends knew poker and he taught us. Both of us learnt it and started playing it. That’s how it began… We used to work at the hospital at the time. I would go in for surgeries at 7 AM. After that, we would play poker for hours.

to barely get 20-30 minutes over lunch to catch up with each other. But because of poker, we were able to connect.

Akanksha: Whenever we would get a break, we would go rushing to a friend’s place nearby. We would go there and play poker and then rush back to the hospital when would be called!

What is the best advice you have given each other as far as poker is concerned?

Yuvraj: (laughing) Don’t fold two-three offsuit!

Akanksha: The thing is,

I’m a bit conservative when it comes to playing poker.

He keeps telling me to be a little more open, increase my stakes and take risks, basically. And I tell him the opposite! To go easy!

Is that your personality coming through in the game?

Akansha: Actually in life I am generally the aggressive one. But in poker I don’t know what happens.

I’m a little conservative.

And what about you, Yuvraj? What are you like in real life vs your poker game?

Yuvraj: I love taking

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chances, taking risks. I like playing high stakes. My motto is: no risk, no gain.

Akanksha: Which I completely believe! But somehow I’m not able to put it into action in the game.

was playing once. It was at the Deltin Casino. I was wearing artificial nails. I wanted to go all-in, and in my excitement, one of my nails rolled off into someone else’s stack! The fellow handed it back to me saying, “I think this is yours!”

Akanksha: His reading is actually very good. He can tell what cards the other players have. At times, he has given a king-high in PLO games, which is a big deal.

A lot of players have a What has the game of ritual or superstition poker taught you about Between the two of you, around their games. life? who is the better player? What about you?

Yuvraj: Poker is a lot like Yuvraj: I don’t want to Yuvraj: I am very superstilife. There are ups and sleep in the kitchen, so tious! It’s really funny downs. Bad days and obviously, she is the better because poker is a skill good days. Poker teaches player! based game. Yet, I have you how to deal with the certain things that I believe swings, the heartbreaks, the Akanksha: I think that he’s in. For example, I don’t play wins and to move on. The a better cash game player. the first hand… beauty is that the game has I’m a better tournament to go on, just like life. player because I’m a little …Even if you get Aces? more patient.

Yuvraj: No, if I get Aces Akanksha: It also teaches then I’ll do a re-buy! But in that even if you win big, you Yuvraj: Because I play general, I fold the first hand. need to be humble. It is the more high stake PLO same with loss. You just games, my psyche is more have to move on. tuned to that rather than tournaments. They can get Tell us about some quite tough for me somememorable games you times. have had, playing together or otherwise.

How do you prepare Yuvraj: I’ll tell you a funny before a game? incident. We used to play Akanksha: I do yoga and a lot of games with a small meditation every day. It group of friends. A friend of keeps me calm and helps mine was grinding and eat- me make better decisions ing spring rolls at the same and to think rationally. time. While going all-in, she threw the spring roll into the Yuvraj: I just go with the pot instead of the chips! flow. I go with my feelings Akanksha: There was and my reads of the oppoa really funny and slightnents. I don’t plan anything. ly embarrassing situation I just take things in my that happened when I stride.

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I also have other tricks like not playing when certain people are around. I want energies to be acting in the way that I want them! I hate it when someone touches my chip stack. I immediately think I’m going to lose. And I don’t like to give dealer tips, because even if I’ve won a big pot previously, the moment I give a tip I start losing! I know this is superstition, but time and again it has happened, so I prefer not to take chances.

Akanksha: I don’t have superstitions like this, but I do get tilted very quickly. I am working on it.

So we thought why not make them smile a little?

We started making some videos and we got a great response. That kept us going.

Akanksha: Even before we started making our own videos, we were involved in making ads and Your videos are hilarious writing lyrics. We had even and entertaining. What spoken to Spartan Poker inspired you to start CEO Amin (Rozani) bemaking them? fore the lockdown about Yuvraj: I used to make some ideas. And then we short films before, just had this opportunity to try for myself. In fact, one of something. But we never my short films even won thought that we would ouran award at the MAMI selves be in the video and film festival. Before the that we would write funny lockdown we went to our like this. hometown, Kanpur. After the lockdown was anTell us a little bit about nounced, we weren’t prac- the process of making ticing or playing. We’ve these videos. both always had this filmy Yuvraj: Even a minute-long keeda since childhood. video requires a lot of effort.

The lockdown gave us the We brainstorm for hours on opportunity to bring out how to make it better every our creative side. I could time. It starts with an idea see the effect of the lock- that either Akanksha or I down on people’s emohave. Then we think about tions and mental state. the screenplay. Our main

aim is to make it entertaining. If a person is spending even a minute of their time watching it, then they should get something out of it.

Akanksha: Sometimes the ideas are centered around a topic. At other times the ideas come from real life.

