GUTSHOT March Issue 2021

Volume 2 | Issue 3 | Mumbai |

www.gutshotmagazine.com

March 2021 | Pages 41

INDIA PREPARES FOR ASIAN GAMES ESPORTS YEARS

GUTSHOT TURNS TEN!

LEADING LADIES OF POKER

LUCKYBHAI$ TAKES THE IOPC CROWN

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CONTENTS

05 Editor’s Note 06

Poker News

08

Rummy News

09

Fantasy Sports News

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Esports News

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Fun Times

RUMMY: Taj Rummy: A Brand with a Mission

ESPORTS:

31 34

Light at the End of the Tunnel

FANTASY SPORTS:

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Fantasy Akhada: Going Full Steam

Waghmare’s Roaring Start to 2021

24 Siddharth Kripalani:

A Poker Champ in the Making

26 Vivek Singh: No Holds Barred 28

Twitch: Mining Indian Gold

32 ‘Pexxer’ Strike

POKER: 14

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Ahead

Pare Enters the Adda

SPECIAL FEATURES:

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Gutshot Turns 10!

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Leading Ladies of Poker

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Hooped Up and Ready to Go!

YEARS

COVER STORY:

Lucky Days:

Laksh Pal Singh takes the IOPC Crown

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EDIT Volume 2 | Issue 3 | Mumbai |

www.gutshotmagazine.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

March 2021 | Pages 41

INDIA PREPARES FOR ASIAN GAMES ESPORTS YEARS

LEADING LADIES OF POKER

GUTSHOT TURNS TEN!

LUCKYBHAI$ TAKES THE IOPC CROWN

www.gutshotmagazine.com

March 2021

Volume 2

Issue 3

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

Volume 2 I Issue 3 MARCH 2021

Cover Photography Man Mohan Singh Gill

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.

Whew! What a whirlwind March it’s been. We were just getting over all the action from the IOPC at the end of January, when we drove straight into the IPC Final Table Series. After battling 622 players, it was Siddharth Karia aka ‘Ari Tribbiani’ and ‘pushnpray17’ Avinit Bagri who went head-to-head for the Main Event title.

I don’t need to tell you the rest!

There is a lot of prestige in winning events like the IOPC and the FTS series, but with it comes a hell of a lot of perseverance, practice and will power. Indeed, heavy is the head that wears the crown. In this issue, we decided to take a look under the glitz and glamour at the messy, gritty, and sometimes weary journey it takes to become an ‘overnight success’.

We are also celebrating Women’s Month at Gutshot, though I don’t see why every month shouldn’t be Women’s Month. As usual, we also have the latest news and updates from the world of esports, fantasy sports and rummy.

It also happens to be the 10th anniversary of Gutshot Magazine! It brings me immense pride to say we continue to be the only real money gaming magazine in India. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support over the last decade. Here’s to many more years of bringing you the best of real money gaming!

Stay safe and keep crushing,

PETER ABRAHAM Editor-In-Chief GUTSHOT

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POKER NEWSS

Deccan Aces win Poker Sports League Season 3 Virtual

World Series Of Poker player Brent Carter charged with federal crime

Team Deccan Aces captained by poker pro Kunal Patni lifted the Poker Sports League Season 3 Virtual trophy. Deccan Aces owned by poker players Sam Reddy and Vijay Madduri did exceedingly well this season. The team of 11 players included Muskan Sethi, Dhirendra Kumar, Myron Pereira, Chiraag Patel, Rajat Sharma, Abhishek Rathod, Neel Joshi, and Vaibhav Sharma among others.

Veteran poker player Brent Carter has been charged with a federal crime for spreading a hoax. He allegedly mailed suspicious white powder to the New York State Gaming Commission’s (NYSGC) headquarter in New York. It was later found that the white powder was nothing but talcum powder. In the past, Carter had mailed white powder to the NYSGC at least four times.

Vaibhav Sharma, the wild card entrant, was one of the players who helped the team on the final table to emerge victorious.

In 1990, Carter made his WSOP final table entries twice. Carter first won the WSOP bracelet in 1991. Post this, Carter was a regular at the WSOP events and in 1994, he won the bracelet again.

POKERSTARS BUYS Majority stake IN Junglee Rummy PokerStars, owned by Flutter Entertainment has acquired 50.1% stake in the Indian online rummy brand, Junglee Rummy for USD 66.2 million. Junglee Rummy, founded by Ankush Gera in 2012 has been the premiere product of Junglee Games. It is an Indian brand headquartered in San Francisco.

By 2025, Flutter Entertainment is expected to increase its stake in the company to 100%. Junglee Rummy is seen as one of the top three online operators in India which could generate an annual gross revenue of USD 69.7 million. Flutter Entertainment sees great potential in developing Junglee games products, including its daily fantasy sports product.

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RUMMY NEWS

nCORE GAMES’ VISHAL GONDAL GETS LEGAL NOTICES DUE TO TWEET Six identical notices were filed by persons in New Delhi, Nainital, Solan, Chandigarh, Gwalior and Indore against Vishal Gondal for his tweet which apparently likened games like rummy to gambling. The notices were filed between 15-19 February, 2021.

The persons, who seem to be online rummy players, filed notices which said that the tweet had caused harm to their reputation after it led to them being called ‘gamblers’ by people around them. The notices are similar in wording and argument, using the defamation law as a basis for their argument. The notices threaten Gondal with civil and criminal action. The veracity of the claims are yet to be determined.

KERALA GOES THROUGH WITH ONLINE RUMMY BAN As of 27 February, 2021, online rummy is now banned in Kerala. Online rummy is illegal in Kerala, which means that the state government can now go after those individuals who play online rummy. It also means that those who continue to play online rummy in Kerala will not be able to approach the law for help in the event of a fraud. The process of banning online rummy in Kerala began when the courts asked the government for a response on a public interest litigation by Pauly Vadakkan, a film-maker, who claimed that online rummy sites were making the youth of the state wayward. Several high profile celebrities including cricketer Virat Kohli and actress Tamannaah Bhatia received notices for promoting rummy apps which are allegedly influencing the youth in a harmful way. The Kerala Gaming Act of 1960 was amended in order to finalise the ban.

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

Canadian company i3 Interactive picks up majority share in LivePools Dino Morea backed LivePools recently sold 51% of the company to Canada based i3 Interactive for USD 7.5 million.

Speaking about the development, i3 representatives said, “With India being one of largest and fastest growing online gaming markets in the world, we are very excited to partner with LivePools.

When looking for an investment, our first priorities are the team and the technology.

We found both in spades with Gaurav and Vickram, and the product they have built with LivePools. With a first-class team and an exciting product, we are planning on doubling down on investment to ensure

our customers have the premier fantasy gaming experience India has to offer.”

