Gutshot February 2022

Volume 3 | Issue 2 | Mumbai |

www.gutshotmagazine.com POKER

February 2022 | Pages 40

POKER PLAYERS TALK ABOUT SECONDARY PASSIONS

FINDING LOVE THROUGH THE MAGIC OF NUMBERS

PANKAJ KHANDELWAL IS GUTSHOT'S PLAYER OF THE MONTH

ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND POKER

ALL HAIL THE KING...

AMIT GEHANI TAKES HOME THE IOPC CROWN G UTS H OT

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS 06 07 08

Advisory Board Editors Note Bulletins

12

Gutshot Player of Month Jan 2022 Pankaj Khandelwal

14

Finding Your Way Back To Poker

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ALL HAIL THE KING...

Amit Gehani Takes Home the IOPC Crown

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Spreading Love Beyond The Virtual Felts

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All’s Fair In Love And Poker

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Catching Up With Your Second Love

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How Hockey Became India’s Second Love Cricketers And Their Second Love!

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Gutshot Team Gets Candid About Their Second Love

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Crossword For Poker Lovers

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Finding Love With The Magic Of Numbers

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CONTENTS

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32

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ADVISORY BOARD ADVISORY BOARD into a world-class publication with

journey to develop tation, we Ashappily Gutshot Magazine’s Editorial As aa part part ofofpresent our journey journey develop intoaaworld-class world-class publica our toto develop into publicat the highest highest reputation, we happily happily present Gutshot Magazine’s the reputation, we present Gutshot Magazine’s members. These thought leaders in their areas of expertise ADVISORY BOARD ARD

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eyes andGutshot ears to the Real Money Gaming industry. present Magazine’s Editorial Amin Rozani ght leaders inMD,their areas of expertise Spartan Group Amin Rozani cus of the magazine and will be our MD, Spartan Group Money Gaming industry.

AminRozani Rozani Amin MD,Spartan SpartanGroup Group MD,

RolandLanders Landers Roland CEO,All AllIndia IndiaGaming Gaming CEO, Federation(AIGF) (AIGF) Federation

Head of Production, Mind Sports League

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Professional Poker

KaranVig Vig Karan HeadofofProduction, Production Head MindSports SportsLeague League Mind

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ProfessionalRichard Richard Poker PlayerHaridasoham Haridasoham Responsible Gaming Poker expertand and Ambassador Pokerexpert

Roland Lan CEO, All Ind Federation

Poker expert and Karan Vig commentator Karan VigHead of Production, Head of Production, Mind Sports League

Roland Landers CEO, AllLanders India Gaming Roland CEO, All India(AIGF) Gaming Federation

Karan Vig Head of Production, ming Mind Sports League ) Muskan Sethi

CEO, All India Gaming Federation (AIGF)

Richard Haridasoham

Karan Vig

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Roland Landers

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EDITOR'S NOTE

www.gutshotmagazine.com

February 2022

Volume 3

Issue 2

RMG + LIFESTYLE

Editor’s Note Managing Editor Sameer Rattonsey

Editor-In-Chief Peter Abraham

Content

Manthra Koliyer Donna Amo Mrinal Gujare Amarylisa Gonsalves Akash Mishra

Graphic Designer Maheswar Gauda

Cover Image Mustafa Tin

Sales & Advertising

Raunaq Pinto (raunaq@thegutshot.com)

Marketing Head

Dwayne Fernandes (dwayne@gutshotmagazine.com)

Business Head

Ashvin Rao (ashvin@gutshotmagazine.com) Volume 3 I Issue 2 I FEBRUARY 2022

Printed and Published by: Peter Abraham for Gutshot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., S/6-8 Khira Industrial Estate, B.M.Bhargava Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai-400054 Gutshot Magazine is not responsible for the opinions or views expressed by individuals or writers that may be included in any part of Gutshot Magazine. The views expressed are for encourage - ment and entertainment purposes only.

By being an author on this site all writers transfers copyright ownership of the manuscript to Gutshot Magazine. for publication in print, on line and in downloadable form. Permission is also given to publish all subsequent electronic media, reprints, and any other subsidiary print rights worldwide of this article for Gutshot Magazine.

The author(s) will have the unrestricted right to reuse this material on condition that credits are included for prior publication in Gutshot Magazine, to include the issue and date of publication. Interviews are the personal opinions of the interviewee and are not necessarily the views of Gutshot Magazine or it’s Publishers Gutshot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. take no responsibility for any of their answers or comments.

All interviews are subject to editing spelling, grammar, and any content that is not useful may be disregarded when posted/published.

Gutshot Magazine reserves the right to change, update this disclaimer and policy at will without any notice.

"Pyaar zindagi hai... pyaar bandagi hai" So sings Asha Bhosle in the 1978 Amitabh Bachchan starrer Muqaddar ka Sikandar. "Love is life... love is unconditional adoration (to the point of slavery!)" is how it roughly translates. All well and good for the silver screen but real life usually lends a certain sense of pragmatism to love especially in the times we live in.

Technology has changed the way things work in a massive way and even love faces its own challenges in this day and age. But we all love a good love story and so rightly after Valentine's month, we focus on the second (and in some cases even third) love of people from the gaming industry. Whether its their passion for cards and chips, their side hobbies/hustles or even their significant others, we explore how first and second loves grow and thrive both on and off the felts.