For example, our “Chipkali” video came simply from the fact that there were lizards in the bathroom!

Yuvraj: I was in the bathroom and I saw many of them and thought, why not film them! After a week I had enough shots to make a story out of it. This is how we pick up things from daily life and try to make them funny.

Will you be releasing more videos soon?

Yuvraj: We are already working on so much new content for poker. Right from funny videos involving players, to our own videos and a poker based

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web series. We will also be launching a new channel so that we can commercialize some of our content How important do you think poker content is in India?

Yuvraj: It’s very important.

Because of our videos I think people are finding out more about the game.

A few of my friends have even taken up the game after seeing our videos.

The subconscious message is that more people should take to this beautiful sport. At the same time, for people who are already playing, we want to make content that is light and entertaining.

I would write poems. Since my younger brother is a music director, I started writing lyrics for him too.

When I met Akanksha, I didn’t know that she too had that spark. One day I was working on some lyrics and she asked me if she could also give it a go.

She went away for 10 minutes, and she came back with lyrics for an entire song! That’s how we started helping each other.

You both are doctors, but also poker players.

You have a production studio, you also write lyrics. Where does this creativity come from and how does it impact your relationship?

Akanksha: Even while we were at the hospital, we used to discuss a lot of creative concepts. He would have suggestions on how a particular ad could have been better.

I used to listen to him and think, wow! These are all such great ideas! But never did we think that we would make them in reality.

Do you use this creativity while playing poker too?

Yuvraj: Yes, definitely.

Poker is all about outplaying your opponent. If you play an ABC game, you will become predictable.

Favourite venue for live poker.

Y: Macau

Akanksha: If we were less creative then maybe we would lose less!

Describe yourself as a couple in one word.

Y: Suited Connectors!

Yuvraj: Since childhood 18

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Akanksha: One of the strongest reasons for why I wanted to marry him is his ability to think outside the box. This is what he does in the videos as well.

Full of humour and a zest for life, it was a pleasure getting to know this couple. We wish them many happy years together and hope that we will get to experience more and more of their fun-loving energy through their videos.

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RAPID FIRE: Best poker player in India today?

Y: Raghav Bansal A: Yes, Raghav Bansal for me too.

Best poker player internationally?

Y: Daniel Negreanu A: Phil Ivey What would you want to improve about your game?

Y: Every day and every hand has to be an improvement!

A: Patience during the mid-stages

Describe yourself in one word.

Y: Passionate A: Fun

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

What’s the Deal with Sports Betting in India? Jay Sayta Tells All

T

he gambling and sports betting laws in India can be described in two words: complicated and ancient.

Despite facing many pit-

falls, the industry has continued to thrive in the country. While India still has a long way to go in terms of legalising sports betting, there have been countless individuals and organisa-

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tions advocating for it. Just recently, the Sports Betting Community (SBC) Digital India conference and exhibition was held to open up discussions on the issues faced by the real money

gaming industry. Donna Amo spoke to Jay Sayta, a renowned lawyer and one of the fiercest advocators for regulated gambling, about the future of sports betting in India.

Recently, the Prime Minister of Thailand announced that he was open to discussions regarding regulated gambling after the pandemic lockdown. Do you think the same could How did your journey happen for India? advocating for the As of now, I don’t think legalisation* of gamthere is any such proposal bling begin? in India. Gambling and betWhile studying law in 2010ting are state subjects so 11, I was researching India’s a lot of the policy changes gambling and betting laws will happen at the state and found out that the policy level. Some of the smaller to ban gambling/betting is states may look at legalisbased on a British-era legis- ing gambling and betting, lation, the Public Gambling including casinos from Act, banning gambling in a the revenue augmentation ‘common gaming house.’ point of view. For instance, I realised that although the Meghalaya is one state that UK as well as many other has passed an ordinance countries across the world for regulation of gaming, have changed their policy including online gambling from banning gambling to and betting. Some of the making it a regulated activother smaller states may ity, we have not done so in follow suit.

India. I feel it is important that we deliberate the same and What does 2021 look move towards a regulated like for the future of regime. sports betting in India?

I don’t think we are goWhat are the challenging to see any significant es faced when trying to movement towards legislalegalize sports betting tion or regulation, although in India? industry bodies and other The main challenge is groups are discussing it managing the perception at various levels, includand cultural issues suring with state and central rounding gambling and governments. What we betting. Any kind of bethave seen in 2020 is that ting and gambling activity few states like Tamil Nadu is viewed as immoral and and Andhra Pradesh have pernicious. in fact gone ahead and

banned online skill-based games like poker and rummy as well as online betting and gambling.

The matters challenging the bans on online skillbased games like rummy are pending in various High Courts, and hopefully the courts will give positive verdicts in the matters.

What does an online conference and exhibition like SBC Digital India hope to achieve with regards to the overall RMG industry?