LivePools was launched in 2017 by Gaurav and Vikram Assomull. The app currently boasts of 1.5 million users across its fantasy cricket, kabaddi and football verticals.

Google leaves out India in the list of countries where it allows gambling apps Google Play recently updated their policies related to gambling. Google has allowed inapp gambling in 15 new countries including Japan, Germany, Australia and the US. Google Play earlier allowed in-app gambling only in countries like UK, France, Brazil and Ireland.

India has been left out of this new list of countries. This doesn’t come as a surprise as the recent slew of bans in many states on realmoney gaming threatens to reduce the scope of business for the industry. In a statement on it’s blog, Google said, “We’re updating our Real-Money Gambling Games and Contests policy so more developers around the world can build sustainable businesses, and in a way that helps keep consumers safe.”

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ESPORTS NEWS

Free fire International Competition plans revealed by Garena for the year 2021 Garena, an online game developer and publisher has revealed its Free Fire international competition for the year 2021.

FFWS (Free Fire World Series) which was cancelled in 2020 amid COVID-19 will be back this year. It will be organized across two world series where the first one will be launched in Asia (24 April–1 May, 2021) and the other one will be launched in November 2021 at an undisclosed venue.

Shopify decideS to change the game

Dairy MAX & Complexity for the gamers!

Shopify, a Canadian multi-national ecommerce platform has launched its own competitive gaming organization called ‘Shopify Rebellion.’ As per the latest tweet of Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, the organization is already set to make its debut in StarCraft 2. It is no longer a secret why Rebellion had recently on-boarded some of the top players in the game including Byun Hyun the 2016 world champion, Lambo (final four of most of the top grossing events of the game earning more than USD 100K while competing) and Scarlett who took home major StarCraft 2 championship along with a USD 50,000 prize and a title of the first woman to win a major international event. This move by Shopify points towards the interests of top ecommerce players and multi-national companies (MNC) in the world of esports. Checkout the tweet here.

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The announcement also hinted that another tournament is being planned for the month of July which will feature top gamers and influencers. There will be a total of 16 regions participating in the FFWS including Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

Check out the video here.

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2021

Dairy MAX, a dairy council, has partnered with Complexity to promote nutrition for the esports players to enhance their performance while taking care of their health. Though the financial details were not made public, Complexity has named Dairy MAX as its official nutrition partner. It will focus on educating the esports community on healthy eating habits and their impact on game play and performance. As a part of the campaign, they will host a five-episode series called ‘Cooking with Complexity’ where the viewers and subscribers will get to watch the top players and influencers being educated on how to prepare healthy meals. Also, as Dairy MAX is the official nutrition partner of Dallas Cowboys, the Complexity members will have access to a training table (a place where the players will get meals which are prepared for football players) and Cowboy Fit, an exclusive athlete gym.

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

A DECADE IN THE MAKING:

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eing the first and only poker magazine in India, Gutshot Magazine has grown since its humble beginnings.

What started as a small event booklet during India Poker Championship’s (IPC) 2011 season has now turned into a magazine and a website. A decade, 20+ print magazines, and

seven e-magazines later, Gutshot continues to forge its way to becoming the biggest gaming magazine in the country.

On the significant milestone of its 10th anniversary, there was no better person to ask than our editor-in-chief, Peter Abraham, about the genesis of the brand. Aside from Gutshot Magazine,

Abraham is also the cofounder of IPC and gaming platform Spartan Poker.

He takes us through the magazine’s beginnings, its journey and sheds light on where it is headed.

How did the idea for the magazine come about?

My close friend and business partner, Sameer Rattonsey, and I had

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started IPC in 2010 and towards the end of 2011, we wanted to showcase the winners of these events through some kind of reading material that we could provide during our event. So, that’s where the thought and the idea for Gutshot Magazine first came about, in the form of an event booklet more than a magazine. The idea was to promote a fledgling sport like poker.

What was your vision for the magazine?

Around the time that the idea struck us, popular sports magazines in India were primarily about cricket and football. These magazines were already showcasing celebrities in those individual sports, but there were no stars, let alone superstars in the poker space. So, we thought that since IPC is already a gathering ground for people who play poker professionally, semiprofessionally, or even just as a hobby, we might as well start spreading word about the winners, other upcoming players and information about other tournaments within this community. The vision to create superstars out of Indian poker players and 12

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get them more mainstream coverage has not changed since our inception.

What were some of the challenges you faced while trying to launch the magazine?

When we started, we had limited knowledge of how to run a magazine.

Everything we had seen and done till then was quite new to us. We were readers rather than publishers at that point. We had an idea for the kind of content that we wanted to go into the magazine, but the challenge was then putting it in a more palatable and reader-friendly way. As the team started growing, we started consulting external resources like content creators and designers who gave us an idea about how things in a magazine need to be. Now a decade in, we

2021

have managed to better our look and feel significantly, and I am quite proud about how far we have come.

“

The vision to create superstars out of Indian poker players and get them more mainstream coverage has not changed since our inception.

How did the name ‘Gutshot Magazine’ come about?

The name just struck me one day, there was no major thought behind it per se. But it was close to our hearts because of our poker background. We just wanted something that had a connection to poker but did not necessarily want the word ‘poker’ in it. This was because we always knew that we would someday go beyond poker and try out other content verticals. So, for the general public, Gutshot Magazine is just a cool or interesting sounding name but, if you’re a poker

player, you will know what the term means.

“

We want to incorporate other verticals like rummy, fantasy sports, esports Tell us some of your proudest and even horse racing.

In five years, I’d like for magazine moments.

We would love to cover Gutshot to be a proper The very first time we the entire gamut of real media house with its fingers released the booklet money gaming content in print, audio and video which had Abhishek that is out there. These Goindi on the cover. content verticals are like production creating gaming The 10-12 pages event the first step and we’ve related content. booklet was like the first already started fleshing out formal version of Gutshot that part of the journey.