This edition has Amit Gehani on the cover who has a beast of a run in last month's India Online Poker Championship. Shipping the IOPC Crown event is certainly one of Gehani's top achievements in his poker career. We have a chat with him about that ride and what's coming next for him in this sport he loves.

From taking a break from the game you love to how hockey became India's second love in favour despite the former being our national sport and sharing some of that love for those not as fortunate are some of the pieces you'll read about in this Love edition. We've even got the Gutshot team sharing what they love and enjoy pursuing away from their 9-to-5.

Till next time, stay safe and keep crushing!

PETER ABRAHAM Editor-In-Chief

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BULLETIN

BALLY’S TO REBRAND AS HORSESHOE

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his coming summer, the famous Las Vegas resort called Bally’s will undergo a complete rebranding. The new home for the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will be rebranded as the Horseshoe. Renovations for the new casino are currently underway and will comply with the traditional and sophisticated look of the Horseshoe brand.

STEVE AOKI IS WPT’S NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

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he World Poker Tour (WPT) signed famous DJ Steve Aoki as its brand ambassador.

This collaboration will help raise brand awareness for WPT. In a press release, Aoki said, “It’s such an honor to be joining the WPT family.

I have watched and admired the WPT for many years. To now be part of the WPT family feels so surreal and I am incredibly grateful.”

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT STRIKES DOWN LAW BANNING ONLINE GAMES

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he Karnataka High Court (HC) quashed a law that banned online games in the state. In its latest decision, the Karnataka HC struck down the amendments to the Karnataka Police Act,1963 which banned games like online poker and online rummy when played with stakes.

The order was given by the division bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Krishna S. Dixit.

According to the petitioners who challenged the amendments to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 banning online skill-based games was in violation of the fundamental rights of the business operators. The petitioners further added that the law to curb any harm caused has to be proportionate and a blanket ban could only be used as a last resort if no other options look viable to implement.

ZYNGA POKER LAUNCHES FIRST NEW GAME IN 14 YEARS

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opular poker mobile app, Zynga Poker recently added Short Deck Hold’em to its list. This is the app’s first new addition in 14 years and comes just in time for the company’s 15th anniversary celebration. Malhar Singh, Zynga Poker’s product manager, said, “Whether a seasoned pro or just starting out, players can easily jump in and enjoy Short Deck Hold’em. Since a shorter 36-card deck with only high-value cards is being dealt, it makes for an action-packed game for all players. It’s a unique version of Texas Hold’em, and we’re excited to bring this experience to our loyal community of poker enthusiasts in Zynga Poker.”

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BULLETIN

UAE ALLOWS GAMING AS WYNN INKS MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR DEAL

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he United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it would now permit ‘gaming’ and signed a multibillion dollar deal with Wynn Resorts to develop a casino resort. The development will take place on the man-made Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. This new property will also be Wynn Resorts’ first beach resort. The project is expected to be completed by 2026. Craig Billings, the newly appointed CEO of Wynn Resorts, said, “The region offers tremendous potential for the hospitality and tourism industry, and we are excited about the prospect of developing an integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah.”

ENTAIN TO INVEST $130M IN ‘METAVERSE’ RESEARCH

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ntain, an online gambling firm, announced plans to launch Ennovate, a global innovation hub to explore and research new technologies like the metaverse. According to the press release, the company will invest £100 million into this project. The first Ennovate hub is slated to be open in London. Sandeep Tiku, COO at Entain, commented, “Our goal is to bring the most exciting experiences in immersive sport, gaming, and interactive entertainment to life as the metaverse takes shape.”

RUMMYCIRCLE SIGNS HRITHIK ROSHAN AS BRAND AMBASSADOR

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ne of India’s top gaming companies, Games24x7 signed popular Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan as their brand ambassador for RummyCircle, an online gaming platform. The partnership will see Roshan in many of the brand’s multimedia campaigns that will air across digital and social media platforms and television. Bhavin Pandya, cofounder and CEO of Games24x7 said, “We are very excited to partner with Hrithik Roshan, one of India’s biggest stars. Hrithik has had a remarkable career which is the epitome of versatility as he makes the right moves at the right time. His dynamism, talent, and widespread appeal have made him stand out.

This resonates well with Games24x7 as we are constantly differentiating ourselves by providing awesome game playing experiences.”

TRITON POKER, SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES COMBINE

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riton Poker and PokerGO’s Super High Roller Series have partnered to host several high-stakes events in March 2022. This event will be presented under the Super High Roller Series Russia and is sponsored by Luxon Pay. The combined series will run from 1st to 15th March and will take place at the Casino Sochi in Russia. There are a total of 14 tournaments scheduled with the most anticipated one being the $250,000 Super High Roller Bowl Russia Main Event.

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P L AY E R O F T H E M O N T H

Gutshot Player of Month Jan 2022 - Pankaj Khandelwal

By Mrinal Gujare

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hen players grind on virtual felts, it’s not just about that one event.

Winning one or two events won’t make you a consistent player. Grinding religiously, stifling competition, finishing in the money (ITM) and shipping tournaments, all of these count.

MPL Poker, Khandelwal was the apt choice for this title.

This recreational poker player revealed that he came across MPL Poker and was really impressed by its tournament offerings which was one of the reasons that pushed him to register on MPL Poker.