Events like SBC Digital India or SPiCE Goa are a useful forum for discussing local and international trends in the gaming industry and networking with peers in the industry from across the globe.

In case legalisation ever happens in India, what regulations would you recommend ensuring that we don’t face problems gambling and betting?

There has to be a comprehensive regulatory framework if we decide to go ahead with legalising gambling and betting. Rules would have to be framed for KYC, anti-money laundering, placing limits on deposits and bets, limits on advertising, prevention of underage gambling

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Being a passionate advocate for the gambling industry, have you played any real money games like poker or fantasy sports, if so, what was your experience?

I do enjoy playing the occasional game of poker with friends, but I am not really a gamer.

“

The main

challenge is managing the perception and cultural issues

surrounding gambling

What are your hobbies besides advocating for this industry?

I like reading and writing 22

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and betting 2021

“

and gambling on credit or loans, etc. There needs to be detailed deliberation on all these aspects with all stakeholders before coming up with guidelines and regulations.

on various topics. Besides that, I like travelling, music, cricket and meeting new people. However, due to the lockdown for the last one year, I have been mostly watching movies or TV series on Netflix or reading some new book.

Even though laws governing the gambling and sports betting industry in India are nowhere close to the ones in countries like the USA or the United Kingdom, passionate advocates like Jay Sayta are working to bridge that gap.

With clear laws and proper regulation, the gambling industry has a huge potential to take India’s economy to the next level.

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

SPARTAN POKER: LOOKING THROUGH A CHARITABLE LENS WORDS BY MANTHRA KOLIYER

7-8 years for the popular poker brand.

S

partan Poker is one of the most esteemed poker platforms in the country. The brand is known for its high GTD tournaments, and player friendly interface. The poker giant is actively involved in charitable activities as well.

Gutshot spoke to Jasmine Rozani, a philanthropist, travel enthusiast who has taken voyages to serene places like Europe, Japan, Dubai among others. This gorgeous looking other half of Amin Rozani, Group CEO, Spartan Poker, is kind-hearted and her multi-faceted personality reflects well in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities which she has been involved in for the last

For how long has Spartan Poker been involved in charitable work?

We started right from the first year of the company’s inception in late 2014. As a business, Spartan was in the process of building roots but we knew we wanted to contribute to society in any way possible. We began on a small scale like providing school supplies to disadvantaged children in Kolkata and then towards relief work and supplies during the 2015 Chennai floods. As the years went by, we have tried to do activities at varying scales to benefit the young and elder demographic in the country. We are fortunate and extremely grateful that whenever we have done online events for these charities, our players have supported us wonderfully every single time.

This allows us to add to the contribution.

by actress Ishita Sharma, MukkaMaar provides self defense and other developmental courses for young girls. Entities like this allow Spartan Poker an opportunity to do our bit towards helping the community.

How is Spartan Poker planning on supporting social causes in the future?

As a brand, we have always supported a number of social causes. The ongoing project is with MukkaMaar, activities dealing with orphanages and underprivileged children usually during festival times like Diwali, Eid and Christmas among others.

Spartan Poker has always been a generous benefactor of charitable causes. We look forward to celebrating such initiatives and are overwhelmed that we could bring the philanthropic side of this brand to the limelight.

Tell us a little about the NGO that Spartan Poker is associated with and how it was chosen?

It was through common friends that we were introduced to this NGO. Our long term association with an entity like MukkaMaar has been very rewarding. Founded GUTSHOT

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Yours Forever: Goonjan and Shachi Mall 24

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The phrase ‘love is in the air’ aptly defines the solid relationship that poker pro Goonjan Mall and wife Shachi Mall share. For the February 2021 edition, we spoke to Shachi about their celebration of Valentine’s Day and more.

Shachi reminisces about they met.

“Goonjan and I first met 11 years ago at a coaching class. Both of us were preparing for our respective MBA entrance exams,” she says. Now, that’s what you would definitely call destiny.

The stunning pair is among the most beloved couples in the Indian poker circuit. When asked about Goonjan’s choice of being a professional poker player, the gorgeous Shachi says that she wasn’t surprised about his decision as the poker dynamo’s choices have always been unconventional. She also added how Goonjan puts in his 100% in any and every endeavour he pursues.

“Goonjan and I first met 11 years ago at a coaching class. Both of us were preparing for our respective MBA entrance exams.”

That’s not all, when it comes to admiring each other’s qualities, the gorgeous pair compliment each other really well.

Interestingly, Goonjan being patient is one quality that Shachi admires a lot.

The beautiful couple welcomed a baby boy in November 2020 and this Valentine’s Day will be extra special While talking about The Elite INR 40 Lakh as they have an addition to their family.

GTD winner, Shachi also mentions how Shachi is delighted that after almost a her husband made some brave choices year they will be travelling to Chikmaglike quitting a well-paying corporate job, alur with their little one, hoping to make venturing into the start-up arena and tak- this day a remarkable one. ing up poker professionally.

