The legendary Doyle Brunson, a ten-time WSOP bracelet champion had famously said: “Those chips are your weapons, your arsenal. If you’re afraid to use them, don’t play.”

For Yash Jaiswal, the Poker chips are indeed powerful weapons, just like his sharp instinct for both Mathematics and Poker. The 30-year-old player’s consistency, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence is making him stand out.

Among his many accolades, Jaiswal is a former 1000X Series champion and a two-time National Poker Series (NPS) medallist, with a Bronze in 2022 and Gold in 2024.

2024 also saw him top the Indian Poker Masters – Selection Leaderboard, and participate in Poker MasterClass, a unique 5-day reality series shot in game show format in Goa, and aired on JioCinema in partnership with PokerBaazi.

He has made a solid start to his tournament innings in 2025, accruing over 18 LAC in cashes yet in 2025.

His top 3 performances include:

  • Third in BSS SuperStack for 3.99 LAC on Jan 12
  • Third in BSS SuperStack for 3.90 LAC on Jan 19
  • Second in WTF for 2 LAC on Jan 29

Originally from Lucknow, Jaiswal lives in Gurugram and is working as an Engineering Lead at Birdeye. A Sports enthusiast at heart, he was deeply involved in football from a young age. His early passion for Sports was matched by his academic focus, eventually leading him to crack IIT Delhi. However, he opted for NSIT to pursue Computer Science.

Though he began playing Poker in 2014, it wasn’t until 2020 that Jaiswal made the transition to tournament Poker.

In an exclusive interview with PokerBaazi, Yash Jaiswal shared insights into his Poker journey, his inherent love for the game and his ambitions for the future.

You have started out fairly well in 2025, with over 18+ LAC in cashes. Tell us how you have been able to achieve this? What have been your thoughts on the tables as you’ve begun your 2025 grind?
First of all, I’m incredibly grateful for how this year has begun and the results I’ve achieved so far. While I haven’t been able to close down some tournaments the way I’d have liked, I’m still delighted with the progress.

A lot of it comes down to following a structured grind routine. I’ve set a disciplined schedule where I balance my office work, gym sessions, and Poker. My day involves reviewing hands from the previous session, attending 2-3 weekly strategy sessions with my peer group, and always preparing for the next grind.

Another key factor has been my awareness of player tendencies at the table. I make it a point to observe and adapt my game to exploit these tendencies to the best of my capabilities. This adaptability has been a significant edge in my play.

Additionally, I’ve worked on a mindset shift, avoiding tilt and detaching from the monetary aspect of the game. My focus is solely on playing good Poker and making the best decisions possible.

A quote that resonates deeply with me and keeps me grounded is: “Root for everyone, compete with yourself.” Lastly, my philosophy is to just improve by 0.1% each day and let that consistent growth compound over time.

Are you playing Poker in an amateur or a professional capacity?
I like to consider myself a professional Poker player, but in reality, I’m playing it semi-professionally since I have a full-time day job. Despite this, I dedicate significant time and effort to studying the game and improving consistently. My ultimate goal is to compete at the highest levels and continually push my boundaries in the sport.

How did you start playing Poker and what draws you most to the game?
I first heard about Poker from my brother and his stories about the casino, which intrigued me enough to learn more about the game. Initially, I played for fun and competition during my college days, and to be honest, it helped me cover daily expenses as well.

The game became more serious for me during the COVID days when I got introduced to tournament Poker. I was drawn to the strategic depth and intellectual challenge it offered, realizing it’s a game of skill that combines strategy, decision-making, and understanding probabilities.

I have been an avid watcher of WSOP and watching Poker online on YouTube a lot, actively watching tournaments of PokerStars across the globe. I think that has also helped me.

Overtime, Poker has also taught me a lot about myself. It has helped me build resilience, patience, and emotional control, which I can apply in many areas of life. The game forces you to think strategically, manage risk, and be disciplined, all of which are skills that have made me more effective in everyday situations and given me a competitive edge.

At this point, I can’t imagine ever quitting this beautiful mental sport.

How would you define your Poker journey so far?
My Poker journey has been full of ups and downs. Early on, I hit some big scores, which kept me hooked to the game. However, I soon realized that I struggled with handling emotions and the money aspect, which ultimately cost me a lot. To be honest, I’ve gone broke three times playing Poker, but there was always this belief that I could still survive and play sustainably.

That’s when I decided to invest in coaching, and Poker Boot Camp India played a crucial role in helping me through this phase. Abhishek Goindi, Paawan Bansal and Yash Chitre have been my mentors, and instrumental in shaping my success.

Learning the intricacies of the game and understanding the key factors at different stages made a significant impact on my progress.

Today, I’m proud to say that I play the game sustainably, and I’m incredibly grateful for how things have turned out over the past five years.

You were also part of in the 5-day reality TV series Poker Masterclass that was shot in a game show format. Tell us about that.
I topped the High Selection Leaderboard and managed to make 4-5 final tables, securing 2-3 victories during that week. This led to my selection for the show, and eventually, Kanishka Samant’s first choice for his Anti-Tilters team.

