Waghmare’s Roaring Start to 2021

WORDS BY MANTHRA KOLIYER

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

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.

What were your beginnings in poker like?

I was introduced to the game through a live poker tournament held during one of the college festivals in 2014. I did not know a single thing about the game back then. I won a gift card to play on a site, and that’s when I discovered the world of online poker. I played recreationally until 2018, when I first shipped a big tourney!

Do you have a mentor?

I do not have a mentor as such, but I try to learn from all the players I can. I look up to poker player, Anant Purohit. His role in 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.

Whose game do you admire the most from the Indian poker circuit?

A few of them are Anant Purohit, Gaurav Sood, Sriharsha Doddapaneni, Kartik Ved, Neel Joshi, Abhishek Goindi, and Nikita Luther, among others.

What is your last-minute prep before any tournament like?

I do not have a specific last-minute prep schedule, but I try and eat healthy, low-carb meals before any grinding session. I have started meditating too as it helps me before a 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.

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.

Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

If you would have asked me this question five years ago, becoming a ‘full time poker player’ would not have been even in the remotest realms of my thought. But today, I know that in the next 1-2 years I just want to work on getting better at poker. I want to be one of the best poker players in India.

This gem has been smashing the virtual felts almost every day and we cannot wait to watch him achieve his goals and lift more titles. More power to you, Aniket Waghmare!