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GAME, SET, MATCH: ANIRBAN AND MAHIMA WALIA DAS

WORDS BY DONNA AMO

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hat better way to celebrate the season of love than with a couple who fell in love with each other and poker? The story of Anirban Das aka ‘pokernoob’ of the online poker circuit and Mahima Walia Das, the first female player to ship the Millionaire United INR 1 Crore GTD on Spartan Poker, has an almost fairytale like ring to it. So for this edition we got up close and personal and asked them to relate a few tales from their poker-filled love story.

First of all, it’s so nice of you and Anirban to agree to this interview. To start off, can you tell us what were the first impressions you two had of each other when you met for the first time?

M: We met through some common friends at a party and became friends soon after.

A: Our first impression of each other was an instant connection around common a interest, largely partying at the time, as well as an instant sense of comfort in each other’s company.

A: I started playing during my MBA days at IIM Ahmedabad. I used it as a way to connect with a different set of friends outside of my study groups, classmates, dorm mates, and extracurricular club mates. It was the first time I had stayed in a hostel, so I was just trying to make as many friends as I could back then.

What inspired both of you to venture into poker?

M: After coming back from work Anirban used to play poker. This would lead to arguments in the beginning. But within a week’s time he got me hooked on the game and it has been a common interest since then.

Both of you are well-known personalities in the Indian poker circuit. How do you feel when you are recognized as a couple who is into poker?

M/A: It’s definitely a good feeling, however, the basic complexities and nuances of the game, along with the

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journey to master it as well as financial outcomes by playing it, matters more than the recognition.

Who do you think is a better poker player, you or Anirban?

M: Anirban is still my coach, so I’ll say he is the better one.

A: For tournament poker at sub 30 BBs, I would choose me because of sheer volumes. But, in cash games as well as mentally, Mahima is much more stable than me.

What’s the first reaction you get when people get to know that both of you play poker?

M: People are surprised and keen on knowing more when they learn about poker. This is also because both of us have challenging jobs and with poker it just makes things harder.

A: People close to us are not surprised about anything we do.

What would have happened if both of you were playing the final table in a poker game?

M: Technically this wouldn’t happen as we don’t play the same game online. In a hypothetical scenario, both of us are very competitive and will bring on our A game.

A: I will bluff away all my chips to Mahima!

Mahima, with your participation in PSL Season 3 Virtual, how has the dynamic changed with respect to participating in other poker tournaments?

M: Honestly with PSL and work, I have not played at all this year. I look forward to getting back in action soon.

What are the challenges you face in maintaining a fine work-life balance?

M: It’s pretty tough. We both put in a lot of time into work and poker. We put in 100+ hours a week between poker and work.

We operate like bots with fixed timelines.

With COVID-19, we totally stopped meeting people and got some extra time to be able to pull this through.

A: At some level, especially when playing volumes poker, it is like a second job of sorts. However, as an individual I have been blessed with a strong work ethic.

In terms of time outside of poker, it does take its toll. However, having a supportive partner as well as the flexibility of other jobs makes it possible for both of us to make poker a choice rather than a profession. Having done only poker for 6 months, I definitely prefer doing this with other interests/jobs as opposed to only poker.

Watch out for this powerhouse of a couple as they continue to take the poker community by storm. We wish these two lovebirds all the very best on their journey through life, love, and poker.

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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E

Blurring the Lines Between Social Media and Online Gaming

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WORDS BY DONNA AMO

ocial media has become a preferred medium for human interactions.

In recent years, sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram have grown into multibillion-dollar companies with millions of people signing up every day.

Games on the other hand, have long been a part of human history. Simple board games like chess, backgammon, checkers, etc., are played in social gatherings and are used as a form of entertainment. Through the years, the medium of playing games have evolved from board games to applications on mobile and laptop screens.

Out of these, video games have emerged as one of the most popular forms.

The first arcade video games were introduced in the 1970s after which new technology paved the way for people to start playing games at home and ultimately online. Even with the dawn of the 21st century, the people’s interest in video games has not waned. Now, thanks to the internet, video games are not limited to a physical space but have now gone mobile. Over the years, online 28

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gaming has become one of the biggest industries in the world and has also introduced a wider social aspect to gaming.

The impact of social media on the world is hard to ignore with many people using this tool to help grow their businesses.

According to a KPMG report, more than 70 percent of organizations in the world are active on social media. The lightning speed at which information is communicated is one of the key aspects of social media.

From simple pixels to HD, video games have evolved tremendously over the years and have garnered the interest of many. In 2020, it was estimated that there were over 2.7 billion gamers in the world.

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With the widespread availability and dependency on the internet, many have found it easier to get involved in games played online. Many gamers use social sites like YouTube to stream popular games which are then watched by millions. In fact, the channel with the highest number of subscribers on YouTube belongs to PewDiePie. He started his channel by streaming himself playing various kinds of video games. The online gaming community continues to thrive with the help of social platforms like Twitch and Discord.