Every month one player will get the honour of being the Gutshot Player of Month and for January 2022, it’s Pankaj Khandelwal. This player has consistently played across tournaments to have overall earnings worth `4,34,525 against a total buy-in of `48,192.

These figures tell us that Khandelwal got 9X return on investments; his ITM finishes stand at 59%. With strong figures supporting his performance on

We agree with Khandelwal on MPL Poker’s impressive product offering. This New Delhi resident also added that MPL Poker’s user interface is a feature he liked the most.

Wondering if you could be the next Gutshot Player of the Month? It’s quite possible you could be. Just like Khandelwal who has pulled up his socks and made quite the splash on MPL Poker, you could be the next one to grab headlines!

Khandelwal’s stats on MPL Poker tournaments - Jan 2022

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Total tournaments

Overall buy-in

(ITM) finishes

Total cashes

Biggest cash

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`48,192

59%

`4,34,525

`2,11,500

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24X7 Cash Action Thrilling Tournaments Guaranteed Fair Play

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This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive.Please play responsibly and at your own risk. T&C Apply.

POKER

Finding Your Way Back To Poker

By Donna Amo

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emember the first time you fell in love with poker? The rush of excitement that you felt when learning a new game? For many poker players, the game has managed to capture their attention and helped them discover a new interest. But sometimes, even the most dedicated poker player can start losing interest in the game.

Maybe you suddenly lack the motivation to play, don’t find the game fun anymore, or even struggle to put in the hours like you previously did. If you think that playing poker is something that you don’t find enjoyable, you may be suffering from a case of poker burnout or have started to fall out of love with the game. Sometimes, the want or greed only to earn money from the game can also contribute to this. However, there are certain things that you can do to fall in love with poker again.

1. Take some downtime

Poker may be your passion but that doesn’t mean you constantly keep playing without a break. Poker grind schedules can be intense, as the game requires you to put in hours of play especially if you are a professional player.

Therefore, it becomes important to manage your stress levels like any other profession. A great way of doing this is by taking some time off.

2. Learn a new poker variant

Variety is the spice of life, or so the saying goes. If you feel like you are losing steam in the poker department, why don’t you try to shake things up by learning a new poker variant that you haven’t tried before? Sure, Texas Hold’em is easy to learn but maybe your mind just needs a good challenge to help stay motivated.

Suggestions:

• • •

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Skipping a few games Catch up on your sleep Focusing on other interests

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Suggestions: • • • • •

Razz Badugi HORSE 7-Card Stud 2-7 Triple Draw

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3. Read a poker book

A poker book in this case is not necessarily a strategy book but more easy reads like a poker fiction or even an autobiography of a famous poker pro. This can help take your mind off the mechanics of the game and introduce you to a different side of poker.

5. Watch a poker movie

Watching a movie in general, is a great stress buster. The next time you find yourself in a rut and don’t feel like playing the game, you can turn to the plethora of poker-related movies available. From classics to more recent ones, pick any.

Suggestions:

Suggestions: • • •

• • • •

A Poker Story by Greg Winick Gamble of Love by Shuklaji Pulling The Trigger by Eli Elezra

Rounders The Card Counter Molly’s Game Mississippi Grind

4. Discover new hobbies

If you are going to take a break from poker, discovering new hobbies is also a good way to allow your mind to focus on something else.

There are many hobbies that players can pick up like the suggestions we’ve listed below.

Even when you get back in the game, you can continue to pursue these hobbies as a creative outlet.

Suggestions: • • • •

Photography Blogging Podcasts Learning a new language

There can be a variety of reasons why you may have fallen out of love with poker but that doesn’t mean anything bad. Maybe you only liked poker for a short period of time, and that’s fine. These methods are only a few suggestions to help you get started on that journey to rediscover your love for poker.

However, it is ultimately you who gets to decide what works.

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COVER STORY

ALL HAIL THE KING...

Amit Gehani Takes Home the IOPC Crown

By Dwayne Fernandes

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ndia Online Poker Championship (IOPC). The name itself is appealing.

Let’s talk about the latest edition of this prestigious online poker event that took place in Jan-Feb 2022 where 100+ tournaments were played and `35+ Crore in cash prizes were given away on Spartan Poker. While there were several side event winners, only one person emerged as champion at the end of the series and that man is Amit Gehani!

For the uninitiated, winning an IOPC tournament is not an easy task. And winning the IOPC Main Event is an even tougher accomplishment!

Gehani playing as ‘Kavipri’ on Spartan beat a gargantuan field of 3,938 entries on the night of 6th Feb 2022 to become only the twelfth winner of the IOPC Main Event since the inception of the online poker series many years ago.

Before we go ahead, let me tell you that Gehani is not an amateur who luck boxed 16

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his way to the title because he’s won the big trophies before, also beating (heads-up deal) Arsh Grover to win the IOPC Legends tournament in July 2021 for a massive prize of `30 Lakh. And here with his most recent Main Event victory a couple of weeks ago, he banked a career best prize of `56.88 Lakh!

And in case you’re thinking that was it, you’re wrong because the 41-year-old also chopped IOPC High Roller with Sahil Chutani for `21.13 Lakh a few nights before his Main Event victory; his 19 cashes saw him bagging `82+ Lakh winnings in the series! And he managed this while only being a part-time poker player, with his day job as a banker taking up most of his time. Commendable, isn’t it?!

