Game, Set, Match: Anirban & Mahima Walia Das

GAME, SET, MATCH:

ANIRBAN AND MAHIMA WALIA DAS

WORDS BY DONNA AMO

What 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.

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. 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.

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

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.