While social media has played a big role in the rise of online gaming, the reverse is also true. Due to growing interest in games, many popular sites like YouTube and Facebook have upgraded their platforms to cater to gamers which has resulted in the creation of more gaming channels and pages.

This has drawn in more people to these sites. With the online gaming and social media landscapes constantly changing, the future could very well see the two blending together to form a new type of social interaction through gaming.

ESPORTS

INDIAN GAMING LEAGUE: SHAKING UP THE INDIAN ESPORTS ARENA WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

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ndian Gaming League is one of the premier esports platforms in India.

The esports industry has seen a steady rise and has been spreading its wings in the last few years.

The increasing interest in esports among mobile gamers is catapulting esports to the forefront of online gaming in India.

Gutshot got in touch with Yash Pariani, CEO, Indian

Gaming League (IGL) to shed light on the esports market.

What is the vision of Indian Gaming League (IGL)?

IGL aims to create a career path for gamers across the nation. IGL aims to do this by hosting quality tournaments that will help identify the best gamers while also GUTSHOT

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and your platform particularly?

PUBG Mobile was India’s most popular esport in terms of users or viewers.

The ban was a huge blow to the Indian gaming Who are your rivals in industry and we too the esports market? experienced the burns There are a lot of with nearly a 40% drop top esports gaming in terms of daily users. companies already ruling PUBG had 55 million daily the market like Nazara, active users at its peak in Gaming Monk and Nodwin India. But alter the ban, Gaming. Moreover, there we noticed a growth in are plenty of startups other similar battle royale in esports gaming, like games like Free Fire or Gamerji, which are trying Call of Duty Mobile. After to make their mark. the initial drop in the daily users, the numbers skyHow successful has IGL rocketed in the last two been in terms of getting months with a huge spike new players on board? in popularity for Free Fire.

What inspired you to Could you share some start your company? statistics?

Now that PUBG Mobile A few years ago I went The past year has been India is looking at a reto the US and saw what full of ups and downs for launch, what strategies esports had become... it IGL in terms of users. In should esports blew my mind. In India, the initial period of the operators adapt to gaming is still looked at as lockdown we witnessed compete? a waste of time, whereas a huge surge across all Esports operators the best gamers in the our titles especially with need to be prepared US are earning millions of Call Of Duty Mobile and for the relaunch and dollars and have a massive PUBG. With the trending provide the players with fan following. This made Ludo King we experienced modern facilities so me want to create and over 400% growth in new they can compete at find the next esports star users. But with the ban the international level. in India, which is home to implemented on PUBG As organizers, it’s our over a 100 million gamers. Mobile, we experienced a responsibility to make 40% drop. sure that we provide What gives IGL an edge enough competitions and over others?

How has the ban on incentives for the players, IGL has been one of the PUBG impacted the so the game regains its primary entrants into the overall esports industry position. giving opportunities to new gamers. The vision behind IGL was to create a platform where gamers can gain recognition and create a career in esports.

Having seen the lack of infrastructure in India for esports, I decided to create a platform where we could ultimately seek out and find India’s best players while also giving an opportunity to newcomers to make a name for themselves.

IGL has an edge in being one of the first to make its move in India. We’re currently hosting over 300 tournaments online every month.

industry, at a time when many were still learning what esports is. IGL has cemented its position as a quality tournament platform.

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ASIAN GAMES 2022 WELCOMES ESPORTS

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he turn of the new year has brought a lot of good news for the esports community.

The inclusion of esports in the 19th Asian Games 2022 as an official sport, has been a huge cause for celebration in the industry. This news brings esports one step closer to being recognized as a mainstream sport, something the industry has been trying to achieve for a long time. The decision was made by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and it will be the first time that it’s considered as a medal sport. The previous Asian Games in 2018 had included esports in its list but only as a demonstration sport.

Over the years, the rise of esports is getting harder to ignore with the gaming industry growing exponentially in the past few years.

The popularity of games like League of Legends, Valorant, Call of Duty, Dota etc., has paved the way for many avid gamers to go professional. Esports allows these gamers to take their skills to

WORDS BY DONNA AMO

the next level by giving them a platform to compete with each other. One such example is the The International 2019: Dota 2 Championships which had a massive prize pool of $34,330,069 out of which the winning team took home $15,620,181.

At the same time, there is a

growing number of people interested in watching the action play out. According to one website, the viewership for esports is projected to reach around 646 million worldwide by 2023.

Given the nature of esports, there are a lot of reasons to acknowledge it as an official mainstream sport. Unlike certain physical sports that divide athletes according to their height, weight, gender, etc., in esports these things become irrelevant as it’s the men-

tal strength and skills that count. Whether a player is male or female does not matter as both are equally capable at excelling in the sport. The digital medium of the game also makes it more fast paced and accessible.