Magazine. It was a huge We also wanted to try and deal to see an idea in our provide more content in the head get converted into form of video and audio. In reality and we distributed the past, there have been it and even kept it in the some poker podcasts and poker rooms. That first print audio content that we’re was one of my proudest looking to restart as well. moments. After that, we Video is one of the most had taken a break in the consumed forms of content middle and stopped printing out there, so we are looking the magazine but then at video production in a restarted it two years later. more serious way. We want We’ve had two breaks in to be a more well-rounded the middle, but every time media house. While the we have come back looking print side of things has taken bigger and better and that a pause, the e-magazine has is something that we can already been introduced. We definitely be proud of. also have plans to expand our presence on social media What do you think is the best part poker will start to become and provide more content on of Gutshot Magazine? just one of many verticals our YouTube and Facebook The best part of Gutshot that we’ll cover. I expect channels. is that there is nothing us to become more like a For 2021, we’d love to like it in India. We are the gaming magazine with a be able to restart the only poker magazine in focus on things like tech, print magazine but that the country and now that lifestyle, and anything that is is wait-and-watch given we’ve started writing more directly or indirectly related COVID-19. In five years, content with other kinds of to various games and sports. I’d like for Gutshot to be a news beyond poker, we are proper media house with its quite a unique offering for Where do you see the magazine in fingers in print, audio and game enthusiasts. We also the next five years and what is your video production creating figured that as we go along, wish for it in 2021? gaming related content.

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roaring start to 2021

WORDS BY MANTHRA KOLIYER

N

twadumela?

Yes, Ntwadumela. It is an African word meaning ‘he who greets with fire’ and is also the screen name of poker player Aniket Waghmare

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a lion-like pro who shipped featured tournaments Millionaire Legends and the Mastermind during the India Online Poker Championship January 2021.

We spoke with Waghmare about his journey in poker, victories, and more.

You shipped two massive titles in the IOPC Jan 2021, how has this impacted your life?

The achievements in IOPC have definitely helped me accelerate my short term plans. They have given me a certain liberty to pursue

the things I enjoy, like travelling, spending time with family, etc. Most importantly, the winnings have helped me align everything else in my life so I can completely focus on poker.

game. Other than intrinsic development, I keep my desk in an apple-pie order before starting the game, as all these things help me focus better for longer periods.

How was the switch from being a data analyst to a poker player?

Honestly, I worked as a data analyst for some time, but I have always been a poker player at heart. Even when I was doing the day job for three years, there was never a moment when I was away from poker for a very long period of time. The switch between a day job to a poker player was seamless.

Which is your favourite online poker platform?

It has always been Spartan Poker. The platform has the biggest guarantees amongst the Indian sites and Spartan Poker’s software is absolutely smooth and seamless. The customer support experience has also been the best with Spartan Poker as compared to the others.

my poker career is very crucial, as he has always motivated me during a downswing and celebrated my successes. I always try to emulate him on and off the felts.

Where do you see yourWhat were your beginself five years down the nings in poker like? line?

Whose game do you I was introduced to the If you would have asked admire the most from game through a live poker the Indian poker cirme this question five years tournament held during ago, becoming a ‘full time cuit? one of the college festivals A few of them are Anant poker player’ would not in 2014. I did not know have been even in the Purohit, Gaurav Sood, a single thing about the remotest realms of my Sriharsha Doddapaneni, game back then. I won a Kartik Ved, Neel Joshi, thought. But today, I know gift card to play on a site, Abhishek Goindi, and Ni- that in the next 1-2 years and that’s when I discov- kita Luther, among others. I just want to work on ered the world of online getting better at poker. I poker. I played recreation- What is your last-minwant to be one of the best ally until 2018, when I first ute prep before any poker players in India. shipped a big tourney! tournament like?

I do not have a specific This gem has been Do you have a mentor? last-minute prep schedule, smashing the virtual felts I do not have a mentor but I try and eat healthy, almost every day and we as such, but I try to learn low-carb meals before any cannot wait to watch him from all the players I can. grinding session. I have achieve his goals and lift I look up to poker player, started meditating too more titles. More power Anant Purohit. His role in as it helps me before a to you, Aniket Waghmare!

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Leading Ladies

WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

The year 2021 is going to be a special one. After facing our worst fears, we have somehow managed to get back on our feet after getting beaten and battered by a virus. While that war may be still on, we chatted with some dynamic women poker players to find out what Women’s Day means to them and how the world of poker can welcome more talented women poker players.

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We asked this 2018 WSOP Tag Team Event winner about the significance of Woman’s Day. “It’s nice to celebrate womanhood. I truly believe that we are the stronger gender, the more stable gender. A woman is capable of motherhood and there is nothing more powerful than being a mother. It is a beautiful thing to take a moment and celebrate what it is to be a woman. At the same time, there is also no day to celebrate men in particular; celebrate both women and men equally. There mustn’t be any sexism in any way,” she said. The poker powerhouse feels that women have an advantage due to their ability to control their emotions and bankrolls. Luther believes that women can make better poker players as compared to men, since women have a sincere approach towards the game.

We asked Luther about one change she would like to see in the current Indian poker scenario. “I would like to see more women participating in the game

and generating more awareness about it as a mind sport and not a game of chance. The mathematical and skill aspect of the game has to be brought to the fore. Women should take it up if poker is their true passion instead of doing conventional jobs,” she said.

We also quizzed this Spartan Poker Team Pro about that one female poker player whom she admires the most. The poker pro was quick to respond!

Luther stated that Kristen Bicknell is one woman poker player she admires a lot for her game and the grit. She said that Bicknell is tough I would like to see more to play against and is a worthy competitor. Further, women participating in she added how Bicknell the game and generis among the top players across the globe and her ating more awareness achievements prove to be about poker as a mind a source of inspiration. She said it was ‘Bicknell’s strong sport and not a game of presence at the table’ which chance. The mathematimade her stand out.

The fun conversation endcal and skill aspect of the ed with us grilling Luther game has to be brought about a possible situation to the fore. Women where a woman player wins the upcoming WSOP 2021 should take it up if Main Event! The poker dynapoker is their true mo felt that the poker industry will experience a boom passion instead of doing if a woman clinches such a conventional jobs. prestigious title, very similar to the one witnessed when Chris Moneymaker won in the past.

“

“

Nikita Luther

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Niharika Bindra

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“Even if the poker

industry feels male dominated, women players need to keep at it and work hard.

This will surely bring positive results.

“

The ever so gorgeous Niharika Bindra is absolutely right when she says, “Even if the poker industry feels male dominated, women players need to keep at it and work hard which will surely bring positive results.” Furthermore, Bindra adds that for women to venture into poker, it is critical that the game is legalized across the country and seen as a mind sport. Poker should be allowed in clubs, gymkhanas among other places where women of all ages can step in and enjoy a game just like bridge and rummy, she said. When quizzed about her favourite women poker players, Bindra named Vanessa Selbst and Liv Boeree. Bindra spoke about the former being the winner of three WSOP bracelets, and the only woman poker player to do so.

We threw a curve ball at Bindra and asked her if she would like to swap a day with another woman poker player and the diva replied saying she wouldn’t swap her life with anyone!

Bindra highlighted how a woman poker player winning a WSOP Main Event will prove to be a gamechanger. If a female poker player manages to win the WSOP Main Event it will surely elevate the position of women players in the industry,” she said.