You seem to have a habit of winning the biggest tournaments…

For me, playing poker is still only a hobby. Yes, you can say that when the tournament is big enough, my excitement to get to the FT is more

COVER STORY

and that zeal to reach the end helps me get to the winning spot as well. Poker is all about playing the right hands at the right time and about reading your opponents too.

What happened after the feeling of being an IOPC Main Event winner sunk in?

Winning the Crown wasn’t a thought till I reached the fourth position. My aim was to reach the final table and I had achieved what I wanted. However, I then saw two players moving out on big bluffs, gifting me some good stacks. Still, I was fourth among the last four players. And then it was more like if I’ve made to this level, I’d definitely try hard for the title. God and luck supported me, I played some decent hands and improved my game. When we were down to heads-up, I decided to go for the title and wasn’t at all in a mood to make a deal. I had understood the game of my opponent and just needed one good hand to blow him off.

And after the final hand was over, I was literally in tears. I had made it to the CROWN! Your opinion on Spartan Poker and its offerings?

I love their high-value tournaments and series like India Online Poker Championship (IOPC), Final Table Series (FTS), and others. Their dedicated customer support and relationship

Rapid Fire With

Amit Gehani FAVOURITE INDIAN POKER PLAYER Abhishek Goindi FAVOURITE OVERSEAS POKER PLAYER Daniel Negreanu WORD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A PERSON Optimistic, Loving ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE IOPC Itsmygame FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION Goa IF OFFERED 5CR TO NOT PLAY POKER AGAIN, WOULD YOU ACCEPT? Why don’t you offer it and check?

managers getting queries resolved as soon as possible is also commendable. And the overall look and feel of the app is great. I’ve played on other poker apps as well, but nothing is near Spartan. Hats off!

We’re sure you bought yourself some nice gifts after this big win...

I’ve planned a Europe trip soon with my family.

Also, I’m looking to buy a new high-end laptop especially for poker.

If you were to change one thing about poker in India, what would that be?

Quite a few things actually. Poker in India is still treated as gambling even though it’s fully a mind and skill game like chess. Live poker is only available in Goa. Poker coaching is limited as well. Would have loved if live poker was introduced and legalised in all states too.

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Spreading Love Beyond The Virtual Felts

By Amarylisa Gonsalves hat is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘love’? A spouse, a soulmate, or family? Sure, they do define love for some of us, but is love limited to just them? Well, it doesn’t always have to be!

Caring for someone you don’t even know personally can also be an act of love. And our very own poker brands have been illustrating this over the years by spreading love beyond the virtual felts. You wonder how? By caring for the community, they sustain in and perform little acts of kindness out of the love for the society.

Let’s have a look at how poker brands have been doing this.

MukkaMaar - Spartan Poker Spartan Poker’s association with MukkaMaar foundation goes a long way. The NGO focuses on teaching selfdefense and the overall development of girls. Spartan Poker till date hosts a special MukkaMaar tournament with a guarantee of `8 Lakh every Saturday at 8 PM. The rake generated from this tournament is donated to the NGO founded by the social activist, dancer and actress Ishita Sharma.

COVID-19 Relief - PokerBaazi When the country faced strict lockdowns, the daily wage workers were the ones most affected by it. Baazi Games, considering their plight, joined hands with Delhi Youth Welfare Association and ensured everyone got their daily meals and essential supplies. Around `10.27 Lakh was raised by the brand for this cause.

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Friendicoes - PokerBaazi Under the initiative of #FeltsForStrays, Baazi Games collaborated with Friendicoes, one of the oldest animal shelters in Delhi, to cater to stray dogs during the pandemic. The campaign successfully donated over `10 Lakh and fed over 600 stray dogs daily on the streets of New Delhi.

Hemkunt Foundation and ACT Grants - Adda52 Adda52 joined hands with Hemkunt Foundation, which provides humanitarian aid to marginalised citizens, and ACT Grants, which provides oxygen supply, medical workforce, and hospital beds across the country. Through this association, the online poker brand donated the tournament revenue generated during a specific duration and added an amount equivalent of that revenue for this cause.

Play For A Cause - PokerStars PokerStars India hosted the ‘Play For A Cause’ tournament series in October 2020, which took place over seven days and supported seven non-profit organizations namely Goonj, Seva Kitchen, Bridge of Sports, Manjhi Development Foundation, Pad Squad, Involve Education and United Way of Chennai. The funds raised through this initiative were donated for meals for hospital patients and relatives, sanitary pads for underprivileged women, athletics programs for underprivileged communities, and others.

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All’s Fair In Love And Poker

By Donna Amo

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ife can become a little more interesting when you are married to a poker player. From dealing with their love for the game to keeping up with their intense grind schedule, being a wife or a husband to a dedicated player must have its ups and downs. To find out how their partner’s love for poker shapes their relationship, we spoke to the wives of some well-known poker players.

‘consulting’ work was actually poker. It took me some time to come to terms with it,” says Mrs. Doddapaneni.

She further adds, “Eventually I began to understand how the game was played, and I personally believe that one should do what they love. So, he had my full support from there on.”

But no relationship is perfect, and there were times when things did get challenging for the two. “Timings are a major challenge.

I work Monday-Friday during the day while his work starts late in the evening or at night. He grinds without fail on Sundays.

Due to this, we have less free time together.

But, we do make sure that we spend time together on Saturdays and if possible, on Monday evenings,” says Snehitha.