Esports presence in India has been undeniable with millions of Indian gamers joining the community. Many famous Indian gamers like Tirth Mehta, who won a bronze medal in the Asian Games 2018 Esports category, and Karan Manganani who came in fourth in Clash Royale, have also expressed their delight and are looking forward to participating in the upcoming Asian Games. Organizations like The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) have begun preparations to ensure that Indian players are ready for the upcoming games.

The possibility of winning a medal for the country could also be just the kind of push needed to get more support and sponsors for dedicated players.

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THE ESPORTS CLUB:

RIDING HIGH ON THE ONLINE GAMING BOOM WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

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he esports industry is experiencing a boom at the current time.

The COVID-19 pandemic which badly hit industries across the globe, made way for people to explore esports from the comfort of their homes. Gutshot spoke to Ishaan Arya, Co-Founder, The Esports Club, who shares valuable insights on the esports industry, its growth and The Esports Club’s success so far.

What is your view on the growth of esports in India, keeping in mind the projection of $3.7 billion by 2024?

The new year is going to be a crucial one for India given the inclusion of esports in the Asian games and how we manage to fill the massive void left by PUBG Mobile. Games like Free Fire will play an important role with premier mobile esports events and opportunities 32

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while the likes of Valorant will bring PC esports to the forefront as well. I expect to see continued growth in investments into prize pools, participation and viewership as the industry continues after a strong 2020.

esports, especially with mobile esports driving significant growth in the global industry. A lot of countries in South East Asia have tremendous untapped potential when it comes to mobile esports and publishers are stepping up their efforts in the area as well.

How will the Asian continent’s investments in esports impact its global What are the major revmarket? enue opportunities for Asia is a massive hub for brands who plan on 2021

responding positively to our form as well. events and content.

What are the company’s Your view on esports future expansion plans? being included in Asian We plan to continue creGames 2022? ating esports opportunities It’s a fantastic opportunity of for both top tier and amacourse, but most importantly teur players and backing it helps add legitimacy to es- them up with our world ports as a competitive ecoclass broadcast and conHow would you describe system by putting it alongside tent capabilities throughout the growth of The Estraditional sports on a plat2021. We’re also looking ports Club since its form like the Asian Games. at expanding our scope inception? beyond the games we are We’ve seen astonishing Will the inclusion of invested in right now. growth over the past 18 esports in Asian Games months, going from events 2022 attract young talWhat are the expansion with a dozen teams and ent to play professional- plans of The Esports two dozen viewers to host- ly?

Club? ing the largest Valorant Absolutely, younger gamers In 2021, we will consolitournament in the world will now see a lot more date and expand on a lot at the time and recordpotential with esports as a of our esports IPs while ing 1 million plus views career given the increased exploring some exciting per month for our esports competitive opportunities formats. We will also be intellectual properties (IP). across various regions and venturing into new games It has been a great journey now with the Asian Games to add to our growing list so far with fans and players providing such a large plat- of esports titles. venturing into the esports arena?

Esports provides several monetization options, primarily sponsorships, but on a larger scale, media rights, licenses and franchise fees make up the bulk of the revenue.

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PUBG or FAU-G? WORDS BY MANTHRA KOLIYER

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earless and United Guards or FAU-G is an online multiplayer action game.

This Indian game recorded the highest number of pre-registrations–a whopping 1.06 million in less than 24 hours.

This battle game made headlines when Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar, took to his social media handles to announce its arrival.

The game was developed in Bengaluru and founded by nCore Games.

One of the founders of the game, Vishal Gondal, had earlier mentioned in a tweet that the game is being developed in response to PM’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign.

On Republic day this year, FAU-G was released.

Post the ban on Chinese applications, there was a need for a game to replace PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG).

Though there are speculations that PUBG would return, no specific dates were provided. This turned out to be the perfect time to harp on the need for a first-person shooter game. FAU-G has bene-

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fitted highly as the need for homegrown apps has increased.

FAU-G will include crucial episodes from the history of Indian armed forces as it is being advertised to be more than just a battle royale game.

The description of the game reads, “High up on the peaks at India’s northern border, an elite fighting group protects the nation’s pride and sovereignty. It’s a daunting task, for the most courageous: The Fearless and United Guards. Join a special unit of FAU-G commandos on patrol in dangerous border territory. Come face-toface with India’s enemies 2021

as you engage with hostile invaders on Indian soil.

Fight for survival against the unforgiving terrain and the implacable enemy. Fill the shoes of a patriotic soldier and experience the bravery, brotherhood, and sacrifice of the men guarding the country’s borders.”

20% of the net revenue generated from the game will be donated to ‘Bharat Ke Veer’, a fund-raising initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs, in support of the members of India’s paramilitary forces.