Simran Malhotra

“It’s wonderful to acknowledge and appreciate a day that is dedicated to all the hardworking ladies for all that they do for their loved ones.

“

“It’s wonderful to acknowledge and appreciate a day that is dedicated to all the hardworking ladies for all that they do for their loved ones. If we investigate our past there are a lot of examples of how our gender has been treated. For me, this day acknowledges that fact and signifies a change in the right direction,” said Malhotra when we asked her about Women’s Day. We also quizzed her on how she celebrates this special day. “Spending the day with the most beautiful and wonderful women, my mother and sisters. That’s my celebration”, she said. We could not help but ask Malhotra about the woman poker player she admires both domestic and internationally. “Maria Lampropulos is someone I look up to and admire a lot. Her achievements speak for all the hard work she puts in. What a player! I have spent hours watching her videos and cannot wait to meet her and pick her brain,” she said.

Malhotra, who also featured in our What Women Wear series, stated that, “When it comes to domestic players, I recently got the most amazing opportunity to play with India’s finest woman poker players, Nikita Luther, Niharika Bindra, Smita Agarwalla, Radhika Shankar, Muskan Sethi, Kanchan Sharma and Mahima Walia Das, thanks to Poker Sports League (PSL). These women players are all amazing and were so welcoming. I appreciate all of them.”

We at Gutshot Magazine, would like to take a moment to appreciate and thank all the hard working and determined women poker players who are setting the perfect example for aspiring female players in the country. We hope to see many more women players coming to the fore with their unwavering desire to make a mark in the poker industry.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MAN MOHAN SINGH GILL

COVER STORY

LUCKY DAYS As the sun set on the last day in January, it was about to rise for the new India Online Poker Championship (IOPC) Main Event Champion, Laksh Pal Singh aka ‘LuckyBhai$.’ On 1 February 2021, Laksh took home the crown, an 18K gold badge and then some. As we catch up with this aggressive young gun on his biggest title yet, we realise just how much blood, sweat and tears it has taken to woo success.

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HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A PLAYER? As a player I would say I’m aggressive and solid at the same time. I try not to skew too much, even though it’s inevitable sometimes but I like to believe that I am disciplined.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. I grew up in Gurugram.

I went to The Shri Ram School Aravali post which I was at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University. During that time I didn’t play much poker. Post college, when I was doing my CA articleship at Grant Thornton, I was introduced to the game by a very dear friend, Sahil Mahboobani, who happened to be my batchmate’s cousin. As kids we used to play basketball together whenever he visited his cousin (who lived in the same building as me) from Hong Kong.

We reconnected again when he returned to India around 2015. He was the one who introduced me to the game. I used to watch him play on PokerStars for hours at a stretch and I would try to learn as much as I could. I would say from the get-go I was really passionate about

the game and that led me to explore it a lot more. I started with some cash games, followed by micro stakes games by myself. At times, Mahboobani used to even stake me. He guided me throughout the initial stages of my career.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU DECIDED TO GO INTO THE GAME PROFESSIONALLY? The day I decided to do this full-time, I wasn’t really sure about my capabilities.

It was a bit of a gamble and a leap of faith in the sense that I was going to give up on everything else I was doing and just play poker. I was not skilled enough to take that decision. But I was lucky enough to get the mentorship of Sahil and Mr Sumit Sapra who helped me and

guided me during the early stages of my professional career. Sapra was very influential and I improved tremendously as a player in the short period of time that I spent under his mentorship.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH POKERGURU. I joined PokerGuru (PG) in 2018, after having been under Mr Sapra for about six months. I remember seeing Ashish Ahuja winning everything and crushing, and in one of his Facebook posts he had mentioned Aditya Agarwal as a poker god and that’s what made me want to learn from Adi and join PG. Since then it’s been smooth sailing and I obviously credit my success to PokerGuru staking.

COVER STORY

WHAT WAS YOUR FAMILY’S REACTION WHEN YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO GO PRO? It was obviously a nightmare to break it to my family. In the beginning, they didn’t know much about the game and weren’t very happy with my unorthodox career choice. But over time, they saw my passion and dedication towards my craft, and are now extremely supportive and are happy to see me follow my dreams.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR GAME FROM THE TIME YOU STARTED TILL NOW? When I first started, I used to play very tight, just like everyone does when they first start playing. But as I gained more experience, received more coaching, worked with softwares, I obviously saw a big transformation in my game. At PokerGuru, I’ve gotten better each day and learnt about concepts and areas of the game which I had no idea about.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH DOWNSWINGS? AND WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER PLAYERS WHO ARE 22

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“

I FEEL IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO LET ANY BIG WIN OR LOSS GO TO YOUR HEAD AND TO JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU’RE DOING, WITH HUMILITY AND DETERMINATION.

EXPERIENCING IT? Downswings are inevitable, and as a professional you have to be prepared to go through these periods. In India, we are playing stakes and fields which are much smaller compared to international players. So I would say we haven’t really seen how brutal downswings can be. Downswings can of course be frustrating.

Different players deal with it in different ways. Some players just fight it and continue playing through a downswing but others take a few days off. It really depends on what fits you best. I have tried both and both seem to work for me, at different times. Other than that, I talk to my friends and poker buddies and they lift up my spirits and motivate me always.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A BIG TOURNAMENT OR A MAIN EVENT? The preparation never stops. It goes on throughout the year. If it’s a big series coming up then I probably do a few more coaching sessions and put in a few more hours. It’s important to go with the flow and not stress too much and treat it just like any other day.

TELL US HOW YOU FELT ABOUT SHIPPING THE IOPC MAIN EVENT. This is the biggest tournament I have won, so it’s been a really big achievement in terms of money as well as prestige. It’s one of the biggest tournaments of the year, with a huge prize pool and that wonderful crown to go with it so it was a great feeling! At the same time, I feel it’s important not to let any big win or loss go to your head and to just keep on doing what you’re doing, with humility and determination.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR MESSAGE TO BUDDING PLAYERS? Study the game, work on your game as much as you can. Try to get coached in order to get your basics right and then try to improve every day. Remember that it’s a journey, and if you work hard, the rewards will come to you!

The afterglow of the crowning moment seems to have only made ‘LuckyBhai$’ more humble, grounded and ready for the next big goal. We look forward to more moments of magic from this young star.

