The Poker Sports League (PSL) recently revealed some numbers from the qualifying rounds of its ongoing fifth season, which received a total of 9,547 unique entries, the most for a poker event in India. The live-streaming of the grand finale will begin on July 22, and thus, a decent amount of people are expected to watch the event.

The live auction, which will include six teams, will be held in Goa on Saturday, July 8, which will be followed by virtual matches, wherein players can participate from any part of the world. The auctions will be held in a fashion similar to the Indian Premier League, and will see the owners, captains, and analysts gather in Goa.

Mr. Pranav Bagai, CEO, and Co-founder of Poker Sports League, shared his feeling, stating, “The level of engagement we’ve witnessed this year has left us absolutely thrilled! With over 9500 unique entries flooding into the general qualifiers, we are truly humbled by the sheer passion and dedication showcased by the aspiring players vying for the top 37 spots. In comparison, the esteemed World Series of Poker Main Event, which started in 1972, has garnered a maximum of 8773 unique entries in a single year.”

Earlier this year, PSL 2023 forged strategic alliances with two entities – Pocket52, a prominent online poker gaming app, as its Title Sponsor, and JioCinema as its official Streaming Partner. This collaboration bettered the gaming experience, reshaping viewer engagement from the comfort of their homes. The tournament, with a prize pool of INR 1.5 crores, will be live-streamed on JioCinema, commencing from July 22nd and culminating in the grand finale on August 19th.

Mr. Nitesh Salvi, Director and founder, Pocket52, “We are ecstatic to see the response for PSL season 5 on our platform. 9500+ unique entries for the general qualifiers alone are testimony to the underlying passion and immense potential of poker in India. We are optimistic that Season 5 will be bigger and better than ever before, and will create a wave of momentum that will bring more and more people into the poker ecosystem and create a sustainable culture for skill-based online gaming in India.”

PSL Season 5 is the latest edition of the poker tournament in India, featuring its highest prize pool and a large number of participants. A live finale in Goa is planned, with 72 players, such as professionals, captains, and 37 qualifier winners, making it a unique event.

The grand finale of the poker event is scheduled to take place between August 16 and August 19, which will be held in Goa.