₹55,000 Main Event Day 1b | 2018 WPT India

11-17-2018 23:43 UTC+5:30

Akshay Nasa Bags Day 1b Chip Lead in Biggest WPT India Main Event

Will Shillibier

Level 13 : 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

It was clear from very early on that the WPT India Main Event record was going to be smashed. Only 26 more entrants on Day 1a, but with Day 1b and 1c to come - not discounting the vivacious appetite for the game on display by members of the Indian poker community - there was always going to be big numbers.

The number is set to grow further, but after Day 1b the number stood at 540 - 270 from both flights - eclipsing the mark set last year of 527.

The player leading this bumper event and leading the 87 advancing from Day 1b is Akshay Nasa who bagged a total of 213,500. This is down from NJ Naranjan's mark of close to 280,000 yeterday, but still puts him in a comfortable position ahead of Day 2.

Other big stacks include Karan Kapur (204,500), Alok Ranjan (204,000) and Sharavl Parthasarathi (200,000). These are the only players over the 200,000 mark which translates as 80 big blinds at the start of tomorrow.

Arjun Arora, runner-up in 2017, bagged close to this mark with 198,500. He will be looking to go one step further over the course of this tournament and take down the largest WPT India Main Event in history.

Several big names played and bust Day 1b including Kunal Patni, Muskan Sethi, defending champion Vikash Mantri, Masha Soboleva, Minissha Lamba and Aditya Agarwal.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for a brief recap of the Day 1c with 20-minute levels, to see if any of them can advance using the quicker format, as well as continued coverage from aboard the Deltin Royale here in Goa, India.

Tags: Akshay Nasa Arjun Arora

11-17-2018 19:57 UTC+5:30

Adda52 Celebrity Pro Manissha Lamba Talks with PokerNews

Will Shillibier

Level 11 : 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Minissha Lamba is a celebrity pro for Adda52, and we caught up with her towards the end of Day 1b.

"The atmosphere is great because the number are fantastic, and that's really great. before the third flight begins we've already passed the number from last year. So that's extremely good to say WPT India get so much traction this time as well. That's good. It's exciting.

The atmosphere at the tables has been electric, and Lamba believes it's to do with the development in the approach Indian poker players have to the game.

"It's because now the level of play is not just about winning the money it's playing a good game. The excitement of being on the table and thinking about your game; having the high of winning a big pot that's what is exciting."

And as Day 1b draws to a close, does she have her eyes set on a deep run in the WPT India Main Event?

"Everyone wants to make a deep run, but not just make a deep run, make a deep run and win! Surviving right now with a 30 big blind stack, it'll be less next level. So yes, just playing tight. Work the short stack and hopefully, I think we'll see by the end of the final level what kind of level I want to go in with on Day 2. That's the strategy right now."

Tags: Minissha Lamba

11-17-2018 15:31 UTC+5:30

New Record Set in WPT India Main Event

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/300, 300 ante

The tournament clock now shoes 263 entrants which, combined with the 270 from yesterday, means that the 2018 WPT India Main Event has set a new record.

"We're so glad to be back in India," WPT Director Ging Masinda told PokerNews. "Our numbers are up from last year, and the trend has gotten better and better with all the events throughout the week. With one more flight and registration still open for Day 1b, we're excited to see what the new record will be.

"Setting a new record for India is a sign of bigger things to come. We're already starting to plan for next year's event, so expect it to be even bigger and better!

"We'd like to thank the Deltin Group, our partners Adda52 and all the players from the Indian poker community. Without their enthusiasm and support for the WPT, this would not have been possible!"

APpreciative from the response from players and the INdian poekr community, their enthusiasm and support from day one for the WPT has been phneomenal. WIthout their support this would not have been possible.

11-17-2018 15:01 UTC+5:30

"2,000 Players in Three Years" Says Defending Champion Vikash Mantri

Will Shillibier

Level 5 : 200/300, 300 ante

Last year, Vikash Mantri took down the very first WPT India for just over $90,000 after topping a field of 527 players. He's now in the field and says it's great to be back. However, he says that the pressure of being defending champion is definitely intense.