Rapid Fire FAVOURITE PLAYER: Michael Addamo FAVOURITE VENUE: Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam YOUR INSPIRATION IN POKER IN INDIA: Aditya Agarwal YOUR BEST POKER BUDDIES:

Sahil Mahboobani, Ashish Munot, Ankit Wadhawan, Abhinav Iyer and the list goes on. Blessed to have met such amazing people in the poker world ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE HOW YOU FEEL AFTER WINNING THE IOPC MAIN EVENT: Proud GUTSHOT

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POKER

Siddhanth Kripalani: A Poker Champ In The Making WORDS BY DONNA AMO

S

tarting the poker season off on a spectacular note, the 10 th edition of India Online Poker Championship (IOPC)

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was one of the most awaited online poker events of the year.

While many champions were crowned, it was Siddhanth Kripalani aka ‘PluRibu$’ who bagged

the first major title, the Millionaire United.

Here’s our conversation with his poker pro on his IOPC win and journey as a professional player.

You have been playing poker since 2018. What are some of the biggest lessons the journey has taught you?

Poker has a way of teaching you many qualities that ultimately turn out to be useful in your day-today life. It has taught me how to be patient, to stay calm in unfavourable scenarios, to be respectful, and have humility. It has also taught me that if you have certain goals in life, you have to get up and do the work. Day in and day out. No one is going to spoon-feed you or give you a shortcut.

best of my ability and see how it went.

Besides Millionaire United, what were some of your most rewarding wins in recent years?

Some of my most rewarding wins were PokerBaazi Monthly Value Series (PMVS) Main Event in April 2020, PokerBaazi’s The Game Changer in July 2020, and the World Poker Tour India (WPT) Super High Roller in November 2020.

What advice you would give to a budding poker player?

In IOPC, January 2021, There is a lot to say but you clinched the Milto put it in a few words: lionaire United. What work hard, stay tunnel tournament are you visioned, have the dislooking to ship in FTS cipline to make the right 2.0? decisions, and keep I’ll be happy to win any of your emotions out of the the feature tournaments, game. If you work hard but my eyes are of course then there is nothing or on the Main Event and no one that can stop you. the High Roller.

Lastly, tell us one of When you were in the the best memories you Master’s Table and have of playing poker. going heads up against I had wanted to go pro Aniket Waghmare, for about a year before it what thoughts were actually happened. On 30 going through your March, 2020 one day behead? fore the lockdown, I was I had no specific apbroke. I had borrowed 6K proach; I was just going from a friend and promto play each hand to the ised to return it within a

week. That night I played the Night Rider (3 Max) on Spartan Poker with an INR 880 buy-in. I ended up coming 6th for 19K. My bankroll was now 25K. Then I fired two bullets in the next day’s Destiny and Daily Hi-Fi but busted in both. I remember having only 7.5K on my Spartan Poker account and I snap clicked on rebuy for the third time in Destiny, which I ended up winning. The following week, I ended up winning the PMVS Main Event, and the next week’s Destiny. I remember having 3 big blinds when there were about 57 people left and I thought it’s over. But was somehow saved by some good runs. I ended up shipping that too, and in one week I had gone from being broke, to having a bankroll of 30 Lakh.

That was one of the happiest moments in my poker journey because this was my chance to make it as a professional. Bankroll management is probably the most important aspect of poker.

I had never had a sufficient bankroll to grind the daily features, and now, that was possible.

This was my shot and I’m thankful that I took it.

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POKER

Vivek Singh: NO HOLDS BARRED

H

ow many people think about the struggles a poker player goes through when they book a victory?

Flaunting the chinks in one’s armor is not what most players are comfortable doing. Yet here is a player who speaks about his struggles with as much honesty as his victories. The floor is yours, Vivek Singh!

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When did you decide on playing poker professionally?

So, poker was always cash games when I started with very small buy-ins.

But I was always intrigued; I got hooked to the game between 2011 and 2015. I had a personal setback in life. The plan was to make a comeback to the game with a very professional approach. It wasn’t a bed

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of roses when I began. I had no direction for two years and was just playing to survive. In these two years I met Vikram Kumar a.k.a ‘Lungi.’ We had a good rapport. He had an idea to start a stable and I was all for it. It was around 2017-18 when ‘Lungi’ guided me to move forward.

Did you tell your family or friends about your

What were the initial days like when you had just ventured into poker?

Initial days were stress free. I played out of pure passion with very little knowledge, just like aspiring players do. I had a very rough start to my tournament career.

For almost two years, I didn’t see any monetary rewards. Then came a point where I had to really think about the way forward. I felt that my passion for the game wasn’t enough as the rewards kept avoiding me. I was taught by my mentor Aditya Agarwal to not care much about the results of a game. This changed my outlook completely and since then I have been doing well.

“

The struggles really are

within and I wanted to prove it only to myself. The aim was to be a better person along

“

decision to play poker in the beginning?

All my friends knew and all of them have been very supportive throughout. Initially, I hid it from my mother but the rest of the family knew. However, I was not happy doing it without my mother’s consent. One day I sat her down, explained the entire mind-sport to her and she understood.

Since then she has been very supportive towards my career. I am very lucky to have such a robust support system back home.

the way.

What was the struggle like when it came to establishing yourself in the Indian poker circuit?

The struggles really are within and I wanted to prove it only to myself.

The aim was to be a better person along the way. There are a lot of good players in our field and I did have a hard time winning. But now I look at it as a source of learning as I play tough contenders in the game.

I’m more into doing better the next time I am in similar scenarios.

What kept you motivated?

I am always motivated by my fellow grinders who have been there on this journey with me. I had Kumar, Agarwal and Kartik Ved who kept me on my toes at all times.

Setting a goal is very important to keep yourself charged up.

How do you deal with the highs and lows in poker?

I have a very controlled emotional approach to the highs and lows as I’ve played so many games through the years. I don’t get very happy when I win a tournament and neither am I too hard on myself when there is a downswing.

One message you would like to share with aspiring poker players?

Set a long term vision, create short term goals, be happy from within. Most importantly, do not attach yourself to outcomes.

From our conversation with this prolific poker player, one can easily deduce that it’s all about hard work. If you are an aspiring poker player, don’t shy away from hurdles or hardships; just remember– nothing is impossible.

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ONLINE GAMING

PARE

ENTERS THE ADDA WORDS BY MANTHRA KOLIYER

O

nline gaming company Gaussian Network Private Limited appointed Shivanandan Pare, a business leader, as CEO of its gaming business. Pare has an experience of over

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two decades in the digital and e-commerce sector.

Let’s take a look at Mr Pare’s vision for Gaussian Network.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE GAMING INDUSTRY AND WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD

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BRING ABOUT AS THE NEWLY APPOINTED CEO? It is going to be a great time, the only spoiler I see is from the state regulatory perspective. I am looking at last year as an inflection point for our industry. The growth

“

This year we will introduce features which will go a long way in defining the experience. The third element which we are looking at is our omnichannel approach of integrating experiences across Adda52.com and Adda52rummy.com with our casinos.