FAU-G is surely going to cause a wave of appreciation and may have even more fans than PUBG!

CRICKET

Spartan Poker’s Delhi Bulls turn runner-up at 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League WORDS BY DWAYNE FERNANDES

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e Indians enjoy sports in general but the love for cricket just surpasses every other like and interest. After the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which made its debut 13 years ago, we’ve seen multiple new leagues pop up; some survived and some didn’t. In fact, there were modifications

made in the game formats as well, with T10 being the latest innovation in this sport we love the most.

Keeping in mind the love for this game, Spartan Poker News decided to jump in on the fun, recently coming on board as principal sponsor for one of the Abu Dhabi T10 League franchises. Established in 2017, this was

the fourth season of this league which took place between 28 January - 6 February 2021. Spartan Group sponsored the Delhi Bulls, playing their second season in the T10 League, captained by none other than West Indian all-rounder Dwayne ‘DJ’ Bravo.

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led by Nicholas Pooran ended up winning by 8 wickets and taking home their second T10 League title! Spartan Poker News however, has entered the sports industry and we can expect to see many more collaborations like this in the future! spot in the 2021 T10 The team was filled League final. Backed by with known limited overs some incredible conspecialists from across sistency with the bat by the globe including Bra- Ravi Bopara and some vo, Ravi Bopara (Enmassive power hitting gland), Mohammad Nabi at the top by Lewis and (Afghanistan), Rahmanul- Gurbaz, the team was lah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), super confident going Adam Lyth (England), into the league final.

Nyeem Young (West They had some crushIndies), Evin Lewis (West ing victories in the group Indies), Fidel Edwards stage, including one (West Indies) and others. chase of nearly 100 runs Coached by the legend- in just under 5 overs ary Zimbabwean bats(Wow!). man, Andy Flower, the team went on to have a It was unfortunate that splendid season indeed. their worst performance with the bat came in the They won 5 out of 6 final itself, where they of their Super League batted first and only matches and won Qual- managed 81/9 in their ifier 1 in the quota of 10 overs. playoffs as well, From there, it was booking a going to be an direct easy chase but the Bulls bowlers did really well to take it all the way until the 9th over, where Northern Warriors 36

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Delhi Bulls top performers ● Most runs Evin Lewis - 216 runs (8 games) Most wickets Ali Khan - 8 wickets (6 games) ●

● Highest team total 129/3 (8.5 overs)

FA N TA SY S P O R T S

Reliable and exclusive fantasy sports tips only on Read Scoops

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he fantasy sports industry has gained huge popularity among the masses of late. With the growth of platforms that let you pick teams, websites that provide tips and predictions are also on a rise.

One such website helping players ace their fantasy sports game is ‘Read Scoops’, founded in 2017.

Covering fantasy cricket predominantly, Read Scoops also forays into sports betting, lifestyle, technology, interviews with high-profile sportsmen, and bits of Bollywood and entertainment.

The core team members are themselves fantasy sports lovers, playing on Dream11 since its inception in 2008. Gutshot had a chat with the team at Read Scoops to know more about the steady growth of the website, their expertise in fantasy cricket, and more.

helps people understand how to select better teams and be a profitable player.

Read Scoops studies the form of players, pitch, game format, weather details and provides in-depth insights accordingly. We tell readers why they should pick a certain player, help them create better teams and win bigger prizes playing fantasy sports.

For long term sustenance of the industry, it’s imperative that players learn fantasy sports rather than just playing without understanding how to go about it.

Fantasy sports vs gambling?

Fantasy sports involves a huge amount of logic and in-depth research. There’s analysis and a thought process that goes into selecting any team. ExWhat is Read Scoops? ample: Rohit Sharma may How do you stand out? play very well at WankWe’re a sports news porhede in Mumbai but not tal tied up with several fan- so in Durban. Similarly, tasy sports brands across spinners perform excepthe country. Read Scoops tionally on Asian pitches

while in Australia, fast bowlers do well because of extra pace and bounce.

Players also have to select teams according to the budget they are allotted.

What are the future plans for Read Scoops?

We aspire to be one of the best in the business.

We want to be a one-stop shop for people who love to play fantasy sports, including match previews, fantasy sports company reviews, best offers and deals in India, and much more. Maybe one day have our own gaming portal too!

Bookmark the website to get crucial tips, fantasy sports strategies and to survive in the battle.

Who knows, you can be the next Grand League winner thanks to Read Scoops!

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Fantasy Sports: Living The Dream WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

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n a country of 1.3 billion, entertainment, cricket and religion are considered to be the trinity. Indians are die-hard fans of cricket, and this sport grabs the majority of eye balls. Not surprisingly, this trend is showing up in the way that Fantasy Cricket is being accepted and played in the country. As per a report by KPMG, the Indian online gaming industry’s revenue is expected to hit USD 118.8 billion by FY23. The industry is touted to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.1%. The Indian fantasy sports industry is growing at a CAGR of 32% and is touted to scale USD 3.7 billion by 2024.

