India’s poker festival, the National Poker Series India, began its fourth edition on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024, marking the beginning of a 21-day poker marathon. With a turnout of over 11,800 entries on its inaugural day, the event saw participation of players from across the country compete for a prize pool exceeding Rs.50 Crores and more than 450 medals.
The National Poker Series India 2024 drew in 2,500+ entries for its Kick-off tournament, marking a 25% increase from previous editions. The kick-off event saw Ritwik Khanna from Delhi NCR grabbing the first gold medal of the series.
To improve the standard of gameplay, the National Poker Series India introduced the initiative – the NPS CAMP. This four-day camp, held in a bespoke property in Goa, aimed to mentor and prepare players for the challenges of the series. Led by poker aficionado and professional player, Abhishek Goindi, in collaboration with Poker Boot Camp India, the NPS CAMP focused on enhancing players’ mental and physical well-being alongside refining their gameplay strategies.
The camp, attended by leader board winners and select social media contest winners, immersed participants in poker training along with team-building exercises like yoga and tug of war. Documenting the journey of aspiring poker players, the NPS CAMP has been transformed into a four-part reality series, offering viewers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts and raw emotions of the participants. The series is available for viewing on PokerBaazi’s YouTube channel and Poker TV.
Navkiran Singh, Founder and CEO of Baazi Games, expressed optimism about the event’s potential to further propel the popularity of poker as a mind sport in India. He emphasized the National Poker Series India’s role in providing a platform for players to showcase their strategic thinking and intellectual skills, nurturing a poker community across the nation.
The National Poker Series India 2024 invites poker enthusiasts to register and participate via the PokerBaazi application under the ‘Tournaments’ section. The podium winners of the series with the highest medal tally stand a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas.
Since its inception in 2021, the National Poker Series India has been instrumental in training Indian poker talent and promoting the game. With over 300,000 entries and 770+ medals across more than 250 tournaments, the series continues to be a significant event among the Indian poker fraternity.