In exclusive conversation with PokerBaazi
October 2024 marked a historic milestone in Indian poker as PokerBaazi hosted its third edition of the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all Tournaments), drawing a massive 15,172 entries (10,506 unique) entries, battling for a share of a record-breaking ₹25 CR prize pool. The spotlight ultimately fell on Sanjay Chaudhary and Kabir Chhatwal, who faced off in a thrilling heads-up match

Early morning on October 15, after striking a heads-up deal that locked their payouts, the duo embarked on a thrilling heads-up battle. Sanjay, who plays as “Raskolnikov” on PokerBaazi, finished as the runner-up, securing ₹4.14 CR – the largest payout in Indian online poker history!

In an exclusive interview with PokerBaazi, Sanjay Chaudhary, a 35-year-old native of Mughalsarai (Chandauli), Uttar Pradesh, shared insights into his sensational performance. The former aeronautical engineer and IT professional who has been living in Bangalore for over a decade was initially hesitant to speak about his success, but as the conversation unfolded, he opened up about his remarkable journey. From the highs and lows of poker to this career-defining achievement!

Despite his massive success, he remains humble. He quickly points out that there are bigger names than him in the name. “Players like Santhosh Suvarna are doing exceptionally well on the international stage.”

“There will always be bigger tournaments and so bigger winners in the future,” he says, referring to the growing poker scene in India driven by “entrepreneurs like PokerBaazi founder Navkiran Singh, who are pushing the boundaries of the sport. I’m positive that PokerBaazi will grow an even bigger presence in India in coming days.”

Sanjay’s poker journey has been a rollercoaster, marked by resilience and dedication. His story highlights not only his rise as a player to watch but also mirrors the growing pool of poker talent in India.

On Delivering the Masterstroke in G.O.A.T 2024
October started on a rough note for Sanjay Chaudhary, with several early exits in tournaments. But his fortune took a dramatic turn on October 14 when he made a deep run in the G.O.A.T. Heading into the final day with a solid stack he pushed forward, making it to the heads-up against Kabir Chhatwal. Starting as the chip leader as the heads-up began, he nearly made it to the top, but was happy to walk away with a deal that locked the biggest prize in the tourney, a massive 4.14 CR.


Sanjay describes the feeling of finishing as the runner-up as absolutely “unreal,” admitting that it took time to fully grasp the achievement. “For a long time I felt dazed. I couldn’t believe I had finished runner-up, but it slowly sunk in as the day went by,” he said, reflecting on his performance.

The Unforgettable G.O.A.T. Run
Sanjay had fired four bullets on Day 1 of the G.O.A.T, and had come into Day 2 with an above-average stack of approximately 64 big blinds. “Initially I played very few hands, and everyone was playing tight, considering the prize at the top level.”

The final day i.e. Day 2 was a 9+ hour affair but Sanjay recounts it was relatively a smooth sail for him. He lost a few pots but remained comfortable in a range of 25 big blinds and more.

His goal was clear – not to play out-of-the-box but make it to the final table and he did it exceedingly well, starting out as the second chip lead on the final table!

He eliminated several tough opponents, including Akshay Kapoor, and the inaugural NPS India Main Event champion, Mohammad Azhar aka “Chandlerbing” along the way.

With a ₹5 CR uptop at stake, was the pressure building up for him?

“Not really. I was the second chip lead so I had room to maneuver. The eighth-place finisher, ‘toytoy’ was a tough opponent. I have played against him several times earlier,” he recalls, adding, “In any other tournament, Chandlerbing with 16-17 big blinds would have been very aggressive but since there was a huge prize on stake, they were playing very tight.”

The Heads-up Battle with Kabir Chhatwal
In the early hours on October 15, Sanjay Chaudhary and Kabir Chhatwal began their heads-up duel. Sanjay had the chip lead with 78.14 BBs to Chhatwal’s 33.81 BBs. At this point, both players struck a deal, locking their payouts.

Interestingly, with the deal in place, Sanjay went on a rampage, announcing one-hand all-ins numerous times.

Sanjay underlines he was playing “only for the money”, pointing out that most players do. “I was only playing for the money,” Sanjay admits. “I wasn’t chasing the title. Once the deal was made, I just wanted to finish.”

Although his aggressive moves made for an exciting finale, Chhatwal ultimately triumphed after catching a higher pair, and Chaudhary finished as the runner-up, earning ₹4.14 CR.

From Aeronautical Engineering to Poker
Sanjay’s poker journey began in 2013 after moving to Bangalore, following his aeronautical engineering degree from Babu Benarasidas College of Engineering, Lucknow. He initially played with friends before diving into the local poker scene. With poker clubs hosting live tournaments, he soon became a regular in the Bangalore circuit.

In 2015, he won two back-to-back live tournaments in the city. Sanjay who is a regular in the local circuit recalls – “I won two back-to-back live tournaments in Bangalore, at the THOS Weekender hosted by ‘The House of Spew’ at the Kings and Queens Card Room, which was a huge confidence booster.” He also attended poker events in Goa that year, sharpening his skills.

Over time, Sanjay has become more selective in the tournaments he entered. In 2024, just a few months before the G.O.A.T., Sanjay left his job with the intention to take a break – a decision that marked a turning point in his poker journey!

His poker username, “Raskolnikov,” is inspired by the main character from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, one of his favorite novels.

Bankroll Management is the Key
Having experienced both the highs and lows of poker, Sanjay is a firm advocate for responsible play. “Bankroll management is crucial,” he says. “Poker is not just about the game; it’s about managing the money. It took me 2-3 years to fully grasp the importance of it. You can win, but if you’re not managing your bankroll properly, the losses will hit harder.”

“I’ve had my share of losses, and those experiences have taught me to be cautious about promoting the game to others too hastily.”

Find a Mentor
A self-propelled player, Sanjay’s learning graph has been majorly influenced by his own research. But if he had to name a mentor, it would be Rohit Mishra.

“I have learnt a lot from him (Rohit). He has shared a lot of invaluable inputs, so in a way Rohit is my only mentor from the poker circuit.” Other poker acquaintances include Vinay B and Prassanna Jayappa.

For newcomers to poker, he has some key advice: “find a mentor and consider short-term coaching to quickly sharpen your skills,” he emphasizes. “This will improve your game a lot.”

Poker as a Life Lesson
According to Sanjay, Poker can take a toll on you. When new to the game, a player generally puts in12-14 hours. It’s a tiring game, and takes a lot from your real life. Striking a balance between the game hours and real life is a big challenge, and that comes with time.

Sanjay believes that poker mirrors life in many ways. “The more control you have over your bankroll, your tactics, and your gameplay, the better you will be at the game. The same principles apply to life. Discipline is the key.”

On a personal note, poker has taught him to value real-life relationships and strike a balance between the game and personal life. “Poker has made me more disciplined and has taught me that relationships are the most important thing.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
With the G.O.A.T. 2024 behind him, Sanjay is taking a short break before exploring new opportunities. He plans to travel to Nepal for a holiday and is considering setting up a business and making key investments. He also doesn’t rule out playing live international tournaments in the future.


“I’ll play, not very frequently, but yes, I’ll play.

Sanjay Chaudhary’s runner-up finish in the G.O.A.T. 2024 is a historic milestone in Indian poker and his own career. While he remains cautious about promoting the game upfront, his remarkable achievement has undoubtedly inspired many aspiring poker players in India!

We wish Sanjay continued success, both in poker and beyond, and look forward to seeing more players like him elevate the game to new heights.

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