“

from here on for real money gaming sector is going to be spectacular from a pure market share perspective.

We would also like to consolidate our leadership at Adda52.com and at Adda52rummy.com.

The difference between poker and rummy is that poker is an international game while rummy is the only Indian card game whose popularity crossed the Indian boundaries. There are other variants too played across the country like the 7, 10, 13 and 21 cards rummy. In terms of market size roughly 80- 85% or say 90% of the gaming population indulges in rummy and the rest is poker. So rummy is a big opportunity if I were to look at the market of pure play real money card games.

for us. For Adda52.com ARE THERE ANY SPECIF- and Adda52rummy.com we IC PLANS LAID OUT TO would like to continue with INCREASE USER ENour consumer centric apGAGEMENT? proach towards the product.

We are entering 2021 on a This year we will introduce higher base because of the features which will go a long growth we witnessed during way in defining the expethe first quarter of the panrience. The third element demic. While considering which we are looking at is the higher base, as a team our omnichannel approach we will have to rework on of integrating experiences our strategy and re-look at across Adda52.com and every process to ensure that Adda52rummy.com with our we continue to grow on the casinos. higher base numbers for this year. Having said that, the WHAT ARE THE BENproduct outlook is very clear EFITS THAT EXISTING

ADDA52 PLAYERS WILL GET? We are looking at continuously improving our consumers’ experiences. To reiterate, we are looking at immersive experience on all platforms, and a great omnichannel experience leveraging our Deltin casinos.

APART FROM GAMING, WHAT ARE THE OTHER EXPANSION IDEAS THAT GAUSSIAN NETWORK IS LOOKING AT? Currently, we are focussed on consolidating poker leadership and building the rummy business.

Gaussian Networks is an online gaming company that specializes in online game development and provides players with platforms that have sophisticated technology. The Network caters to a wider audience and has an impressive range of virtual games.

Gaussian Network is looking forward to increasing the growth of online gaming by 20-25% every year. Pare is aiming to use his experience and knowledge of the industry to enhance and help Gaussian Network achieve strong foothold in the online gaming industry. We wish him all the best in this endeavour.

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RUMMY

Taj Rummy:

A Brand With A Mission

D

WORDS BY DONNA AMO

espite rummy being one of the fastest-growing verticals in the online gaming sector, questions about its legalization still plague the industry. Common misconceptions about the game have led to some states banning the online version of the game.

Due to this, various brands are doing their bit to help change public opinion. SBC Digital India was the most recent online exhibition and conference that aimed to bring a better understanding of the real money gaming industry to the masses.

Taj Rummy, one of the leading rummy brands in the country, was the title sponsor for the event. A flagship of the Grid Logic Group, it is known for its seamless user experience and is a well-known entity in a variety of gaming conferences.

We approached Pariekshit Maadishetti, Managing Director of Grid Logic Group, to tell us a bit more about the brand and its efforts towards helping the online rummy sector to become a regulated market.

What was the idea behind launching Taj Rummy?

We were looking to expand as a business and though we had our back office in India, we 30

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never knew an opportunity like this existed back in 2012 while we were running our UK business. The rise of skill games and our presence here at the same time made this venture possible.

Taj Rummy was the title sponsor for SBC Digital India. What made you interested in this association?

We usually are the title sponsors for all the gaming shows in India which support our industry. You can take GaTo by IAMAI or SPiCE by Eventus– we are committed to help and support everyone to see India on a regulated stage.

The Supreme Court of India has recognised rummy as a game of skill, and yet certain states have banned it. Your comment.

This comes as a recognition that we exist, and we are contributing to taxes, employment, and a regulated environment for which are all doing our bit.

Instead of banning it, if they can regulate it then a lot better can happen.

All the federations are trying to represent and we are praying that India will understand the merit of regulation.

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How do you see the rummy industry progressing despite the legal setbacks?

The industry is growing, and it will continue to grow. We may not show as much of the CAGR as before but there will be growth.

What are your future plans for Taj Rummy?

We are more of a technology provider who run the B2C businesses with passion and an intention to give back to the player community. We will continue to build great products which help our clientele.

One big thing we are trying to do next is to build Open Gaming APIs which will break the entry barrier further and make it easy for anyone to enter the business at an affordable cost. I can see us travelling towards a transparent GaaS (Gaming as a Service) model.

The road is long for the legalization of rummy in India, but despite the many challenges, there is still hope. With more brands like Taj Rummy continuing to put their efforts in showcasing the real money gaming (RMG) industry in a positive light, the industry could see more legal doors opening up in the future.

ESPORTS

TWITCH: MINING INDIAN GOLD WORDS BY DONNA AMO

S

treaming has picked up in the last few years in India with many homegrown gamers and content creators using various platforms to stream their content to their viewers. This is especially true for the gaming community to which streaming is an important way of connecting and possibly generating revenue. The popularity of games like Garena Free Fire, CS:GO, DOTA 2, Call of Duty, and even PUBG before it’s ban, have opened doors for many Indian gamers to become known in the community through streaming.

Twitch is a video streaming platform launched in 2011 and operated by Twitch Interactive. The platform is mostly associated with video game streaming but is also used to promote creative content, broadcast esports events, and music.

By 2013, it was reported that the site had over 45 million unique users. While it is a go-to site for many

gamers around the world, the streaming platform has not been able to fully harvest the ripe gaming market in India.

It was in 2016 when Twitch first started picking up momentum in India but due to the lack of servers in the country, many gamers faced a lot of difficulties while using the platform.

This resulted in the streaming site hitting a roadblock.

While many Indian creators and gamers joined the platform during its initial entry into the gaming scene, a majority of them left due to

its high latency which hampered viewing experience.

While Twitch’s foray into the Indian market came to an abrupt stop in 2018, it was recently reported that the Amazon-owned platform could be re-entering the Indian market. The addition of local servers in Mumbai and Chennai could be the start of the platform’s growth in Indian. However, other streaming platforms like YouTube Streaming and Facebook Gaming are already popular and they will be stiff competition for the platform.

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ESPORTS

‘PEXXER’ STRIKE WORDS BY SAMEER BAIG

F

rom being the youngest professional esports player from India in 2005 to holding the World No. 2 rank for best headshot percentage in Counter Strike (CS), Kunal ‘Pexxer’ Bhatia has done it all! Now retired, he tells us about what it takes to win the crown, and keep it too.

How did you get into professional gaming?

I started playing CS in 2005.