"There's a lot of pressure on me," he told us during one of the short break sin the Main Event. "Everyone is asking me whether I'm going to be able to defend the title. I can't say no, obviously, but I don't feel comfortable when I'm asked this. This field is full of the best players in India!"

Place	Name	Country	Prize in Rupees	Prize in USD
1	Vikash Mantri	India	₹ 6,030,000	$92,539
2	Arjun Arora	India	₹ 3,947,000	$60,572
3	Manish Lakhotia	India	₹ 2,520,000	$38,673
4	Gaurav Chauhan	India	₹ 1,920,000	$29,465
5	Anil Adiani	India	₹ 1,480,000	$22,712
6	Pavan Jain	India	₹ 1,151,000	$17,663
7	Kiran Kumar	India	₹ 932,000	$14,303
8	Sunny Vijaywari	India	₹ 713,000	$10,942

With the WPT India Main Event field set to comfortably beat last year's mark, we asked Mantri what the atmosphere at the tables is like 12 months on.

"I think last year there was a lot of excitement because it was the first one, and it was one of the biggest fields ever in a live tournament in India. The anticipation for this event is good and it's good to ahve WPT India back.

"I think we'll have a very good turnout; we'll beat last year's by 20% at least. I've spoken about it before, but with the way that poker is brewing in India, within three years we should have more than 2,000 players here in WPT India."

Tags: Vikash Mantri

11-17-2018 13:54 UTC+5:30

Big Double for Patni After House Over House

Will Shillibier

Level 3 : 100/200, 100 ante

A player in middle position opened and Kunal Patni called in the next position. The two blinds both called and the flop came . It checked to Patni who bet 800. He got two callers as the big blind folded.

The turn was the and the small blind opted to bet 1,100. The initial raiser called before Patni raised to 5,500. The small blind called and the other player folded.

The river was the . The small blind asked Patni how much he had behind and Patni moved his stack forward to show him. The small blind then bet 10,100. Patni thought before moving all in for 33,800 and the small blind quickly called.

Patni showed for a full house while his opponent meekly turned over for a smaller house.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kunal Patni	85,000 47,000	47,000

Tags: Kunal Patni

11-17-2018 10:27 UTC+5:30

Players Ready for WPT India Day 1b

Will Shillibier

It's going to be a busy day here aboard the Deltin Royale for Day 1b of the WPT India Main Event. After 270 entrants yesterday, two flights today look likely to break the mark of 527 players set last year. And potentially before the Day 1c flight gets underway later this evening.

Yesterday just 85 players got through, with NJ Naranjan bagging close to 300,000. Joining him in Day 2 is bracelet winner Aditya Sushant and Adda52 Team Pro Amit Jain.

The cards are in the air from midday on Day 1b, with plenty of new players expected - as well as those re-entering after busting Day 1a. Players are allowed one entry per flight if needed, so anyone busting from Day 1b will look to enter Day 1c which has 20-minute levels.

Here is the schedule for this year's Main Event:

Day	Date	Time	Levels
Day 1a	Friday, November 16	3:00 pm	13 x 40 min
Day 1b	Saturday, November 17	12:00 pm	13 x 40 min
Day 1c	Saturday, November 17	9:30 pm	13 x 20 min
Day 2	Sunday, November 18	2:00pm	Until final table
Final Table	Monday, November 19	2:00pm	Until winner

Here's the structure for all of the Day 1s:

Level	Small Blind	Big Blind	Ante
1	100	100	-
2	100	200	-
3	100	200	200
4	100	200	200
5	200	300	300
6	200	400	400
7	300	500	500
8	300	600	600
9	400	800	800
10	500	1000	1000
11	600	1200	1200
12	800	1600	1600
13	1000	2000	2000

Players start with 30,000 in chips. Late registration and re-entry (one entry per Day 1) is available until the start of Level 10 (~6:20pm on Day 1b and ~00:40 on Day 1c). Breaks are 10 minutes long.

Stay tuned to PokerNews.com for all the action from what promises to be an exciting tournament here in Goa, India.

Tags: Aditya Sushant Amit Jain NJ Naranjan