With Dream11 taking the mantle of being the title sponsor of IPL 2020, a sudden surge of attention both from players and media fell directly on fantasy sports. The industry which built its base brick by brick was now the talk of the town. There has been a surge in users coming on board and trying their hand at other fantasy sports, like football and basketball. Indiat38

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ech’s Whitepaper stated that Indian online fantasy sports platforms have captivated foreign investors too. A Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) reportedly put the number at INR 1,500 Crore with respect to foreign investments during the period 2018 and 2019. Online Fantasy Sports operators reportedly paid INR 166 Crore in goods and services tax (GST) in FY19 and INR 445 Crore in FY20, which is more than double. Things are also looking up when we look at gross revenues. The OFS industry gross revenue stood at an impressive INR 2,400 Crore in FY20 as compared the previous year’s INR 920 crore. FIFS and KPMG released a report in 2020 which stated how the gross revenue is up nearly three times Y-O-Y basis from 2019 to 2020. The OFS industry is gaining solid ground with each passing day, and with foreign investments looking at India as a viable option to expand presence in the Fantasy Sports industry, we can expect headway from the OFS platforms.

N U M E ROLOGY

Valentine’s Day Special: Love Compatibility For All Zodiac Signs WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

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he month of February is a special one as Valentine’s Day falls on February 14. The previous year has been tumultuous, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent hardships that came along. Nobody anticipated how hard it would be to spend time with loved ones in person. Be it family gatherings, birthdays or anniversaries, all were shared on digital platforms, whilst keeping distance. This Valentine’s Day will be a remarkable one as many

couples will overcome the obstacles of the past year and will look forward to celebrating their commitment and fortitude. Our single readers too can finally look forward to a time when they can find a love match which is compatible with their zodiac.

Aries - 21 March - 20 April (Fire) You are a fierce and fiery sign that needs to mingle with fellow fire signs to feel comfortable and loved. Try to find your per fect match among other fire signs like Leo

and Sagittarius.

Taurus - 21 April - 21 May (Earth) You are known to be rock steady in nature and like to be with those who are earthy. For a love match look towards Capricorn and Virgo. It is wonderful to have someone who understands and accepts you for who you are.

Gemini - 22 May - 21 June (Air) There is no force that can contain the air element.

Folks under this sign like

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to spread their wings as far as possible. If you are a Gemini, then you would be best with partners who understand your need to explore. Hence, the best match would be Libra and Aquarius.

Libra will help you strike the perfect balance and Aquarius will let you be free-spirited.

Cancer - 22 June - 22 July (Water) You are a water sign which is known to be emotionally high strung.

Hence, someone who is low on emotions and high on material things would prove to be a wrong match. Look for Pisces and Scorpio for love and marriage. Beware the Scorpion’s sting though!

haul. Being with someone who isn’t compatible won’t help you. Stick to Taurus and Capricorn for romantic relationships.

Libra - September 23 October 21 (Air) Librans, just go ahead and find a fellow air sign, like Gemini and Aquarius.

There is no point in dragging your feet with water or fire signs. Libra won’t find a match in Taurus, Pisces and Cancer. Then why bother digging in those holes?

Scorpio - October 22 November 22 (Water) You are an emotional sign and would need all the support from fellow water signs, be it family or romantic relationships. A Piscean and Cancerian will stand by you through the thick and thin.

Love to have all things sorted and simplified around you and your partner? Then look no further than Virgo and Taurus. These two signs will undoubtedly compliment your need to be grounded and earthy.

Aquarius - 21 January - 18 February (Air) Well, this fun loving sign will get bored and suffocated if paired with someone who’s emotionally high strung or stunted. The solution is pretty simple! Look for love in the direction of Libra (well-balanced) or Gemini.

Virgo - August 24 September 22 (Earth) The steadiness and grounded nature of earth signs is what keeps them together for the longer

Pisces - 19 February 20 March (Water) Since you are a water lover, you can blend well with signs like Scorpio and Cancer. Water signs don’t get along with a sign that is like a Sagittarius - November wanderer or who lacks 23 - December 21 (Fire) emotional understanding Fire plays fire well, so for and cannot give a strong all the Sagis out there, support. find the right Aries or Leo and you will have no Disclaimer: This artireason to complain. Don’t cle is for entertainment hopelessly fall in love and purposes only. Please get your heart broken this use your discretion and Valentine’s day by experi- personal judgement when menting. reading predictions.

Predictions should in no Capricorn - December way be used instead of 22 - January 20 (Earth) personal judgement.

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Leo - 23 July - 23 August (Fire) Simply stick to fire signs for any kind of relationship and more so for love matches. Temperatures soar when two fire signs come together. Stick to Sagittarius and Aries to see passions flaring.

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