My cousin brother from UAE introduced me to CS in a cafe and I instantly liked the game. I used to play on my brother’s computer for which I had to beg him.

Finally, one day I got my own PC and started playing 32

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online with my brothers for fun and we decided to form a team to take part in online tournaments.

Soon, our team (D5 – Destructive) started defeating everyone in online tournaments at that time. People actually thought that we are hackers and banned us from the servers because

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we defeated the best team of India. Eventually we made our own clan and started playing on LAN. We were the WCG Mumbai Champions in 2006.

Once D5 dissolved, my brother who was an excellent CS player (Wuzz aka Pranay) got an offer from ATE (top CS team of India). I did not make the age criteria for higher level tournaments (international tournaments) at that time. I joined Team Brutality which was the second best team in India and competency level wise, we were at par with ATE (full form). We played against ATE a year after I joined and we gave them the toughest competition ever. Post this

they offered me a position (in 2011) and my journey in esports began.

Did you pursue your education while you were gaming?

I was pursuing my BBA simultaneously and was managing my college along with gaming.

in the Indian gaming market.

We refused to upgrade our game and that’s when CS GO became highly popular and we became obsolete.

Why do esports players retire early in their career globally?

It becomes difficult for any player to focus on gaming as a career as it doesn’t What is your view of the give you much of a return gaming industry today as especially in countries like compared to the past? ours where gaming is not The mentality of parents viewed in a positive light. It has changed. During our needs full focus, time and time, it was considered as dedication which isn’t easy gambling. This seems to to manage along with a job have changed now thanks or pursuing education. to the mobile game, PUBG. Now gaming is in the news Do you still play games and tournaments are being and what are your future broadcasted which helps plans? change people’s perspecYes, but not professionally. I tives. play games like Valorant on console as it’s my passion. If What do you think even- you give me a chance today tually led to your team to play professionally and if becoming obsolete? there is a good opportunity I believe that the team had out there in esports, I know the best players when it that I will take it up as a full came to First Person Gam- time career and pursue it ing (FPS) but we were fixas long as they give me a ated on the idea that CS decent package.

1.6 will last forever and no level or further editions of Any message for young the game will be able to gamers? defeat CS 1.6 in competitive Please do not keep hopping gaming. When CS GO was and switching teams as it launched, we had a similar will not help you grow. Staperception. Based on the bility, trust in the team and experience of CS Source we facing different situations felt that CS GO will not last with one team will give you

life lessons. While you do all of this, do not quit education especially if you are in India as esports still has to mature here for you to completely quit education and get into gaming.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• The first youngest professional esports player of India • World’s 2nd best headshot percentage title from HLTV stats (56.6%)

CS 1.6: • ESWC 2011 India Winner • DSK 2011 First Prize • Masacre 2011 First Prize • MESC Cup First Prize • AHOY Mumbai Qualifiers Winner • ICGC Season 3 Gold Medal • Chaos Epicenter IIT Ahmedabad First Prize • ESPRL First Prize • Techstorm First Prize • PlayFactory League Second Prize • Nvidia RaOne Second Prize

CS GO: • 1st place at ESL Starter Cup 3 • ROG Masters India Qualifiers Winner • Indian Esports Championship Second Prize • Edge Kolkata 2017 (Lan) Second Prize • 4th Place at ESL Masters India Summer • Dew Arena qualifier 4 - Winner

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ESPORTS

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL WORDS BY DONNA AMO

W

hile esports is recognized as an official sport in places like China, Netherlands, the USA, etc., it is still at a nascent stage in India. Now, with the inclusion of esports as an official medal sport in the Asian Games, 2022, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) recognizing it as an official sport, the future seems bright for the industry and the gaming community. We spoke to Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India and the Vice President of Asian Esports Federation, to tell us a bit more on what awaits the eager esports players in India.

HOW CAN ESPORTS EXPAND ITS BASE IN INDIA? The first thing needed for esports to grow in India is to have a correct understanding on the subject by all stakeholders including 34

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government, media, VCs, brand, etc. The recognition of esports by the Sports Ministry will also help in building the confidence of parents, as many of our esports athletes are between the ages of 14-20 years and their parents are still skeptical about it.

Unlike traditional sports, esports still needs to be developed in the country and it will need a lot of patience and investment. It is a blank slate as of now and needs to be developed in a structured way so that we can

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make India the next powerhouse of esports.

WHAT IS ESFI DOING TO ATTRACT PLAYERS INTO THE ESPORTS INDUSTRY? ESFI is a sports federation and plays the same role which BCCI plays in cricket. Our core objective is to grow esports like any other sport. ESFI brings together all the stakeholders of the esports ecosystem cohesively. We give opportunities for budding talent to work at the ESFI’s events while

giving them training and experience.

Laying down the foundations and guidelines of fair play, ensuring gender parity along with the well-being of our athletes, training, grass-root programs, etc., there is so much we have in our plans, and we’re just getting started. We would also like to work with Indian video game developers to build innovative online multiplayer games. Games like HitWicket, Scarfall, WCC or mythology-based games like Raji which are all homegrown products have a great opportunity to establish their presence.

ments in the sport, from which we can build strong foundations for our athletes, be it in terms of academics, well-being, financial support etc. In nutshell our athletes shall have a well-defined career path just like any other sport.

Unfortunately, as of now playing video games are not looked at positively.

Hence, not only IOA (Indian Olympic Association) but the Sports Ministry should also provide recognition just like our neighbouring countries Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and many other nations worldwide.

are announced, we’ll start getting our teams ready.

This time we’re looking to bring home the gold medal.

Apart from this, our primary focus is to expand coaching and training for which we are already in talks with some leading agencies. You will also find certified referees this year which will be IN ASIAN GAMES 2018, India’s first.

RECENTLY THE INDIAN TIRTH MEHTA WON A We have already rolled OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION BRONZE MEDAL. WHAT out our National Rankings (IOA) ANNOUNCED THAT EFFORTS ARE BEING Scrims for games like Call of IT IS READY TO RECOG- MADE TO REPLICATE Duty Mobile, Valorant, Free NIZE ESPORTS AS AN THAT SUCCESS IN Fire, and we will be adding OFFICIAL SPORT. HOW THE UPCOMING ASIAN more games this year. One WILL THAT BENEFIT GAMES 2022? of our key initiatives has PLAYERS? We’re proud of Tirth Mehta, been to introduce the NaThe biggest benefit of who made esports history tional Ranking System. We sports categorization will with his win. Once the game have also rolled out female be getting parental aptitles for Asian Games 2022 ranking scrims. proval. Our athletes have ESFI is working closely a short shelf-life and peak with the National Esports at the age of 15-19. It will Federations of South Asia, smoothen the process of and will jointly launch the our talented esports athSouth Asia Championship, letes to represent at Asian which will give our athletes Games, Olympics, etc. international exposure. We The esports community will also be working more wants and requires esports closely with the game pubto be recognized by the lishers and developers as government as a sport. This they are the key to esports. will lead to a spurt of investGUTSHOT

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FA N TA SY S P O R T S

Fantasy Akhada: Going Full Steam Ahead WORDS BY MRINAL GUJARE

T

he world of fantasy sports is bursting with action and a lot of energy. More so now that things have become better compared to early days of the pandemic.