Sriharsha Doddapaneni Snehitha Doddapaneni Married to one of India’s most recognisable poker players, Snehitha and Sriharsha Doddapaneni have been together for six years and met via a matrimony website.

Currently working as a Senior Marketing Manager at Games24x7, Snehitha is not completely new to the gaming industry.

Despite this, she still had some reservations about the game.

“I didn’t know about it for the first 1 - 1.5 months. At that time, he had a day job, and he was playing poker part-time. Initially, he told me that he did some consulting work, however, I later found out that this 20

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While poker has caused some storms in the relationship, Snehitha admits that poker has also helped her learn something more.

“What I have learned from him as a poker player is the ability to take risks. Most of us are afraid of taking risks and staying within our comfort zone. However, we don’t realise that not taking any risk is the biggest risk of all,” she adds.

When listing the positive impact of poker, Snehitha says, “The ability to keep emotions aside and to be logical and analytical Harsha always jokes about poker being his first wife. So, I always have to compete with poker for his attention.

There were times when he played poker even during our vacation!

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when making any decision in life is crucial.

The second would be the ability to value time over money.”

The Doddapaneni couple are just like any other and prefer chilling at home and watching movies. Despite the game being a big part of their lives, the two have managed to find the perfect balance between love, life, and poker.

I really don’t see the problem in loving poker. I understand where that love comes from and even I have that love in me. In our case, it’s a win-win situation.

But while their union was an arranged marriage, it turned out to be perfect for the two as she always had an interest in the game. “I was always curious about poker but never knew how to play it. When I found out Anant played it, he immediately became my coach, and also the happiest man alive,” Ruchika explains.

Given that both were in love with the game, we asked Purohit if there were some ground rules about poker in the relationship.

“There is a rule we keep, and it is about studying and bankroll management.

There are times when I want to play the bigger tournaments but he’s yet to say yes.

Instead, we have set a limit for me, which I think is fine as of now. However, I do want to learn more about cash games, given my current lifestyle,” she admits candidly.

Anant Purohit Ruchika Purohit When it comes to dealing with husband Anant Purohit’s love for poker, Ruchika Purohit approaches it differently. Over the six years that she’s been married to the poker veteran, the missus has not only picked up the game but is a recreational poker player herself! Between spending quality time with their baby boy and her job in marketing and customer support, she also makes time for her newfound love for poker.

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The mother of one also adds trust, understanding, and willingness to learn the game as one of the best ways to support a poker player as a partner in life. “Poker players need to be honest about their love for the game before entering any relationship. Give time to each other to understand, adjust and trust your man and his process,” she advises.

The Jaipur born has a lot of other interests like music, numerology, astrology, and now poker. But it turns out that one of the possible ways to deal with your husband’s love for poker is to become a poker player yourself!

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This game involves an element of financial riskGand may UTSH O T be Faddictive.

EBRUARY 2022 Please play responsibly and at your own risk. T&C apply

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Catching Up With Your Second Love

By Manthra Koliyer

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t is Valentine’s month and as much as we celebrate conventional love stories, isn’t 2022 about new things, new beginnings?! We looked for answers within our poker community and found heart-warming stories of poker players striving to make time for all things they love. We got in touch with players who grind for long hours and are also actively pursuing their second passion.

For the love of theatre - Amit Kaushik Sometimes, even your Instagram bio tells the world a lot about you. In the case of Amit Kaushik, he has listed several of his passions on his Instagram bio, which led us to quiz him about his second love—acting.

This online reg adds that there is a deep connection between poker and theatre. He added, “Acting is about playing a part, you aren’t yourself. You are in a different mindset.

Learning this art gives one patience, discipline, and control over one’s emotions immensely; it really helps in the poker grind and mindset preparations. Right now, I’m playing poker professionally but I am very passionate about theatre. I love this art and maybe it will be my next venture after poker.”

For the love of makeup - Simran Malhotra Beauty and a whole lot of poker brains!

Gone are the days when women had no place in the male-dominated poker table.

Today, some of India’s most consistent and

Talking about how he got into theatre, Kaushik adds, “I was very fascinated by cinema and acting for a very long time. So, as I got out of college, I joined theatre.

After learning this art for the last two years, I’ve realised how much I love it and how long a process it is. I believe life is the real teacher when it comes to characters and emotions.”

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well-performing poker players are ladies, and rightly so!

“Why should boys have all the fun!?” laughs Simran Malhotra, a poker player from Mumbai.

Make-up artist turned poker pro, Malhotra is a relatively new name but has been gaining solid ground. Her performances in the recent Poker Sports League (PSL) caught everyone’s attention.

“My second love has to be my passion for makeup! It’s true that looking great makes you feel greater and I am in love with the idea of helping other women out there feel more confident and beautiful about themselves. A lot of people come with preconceived notions about poker.

Similarly it is also widely believed that you don’t need specific skills to become a make-up artist.

I have spent years studying and practicing the science behind each application and choice of shades and tones. Another thing common between what I love about poker and about make-up is that you never know enough! There’s always room for learning and improvement.”

be on the mind of poker players but everyone.

His Instagram posts show how this player spends hours daily sweating it out in the gym. “I cannot imagine myself sitting at home and chilling when I could just hit the gym or play a sport. It is very difficult for me to sit at home when I’m injured.”

Rohilla adds.

