The Global Poker Index (GPI) uses a formula to rank poker players who compete in live poker tournaments held throughout the world. The rankings are updated weekly and are based on player performances in MTTs over the last 36 months.
The 2018 World Series of Poker is nearing its conclusion and the results from the 49th annual poker festival thus far have created some shifting among the ranks of poker’s top Indian players. We compiled the updated rankings of India’s top 10 tournament poker players and analyzed how their respective positions were achieved.
GPI Ranking of Top Indian Poker Players
1 Nipun Java 1,890.01
2 Raghav Bansal 1,534.88
3 Kunal Patni 1,446.64
4 Aditya Agarwal 1,397.50
5 Sumit Sapra 1,316.28
6 Paawan Bansal 1,260.72
7 Aditya Sushant 1,235.05
8 Kalyan Chakravarthy Cheekuri 1,055.90
9 Ankit Ahuja 996.61
10 Tarun Ravi 924.14
Nipun Java continues to sit atop the rankings list and shows no signs of relinquishing his status anytime soon. He min-cashed in eight events at this year’s WSOP, following last year’s fabulous showing in winning two gold bracelets. Reaching final tables at the Aussie Millions and the LA Poker Classic earlier this year fortified his lead.
Trailing Java is Raghav Bansal, who scored a $40,898 payday for 21st place in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker among his four WSOP cashes this year. Back in February, Bansal picked up quite a few GPI points when he finished 4th in a High Roller at the APPT Macau Poker Cup, adding $108,124 to his bankroll.
Only one time in the money at the 2018 WSOP does not tell the whole story of Kunal Patni’s tournament success. He’s been a prolific casher at other Las Vegas casinos like the Wynn, Aria and Venetian this summer. Patni’s runner-up finish at the WPT European Championship in Berlin in January boosted his earnings by $115,819.
Team PokerStars Pro Aditya Agarwal slipped down to 4th place from a year ago despite landing in the money in this year’s WSOP Main Event, finishing 717th for $19,900. It was Aditya’s seventh WSOP payday in 2018 and followed placing 2nd in the APPT Main Event in Macau for $242,211 four months ago.
Sumit Sapra jumped five places on the India GPI rankings since last year. The well-traveled poker pro has cashed in Vietnam, England, Macau, the Czech Republic, and his home country over the past 12 months.
Newcomers among the top 10 include Paawan Bansal (6th) and Kalyan Chakravarthy Cheekuri (8th). Bansal’s six cashes at the 2018 WSOP included 13th place in the $565 Colossus for $35,087. Kalyan made the leaderboard on the strength of winning the $600 Monster Stack at the Venetian at the end of June for a hefty score of $147,233.
Aditya Sushant (7th), Ankit Ahuja (9th) and Tarun Ravi (10th) round out the top 10. Sushant made the final table of the WSOP Online Championship for $20,969 and just missed doing the same in the Little One For One Drop.
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