Thanks to its physical counterpart coming back, the online fantasy sports industry has been 36

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making headlines for the sheer number of people signing-up on various platforms. India is a country where the game of cricket is a religion and the cricketers are worshipped like demigods.

Fans are making sure to break records and create newer ones even with their fantasy gaming

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scores. Other games like fantasy football, basketball, and golf are also picking up pace. It is crucial to know what keeps this industry going and what a fantasy sports operator does to keep players hooked. We at Gutshot Magazine spoke to the co-founder of Fantasy Akhada, Sumit Jha,

to find out what’s in store for this buzzing industry.

What is Fantasy Akhada aiming to achieve in the Indian Fantasy Sports market?

As a brand, our vision is to drive sports engagement in the country forward.

Research also suggests that fantasy sports is a key lever for increased interest in sports and we want to leverage this by giving sports fans in India some innovative gameplay options.

engagement in India with his legendary career as a broadcaster. I believe we are blessed to have him by our side.

How will the presence of Harsha Bhogle as an investor cum brand ambassador empower the brand?

Harsha Bhogle’s presence lends our brand enormous credibility and a solid push amongst the cricket fans in the country. Additionally, his understanding of the sports fans in India and his desire to learn about the What were the challeng- fantasy sports business is es faced by the brand in a blessing for us since he the initial phase? came on board.

To begin with, there are a lot of players that are How do you think entering the market and Fantasy Akhada is hence the challenges we different from other face are two-fold. Firstly, fantasy sports platforms there are credibility issues in India? in the minds of the conCustomer centricity and sumers pertaining to new focus on sports fans while apps and secondly, the designing our gameplay challenge to retain conoptions differentiates us sumers in a competitive from the competition in a market is bigger than bebig way. fore.

How was the busiWhat was the idea beness impacted due to hind bringing Harsha COVID-19?

Bhogle on board?

The nature of our business The vision of our organiis such that when sporting zation is to drive sports action came to a complete engagement in the country. standstill, there was no It will not be an understate- business for us for about ment to say that he is the 45 odd days. However, epitome of driving sports once the sporting world

opened up, we have seen a surge in participation by users. In fact, the variety of sports and tournaments preferred by users has also increased significantly.

How do you foresee the growth and expansion of the brand pre and post IPL 2021?

Indian Premier League (IPL), in any given year, sees a massive surge in the activity among fantasy sports users in India.

The period of 2020-21 is a unique case where 2 IPLs will happen within a space of 4-5 months.

Hence, we expect the industry to be slightly slow before IPL and then take off with a T20 heavy calendar in 2021 including the ICC WT20. However, the PSL 2021 Season is also about to kick-start from 20 February and we expect excitement among users for this tournament too.

What are the future plans of Fantasy Akhada with respect to its expansion in the country?

We are already present across India. We will be looking to raise our Series A round of funding postIPL 2021 and focus on being aggressive with our technology and user acquisition plans.

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FA N TA SY S P O R T S

Indiana Pacers vs Sacramento Kings in Mumbai, 2019. Courtesy: NBA India

Hooped Up and Ready to Go! U WORDS BY SHRIYA GHATE

nless you’ve been living under a rock these past two years, you know that Dream11 is a fantasy cricket app. But I wonder if you knew that it is also a fantasy basketball app?

For the majority of us living in India, basketball is a sport you might play in school or college and that’s about it. Most of us don’t play it beyond a certain age, we definitely don’t 38

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watch professional games, and knowledge about the key players and teams is not even on the horizon!

Yet here is one of India’s biggest fantasy sports apps doing a collaboration with the NBA (National Basketball Association), a body that oversees professional basketball in the US, where it is undoubtedly a well-followed sport. Naturally we were curious and decided to find out more

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about this unusual association!

Let’s begin by saying that basketball has been in India for the last 90 years at least! In fact, the first Indian Male Championship for basketball was played way back in 1934 in New Delhi and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) was set up as early as 1950. Between then and now, the appreciation for basketball as a sport has

only grown and this is demonstrated in the many professional tournaments, including the UBA Pro Basketball League, that have been taking place. The game really picked up momentum in the last ten years with the NBA increasing its presence in India with the NBA/ WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) Hoop School Programme in 2008 and setting up more than 12 basketball training centres in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and many more locations.

35 of its players have visited the country since 2006.

Not only that, India saw it’s first professional NBA match take place in the NSCI Dome in Mumbai as recently as October, 2019.

Despite all of this development, basketball is still massively overshadowed by cricket and even local games like kabaddi.

What then, is the reason for the NBA’s continued effort in India? NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum, likens the Indian sports market to that of China 20 years ago. “Today in China basketball is the number one sport,” says Tatum, who started promoting the game in China two decades ago.

“300 million people play the game of basketball in China. It is very reminiscent of the early days of the NBA in China. And I think that basketball has the same potential here in India.” One of the reasons for the NBA’s popularity

in China is also the player Yao Ming, who played with the team Houston Rockets for nine years. India is yet to have its first all-star NBA player. The hope for the NBA is that in the next five to ten years India will be able to produce such a player. This is the reason behind launching the Reliance Foundation Jr NBA Programme, which has been running since 2013 and has trained over 11 million children in the last seven years.

So where does this leave Dream11 and NBA, who have once again extended their contract for fantasy basketball in India? The numbers seem encouraging as far as digital and TV viewership is concerned. The Sony Group of channels reported viewership to be 91 million for NBA games in 2018-19. There is no reason why the fantasy version of the game will not follow. “We have seen a significant increase in fan engagement since the launch of the NBA’s fantasy platform on Dream11 three years ago,” says Siddharth Chury, AVP Global Partnerships for NBA India. It looks like it’s only a matter of time before the game explodes on our mobile screens.

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FUN TIMES

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Spot the six differences in the image below.

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GUESS WHO?

DID YOU KNOW?

Can you guess the name of this worldfamous poker player?

The four kings in a deck of cards represent famous kings in history.

They are: King of Spades: King David of Israel King of Hearts: Charlemagne, King of France King of Clubs: Alexander the Great King of Diamonds: Augustus Caesar

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