This nutritionist cum YouTube streamer has taken to vlogging about his transformation journey.

While he started his fitness journey in 2015, he also encouraged everyone to take that path. Rohilla also said that working out helps build focus, boost confidence, keeps you motivated, and even helps you fight issues like depression and anxiety.

Are you still not convinced to take the road to fitness?

For the love of bikes - Kripansh Khosla Imagine sitting on the foothills of Manali, Himachal Pradesh, and grinding away on a chilly night. This is probably how Kripansh Khosla’s routine looks like. Khosla’s obsession with bikes started when the Bollywood film ‘Dhoom’ was

For the love of fitness - Gautam Rohilla Fitness is a state of mind—a motto Gautam Rohilla stands by. He calls the gym his second home and believes that fitness should not only

released. After working hard for days and months, this poker player finally got his first superbike in 2018.

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all the bad beats and daily chores. This player who is also a fitness enthusiast said, “Road trips are liberating and help me mentally when I am going through a downswing. It makes me push harder even more. So, getting away from the felts and hitting the road helps me take my mind off the bad beats. It feels like I hit a refresh button in my head and I got back with a better mindset.

Poker has given me the freedom to be my own boss, and there’s room for me to improve every day.” Khosla describes himself as relentless and we agree.

For the love of music - Karan Vig Karan Vig’s passion for music and technology led to him becoming a disc jockey (DJ). Talking about his love for music, Vig added, “Music is known for healing, bringing people closer, spreading joy and happiness. I come from a musical family; my mother and sister are singers.

I started playing drums when I was four years old. So, I have been surrounded by music since childhood.”

“Earlier, I used to visit Goa for shoots, now I hop between a tournament and DJing. The latter gives me a different kind of adrenaline rush. I get to take away all the stress and worries from people’s mundane lives and spread joy.”

In the Sunburn 2021 festival, Vig was the only DJ who played on different stages. Signing off with a thankful heart, Vig believes that one should not limit themselves by setting a goal. Go with the flow and write history!

For the love of pool – Nikita Luther Nikita Luther rules hearts and poker felts alike.

And while at it she also plays pool. Luther has been playing pool since the 10th grade.

This poker pro confessed that she plays on a decent level, and sure puts up a tough fight to several pool enthusiasts. Luther recalls playing a lot with her friend Aman Dhamija and has a friend circle that equally enjoys playing pool.

Vig has been living his best life, shooting poker tournaments/streams and playing his best tracks in the sunshine state of India.

Photo Credit: Ashish Shah for Vogue India

Talking about some of her #poolgoals, Luther said, “I hope to enroll in a tournament and try it out competitively. I think that could be a fun experience.”

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For the love of poker – Parth Jain Parth Jain is a man of multiple talents, and poker is what he calls his second love. Jain said, “Poker makes me neutral to variance in life and in my startup too. A business has massive ups and downs, but being a poker player, I can now take it in a better way and I know that a win will be around the corner even after a loss. Jain is all praises for poker and so are we. This multifaceted persona also made a crucial point on how

love for the beaches and all things blue, Goindi says, “I was always a water baby. I loved the energy of nature, especially the one that comes from the ocean.”

He adds that travelling was something he enjoyed since he was 15-16 years old. After exploring parts of India, he decided to fly overseas. This certified diver says that poker was the way in which he made money to travel. It now comes to a point that he chooses destinations based on several factors such as poker, beaches around, and more. After travelling to more than 27 countries, his hunger to explore more and embrace more cultures still remains. So, wherever you see the sun, sand, and sea, you might just spot Goindi chilling.

So what if it’s the second love, it is still love that keeps you going, and keeps the fire within you alive. We hope the revelations made by our interviewees have led to some conclusions for you, and those still figuring out their second love, we’d just say think deeper!

poker boosted his confidence. Jain said, “Building a poker community, generating revenue from it which is more than what most people draw as salaries has given me the confidence to pursue my business in a much more fearless manner.”

For the love of travel - Abhishek Goindi A thalassophile by heart, poker coach Abhishek Goindi is the perfect example of a ‘beach bum.’ While the world knows him as a crusher, he gains the energy to grind for long hours through various means. A basketball player at heart, connected to nature by the ocean and a strong desire to dive. Talking about his 28

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How Hockey Became India’s Second Love

By Akash Mishra

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re you sure that cricket overtook hockey after the historical world cup victory in 1983? No, it was in 1952, when the roots of hockey started losing their grip in India! 1952 is a historical year for Indian cricket as the team won its first test match against England in Chennai by eight runs.

Being a die-hard cricket enthusiast, I can only imagine the celebration and importance of that victory. India waited for 20 long years to tame England on our home soil. The triumph was extraordinary. Team India defeating England was indeed a dream come true.

The year 1952 is essential in Indian cricket, as later in the same year, we defeated Pakistan and won our first test series against them. After thrashing England and Pakistan, it is evident that a new revolution was beginning.

Did you know?

Cricket was originally a part of the 1896 Olympics but never happened due to a lack of participants.

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Cricket overtook hockey in India.

According to reports, it is evident that cricket was to be played at the 1904 Olympics, but the sport was never played due to a lack of facilities.

It was all because of lack of facilities and several other reasons the country witnessed the downfall of hockey in India. The sport began well in the 1980s but started to drop in the 1982 Asian games when the women’s Indian hockey team won a historic gold at home while the men’s team won silver.