The entire experience was surreal. Competing in different poker formats while earning points for the team made every game intense and exciting. Beyond Poker, we also had mental and physical training sessions, which were incredibly valuable.

It was my first time being part of something like this, shooting for a reality show, dealing with the cameras, and managing the hectic schedule, all of which made it both challenging and unforgettable.

Although I’m grateful for the experience, I wasn’t completely satisfied with the final outcome since our team didn’t perform as well as we had hoped. That said, playing live Poker and immersing myself in everything that came with those five days was truly incredible.

Despite being acknowledged as a skill game, Poker is still considered gambling by a big section of people in India. What do you think about the skill element of the game? How far do you feel it has helped you gain a competitive edge in day-to-day situations?

Skill is undoubtedly the key element of Poker. As the saying goes, Poker is 70% skill and 30% luck, but over time, skill becomes the determining factor for long-term success. More volume and continuous studying help you improve your skill level and stay in the game for the long run.

Poker teaches you humility. No matter how good you get, there’s always something new to learn. It also builds crucial mental skills like emotional control, decision-making under pressure, and discipline. These qualities are not only essential at the table but also in everyday life.

For me, Poker has helped improve my performance at work by sharpening my risk management, adaptability, and strategic thinking. It has also helped me manage relationships, handle stress, and stay patient when facing challenges.

The mental stimulation that Poker offers, along with its potential to help you make money, are incredible aspects of the game. Once you’re hooked on Poker, there’s really no getting away from it!

What was your family and friends’ reaction to the fact that you play Poker?
To be honest, my parents didn’t initially approve of me playing Poker, especially because I was so engrossed in the game. Over time, however, they’ve seen me doing well and playing sustainably, which has helped them understand my passion for it and how serious I am. As a result, they’ve become much more supportive of my Poker journey.

As for my friends and siblings, I’m really fortunate to have such a supportive group of people around me who have been with me from the start, always motivating me and cheering me on.

How was Poker for you in 2024?
Poker in 2024 was a fantastic journey. It started off with a win at NPS, where I earned a gold medal and had the chance to meet so many players I had only seen online before, that was an unforgettable experience. From there, the journey only got better. I joined an amazing group of people, almost like family, all coached by Abhishek Goindi himself, and being part of this peer group has helped me grow significantly. I also played live tournaments for the first time in 2024, which was an exciting milestone.

Personally, it was a profitable year, but I definitely see areas for improvement.

What are the Poker goals that you’d like to achieve in 2025, and over the next 3 years?
As I move into 2025, my goal is to continue improving, increasing my ROI, and staying disciplined with the process. I have already set a goal where I aspire to achieve an ROI of at least 75% and keep pushing myself to the higher stakes.

I love to travel but haven’t travelled for Poker. I have just played just one live tournament, and when I go to Goa I usually cash games. Hence, looking at a 3-year period, I’d like to see myself traveling to play some of the live tournament series in locations like Vegas, Vietnam, Hanoi, etc, put myself in those spots with higher buy-in tournaments and be out there to play my game comfortably.

What according to you has been your biggest achievement in Poker so far?
I feel that over time I have evolved as a player. Poker has taught me thought management, how to control my emotions.

Monetary aspect aside, in terms of tournaments, I feel I have learnt to be humble, to have the hunger for being better at the game.

I also feel I have now developed a sense of confidence for peer-to-peer learning, where I can impart the knowledge to peers who are turning out new in this Poker journey.

What is a key learning that you would like to share with Poker players who are just starting out?
A key lesson for anyone starting out in poker is bankroll management. It’s crucial to select stakes that align with your skill level, as that’s where your expected value (EV) comes from.

I’d also recommend diving deep into the intricacies of the game and understanding its mental impact. The focus should always be on making the right decisions consistently.

Even with pocket Aces, which win against pocket Kings 80% of the time, you’ll still lose sometimes. It’s important to accept that and trust the process because, in the long run, the right decisions will pay off.

You have 2 National Poker Series (NPS) medals to your name – one Gold and one Bronze. The fifth edition of the NPS is coming up. Tell us about your NPS plans!
I’m currently jam-packed with my work, and practically living two lives on a daily basis! Having said that, I’m definitely looking forward to the upcoming NPS! After winning Gold and Bronze in previous years, I’m aiming to add more to my collection this time around.

My goal is to stay focused, stay disciplined, and aim for a successful series. I just want to have a very stable mindset, where I don’t go over-firing. While I’m excited, I’ll be cautious with my tournament selection and bankroll management. A Series like NPS can either drain you completely or fill you in, so it’s important to plan strategically.

I will play tournaments that are within my bankroll, try sattys for the higher ones, just to maintain a proper balance. I’d like to break-even at NPS at best, and hopefully win more medals and achieve growth in my game!

Yash Jaiswal’s passion for Poker reflects strongly in his constant efforts to improve his game. We wish this promising player all the best in his future Poker endeavours!

Poker Interviews