Abhishek Goindi and Muskan Sethi Impress at the G.O.A.T Event with Their Powerful Performance
The Greatest of All Tournaments (G.O.A.T) hosted by PokerBaazi in 2022 made history as it became India's largest poker tournament, attracting a record 7,233 entries and offering a prize pool of Rs 7.2 crore (about 72 million rupees) [1]. This landmark event, held between 30th Oct - 6th Nov 2022, has significantly boosted the credibility, visibility, and commercial scale of poker in India.
The tournament brought together some of the most skilled players on the Indian poker circuit, including PokerBaazi Game Ambassadors Abhishek Goindi and Muskan Sethi. The winners felicitation ceremony was a significant step towards going mainstream in the poker industry and was held at Baazi Games' New Delhi office.
The G.O.A.T winner, Kumar Chandra Rohit, is an Associate Director, Data Sciences with Walmart. This Bangalore resident emerged victorious, taking home a prize of ₹94,69,000. Puneet Sachan and Anmol Mehta secured the runner-up and second runner-up positions, respectively, with prize money of ₹68,73,418 and ₹31,51,848.
The G.O.A.T tournament has established a benchmark for prize pools and participation, showcasing the viability and appeal of high-stakes online poker tournaments in India. It has also helped dispel misconceptions about poker being purely gambling, highlighting it as a game of skill and strategy, thereby enhancing its reputation and legitimacy.
Moreover, the tournament provided a major platform for Indian players to gain recognition and substantial earnings, which encourages more professionals and amateurs to join the poker community. This has contributed to the overall growth of poker infrastructure and tournament culture in India, strengthening PokerBaazi's position as a premier poker platform.
In summary, the G.O.A.T 2022 has accelerated the transition of poker from a niche hobby to a mainstream competitive sport in India, fostering growth and development within the industry.
[1] Source: PokerBaazi press release, dated 7th November 2022.
The G.O.A.T tournament demonstrated the overlap between traditional sports and esports, as it showcased poker's massive appeal and growth, rivaling that of other sports in India. With Esports and sports gaining significant popularity, poker has succeeded in cementing its position as an esteemed sport.