India winning the world cup in 1983 was the final nail to the coffin. The 1983 World Cup, followed by the 1985 World Championship, led to a massive transformation of the game in India. Not only this, but in the earlier 90s, cricket witnessed natural growth and popularity in India due to liberalization.

The liberalization in India opened up the economy, and cricket benefitted the most. In addition, ODI cricket got big, and Sachin Tendulkar became the demigod of cricket in India. The rising population only helped cricket become more popular.

Why did the focus shift from hockey to cricket?

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Compared to cricket, field hockey is quite a challenging game.

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Field hockey demands a lot of stamina as well as energy.

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Like cricket, hockey cannot be played in a limited area. The sport requires an entire ground to play.

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With the introduction of IPL and several minor cricketing leagues in India, one cannot avoid the fact that cricket in India is an incredibly lucrative business.

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Cricket enjoys massive media coverage in India, where all the cricketing leagues or tournaments are highly covered in digital, televised, and print media.

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Playing cricket is preferable as the sport is easy to play. The sport can be played with one friend as well.

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Cricket is an international game, whereas hockey is a game of a few commonwealth nations.

The fact is that India still owns most medals, including golds in field hockey. Cricket takes the lead in terms of popularity, but hockey will undoubtedly regain the respect it once had.

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Cricketers And Their Second Love!

By Akash Mishra

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re you slightly confused with the title? Did you know several cricketers across the globe have showcased their talent in another sport too. No matter how well-known you are, your interest may not be restricted to just cricket. There is no doubt in stating that cricket is their first love, but have you wondered what keeps these cricketers engaged when they are not playing the gentleman’s game?

1 2 3 4

Andrew Flintoff (Professional boxing) Andrew Flintoff surprised everyone when he decided to enter the world of boxing as a

heavyweight contender. In 2012, this Englishman faced American boxer Dawson in Manchester, where the former cricketing legend emerged victorious in his boxing debut.

Brett Lee (Band)

Brett Lee was a rockstar on the field, but did you know Lee was a real-life rock star too? Lee plays

piano and the harmonica, a pro at acoustic and

bass guitars. Lee is also a part of ‘Six and Out,’ one of the most renowned music bands. Lee was the

only Australian musician who featured alongside

Asha Bhosle in a duet titled ‘You’re the one for me.’

Yuzvendra Chahal (Chess)

The world-class spinner is also a former chess player representing India at junior level.

In 2002, Yuzvendra Chahal won the National Under-12 Championship in Kolkata. He also

represented India in the Asian and World Under-12 Youth Championships.

Brendon McCullum (Rugby)

One of the most aggressive batters in the world, Baz McCullum was more interested in rugby at a higher level for his school before choosing

cricket. He once famously kept out future All Blacks star Dan Carter from a South Island secondary school rugby team.

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Dwayne Bravo (Music)

Being one of the best all-rounders globally,

Dwayne Bravo is an excellent singer. Bravo has

sung several songs. His first song—‘Champion’ was released in 2016, followed by ‘We Are The Kings’

(2018), ‘Asia’ (2019), ‘Run in The World’ (2019) and many more.

MS Dhoni (Bikes)

MS Dhoni wanted to become a football player, but destiny had other plans. The former Indian captain was selected to play football for the Jharkhand

district. Dhoni is also a die-hard fan of fancy bikes.

The ace cricketer has more than 100 bikes in his garage museum.

Virat Kohli (Fitness)

Virat Kohli has contributed a lot to the fitness

revolution of team India. Kohli is a fitness freak and never shied away from intense battles on and off

the pitch, especially in the gym. Kohli enjoys lifting

weights and is obsessed with cardio, deadlifts, and high-intensity interval training workouts.

Ian Botham (Football)

The right-handed cricketing legend was the quickest to make 1,000 runs and pick 100 wickets. But, did

you know Ian Botham was exceptionally talented in football too? Botham was the center-half for Yeovil Town center-half Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United from 1978 to 1985.

Ellyse Perry (Football)

Ellyse Perry is an sportswoman who represented Australia in cricket and also played association

football. Perry represented Australia in the Asian Cup as a defender. She played for the Central

Coast Mariners in the Australian National Soccer League in 2008 - 2009.

Suzie Bates (Basketball)

Suzie Bates juggled cricket and basketball and

represented New Zealand in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

However, she decided to give up basketball shortly to focus on her cricket career.

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Gutshot Team Gets Candid About Their Second Love

By Amarylisa Gonsalves

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hile we are talking about love and second love, we thought why not give you a sneak peek into your beloved Gutshot Magazine team members’ lives and talk about their second love. As a team that works relentlessly to bring you the best of real money gaming (RMG), let’s see what they do in their down time and what brings them joy.

Dwayne Fernandes, Head - Marketing and Business Operations Second Love: Cricket Fernandes played cricket at the state level and even toured Sri Lanka with an U-17 team during his junior days. When things didn’t turn out as planned, his love for the game made sure he never drifted away. If not playing, he started writing about cricket early in his career and has interviewed over 30 international cricketers so far. This Virat Kohli fan is always on the look to steal time to play his favourite sport.

Raunaq Pinto, Sr. Client Account Manager Second love: Cars Pinto discovered his love for cars at a very young age. His fascination for all types of cars goes beyond just admiring them and looking under the hood. Owner of a motorbike and a car, Pinto actually worked at an automobile garage to learn more about cars and how these machines run. “Oh boy, I just loved to get my hands greasy,” he says.

