Playing in the World Series of Poker, or WSOP as they call it, is the ultimate mecca for a poker player’s career. It is the dream every poker player wants to fulfil. If a poker player has a bucket list, WSOP Las Vegas has to be in it.
“I’ve been building a bank roll to take part in the WSOP since past three years. The tournament buy-ins are really high, but for that life changing prize pool, it’s totally worth it. I’m still not ready this year. I need another year.”
Vaibhav Bhatia – A full time poker player
WSOP takes place in Las Vegas every year, between the months May and July. It usually runs for around 30-40 days. The Main Event first position has guaranteed winnings of $5 Million and above. That’s a whopping ₹ 35 crores.
However, taking part in the WSOP definitely isn’t for everyone. One needs to travel and live in Las Vegas for a month to fully experience it. One has to compete amongst the world’s best of the best poker players.
“It’s a big risk. Yes, there is a slight chance you might come back home raking decent winnings, but the chances of losing all the money you have saved for this special event are higher. And coming back home broke is not a good feeling.”
Gaurav Dalmia – a full time poker player since 7 years
For some, it’s the glory of taking part and winning in the WSOP that makes it the best of opportunities. If you look at WSOP bracelet winners in the past, their lives have taken a big turn simply after winning an event at the WSOP. Most bracelet winners are like celebrities, living celebrity lifestyles.
“You’re immediately recognised. People will automatically assume you’re a great player. Winning a WSOP Bracelet can turn your life around 180 degrees.”
Shrey Mehta – Professional Tournament player
With poker growing exponentially in India, the WSOP dream has entered into homes of people around us. Neighbours, friends of friends, colleagues, you name it. The WSOP dream is real. Yet, less than 0.1% of poker players in the country get that chance.
A bunch of online poker sites, like Adda52, PokerBaazi, The Spartan Poker and Poker Dangal have held tournaments where the winner get to go to Las Vegas and participate at the WSOP. However, there is only one winner, and competing amongst thousands, plus high buy-ins, sink winning probabilities to below sub-percentages.
“I spent about ₹ 20,000 to participate in two such tournaments, I final tabled both tournaments, but failed to be the last man standing. It is incredibly tough because there is only one winner.”
Vaibhav Bhatia
UMA Poker, a poker site started by Delhi based Prashray Rai and Mrinal Dev Bajaj, recognised that for India to be on the poker map, a strong contingent is needed to travel for WSOP 2019. And so, they launched the Lucky Hearts Vegas tournament. A first of its kind, with a buy-in of just ₹ 2,750, the last 10 standing get to go to Vegas. UMA will cover their flights and stay, plus a buy-in for a single WSOP tournament.
This is a first tournament of such nature, having a low buy-in and 10 winners.
The first edition of the Lucky Hearts Vegas tournament was held in February, and seeing the success of the first one, the founders have decided to host another tournament with the same format on March 24.
So, in lay man terms, make that 20 players heading to WSOP via UMA Poker. That encompasses the number of players being sent to WSOP by all the other Indian poker websites.
“We realised that the WSOP dream was real. We are confident that our home grown players are capable enough to compete at the highest levels. Seeing the passion here, we felt that the least we could do for them was to give them a real chance at taking part in WSOP 2019. This gesture shows the poker players that we are behind them.”
Mrinal Dev Bajaj, Co-Founder – UMA Poker
Modern day Indian millennials are a driven and motivated bunch, and they deserve nothing but the best of opportunities. UMA Poker’s efforts in this journey are commendable. Let us hope that we have fellow countrymen (or women), shipping a major WSOP event in 2019. A big win is desperately needed to drive this amazing mind sport to new heights in the country, and further acceptance. Poker is still majorly is not looked at as a vaible career option in the country, which is far from the truth. That needs to change. And for that, we need someone to make it big internationally.