Mrinal Gujare, Editor Second Love: Dowsing Our editor has a really interesting and unique second love for dowsing! For those wondering what that means, it is the art of getting answers through a medium. This journalism graduate says, “I practice dowsing as my second love. It’s amazing and I do take consultations for my friends and family. Overall it’s a surreal experience when you get to help someone.”

Amarylisa Gonsalves, Content Writer Second love: Poetry Gonsalves holds a love for poetry and occasionally indulges in writing some pieces secretly. She admires how poetry beautifully weaves words while adding emotions to them. This aesthete, who had one of her poems published in a community journal, finds writing poetry therapeutic. “I aspire to write better poetry and make my own way through life by rhyming words,” she says.

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Akash Mishra, Content Writer Second Love: Cricket Mishra’s love for cricket seeded in his early school days and has never come to a halt since then. He plays turf leagues and flaunts his rare ‘right arm chinaman’ bowling style. With a shelf full of trophies to his credit, this cricket aficionado is always up for a cricket-related conversation and has some really interesting facts to share about the game.

Manthra Koliyer, Content Writer Second love: Blogging Koliyer’s love for writing and blogging started early during her school days. A BBC student exchange program and her father’s journaling habit fueled the desire of exploring genres of writing in Koliyer. She pens down every emotion she feels, from anger to joy and sadness to excitement, Koliyer believes there’s no better way she can express herself than writing.

Maheshwar Gauda, Graphic Designer Second Love: Photography Gauda loves to capture pictures apart from beautifying them.

This Odisha-native takes pleasure in capturing nature and its wonders in his lens and saving it for the rest of his life. He grabs his mobile phone and never misses clicking pictures of things that he finds fascinating.

Donna Amo, Content Writer Second Love: Jewellery Making This Mizoram girl makes adorable jewelry. Online videos and praise from loved one’s fascinated this young girl and a random box of beads she found in her backyard proved to be the sign she was looking for. Soon she was at work, trying different patterns and enjoying it. She wishes to start a small business and sell rings, bracelets, necklaces, and mask chains.

Vanessa George, Client Account Manager Second Love: Origami and Craft This economics graduate discovered her love for craft and origami when stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdown. She carves beautiful greeting cards, invitations, flowers, decorative items, gift hampers, and much more out of just mere pieces of paper. She even sells her creative products via her Instagram page and some local cake shops.

Second Love: Football Two of our members share a common second love for football. Fernandes’ obsession for football started early in school and hasn’t dwindled yet. D’costa, who played cricket in school, discovered his love for football when

Jared D’Costa, Client Account Manager

he scored the winning goal during his first year in college.

Both were a part of their respective college football teams and participated in inter-collegiate tournaments.

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Crossword For Poker Lovers

By Donna Amo

1

2 3 6

5 9

4

8

7

10

11 12 Across

Down

A king, queen, or jack (4,4) Players can throw their folded hands in that pile 9. The first card revealed by the dealer when they fan out the flop (6,4) 10. A flop that contains three different suits 11. French poker player and former esports player 12. Three of a kind 1.

6.

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2. Starting hand name for Pocket Kings (5,7) 3. Another name for Queen of Spades (5,4) 4. Used with reference to having or completing an inside straight draw 5. Highest unpaired side card in a player’s hand 7. Hold’em variation involving three hole cards and discarding one 8. To bet before looking at one’s hand (5,3)

Finding Love With The Magic Of Numbers

L I F EPSOTKYEL R E

By Mrinal Gujare

E

ver felt a connection with someone you’ve just met?

I’m sure you have. It’s not entirely random when you hear things like ‘love at first sight’ or ‘don’t know why but it feels magical.’ There’s a solid reason that the ‘connection’ lies within the numbers. And what better time to talk about love matches than the Valentine’s season.

If you haven’t found your perfect match yet, then read on to find out which number could be your best love match.

The numbers 1 2 4 and 7 belong to a cheerful family of numbers. 1 is independent, creative and a leader; 2 is emotional and a social butterfly; 4 is eccentric, unconventional thinker and rebellious; 7 is intuitive, a forward thinker and mysterious. These numbers survive harmoniously together whilst supporting each other’s social and professional endeavours. 1 is known as the interchangeable number of 4, and written as 1 - 4. Similarly, 2 - 7 are interchangeable numbers which make for a bewitching blend.

We have an interesting family of numbers here. 3 - materialistic, a good accountant, builder of solid foundations; 6 - lover of luxury, entertainment and all things gorgeous; 9 - energetic, spiritual and lover of adventure. If you belong to this family of numbers make sure you find a match in 3 6 or 9 so that life feels like a perfectly synchronized melody.

Looking for 5 and 8 are we? These two numbers do not belong to any family and are free numbers that get along well. Romantically? Yes. 5 gets along with most numbers except 9.

1= 1, 10, 19, 28 of any month.

2= 2, 11, 20, 29 of any month.

3= 3, 12, 21, 30 of any month.

4= 4, 13, 22, 31 of any month.

5= 5, 14, 23 of any month.

6= 6, 15, 24 of any month.

7= 7, 16, 25 of any month.

8=8, 17, 26 of any month.

9=9, 18, 27 of any month.

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