National Poker Series India 2025 State Rankings So Far!
The “Olympics of Indian Poker” — National Poker Series India 2025 said “Get Set Go” on February 23rd, and just 9 days in, the state rankings are heating up!
The battle for dominance is fierce, with Maharashtra reclaiming its #1 position, while Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are in hot pursuit.

With 20 days still left in the series, every hand dealt could change the game.
India Leaderboard is seeing constant shake-ups, and new challengers are emerging by the day. Let’s break down the state-by-state action!

Maharashtra on Top – But Mumbai Vs Pune in an Intense Battle
As of Day 9, Maharashtra remains firmly at #1 with 36 medals (13 Gold, 11 Silver, 12 Bronze). While they lead the competition, an intense intra-state battle is brewing between Mumbai and Pune.

  • Zarvan Tumboli (Mumbai): The PokerBaazi Team Pro stormed ahead early with 3 medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver). While he hasn’t added another medal yet, his 20-point tally keeps him at #3 on the India Leaderboard.
  • Tarush Gupta (Pune): After a slow start, Gupta turned things around with a Gold in NPS#52 (PLO-6), making him a serious contender.
  • Ashutosh S Paibhale (Mumbai): Started with a Silver in NPS#4 (PLO-5) Knockout (PKO) on Day #1, succeeded in his chase for the Gold a week later, in the NPS#46 (PLO-4) Megadive where he bagged a career-best 2.90 LAC. He’s tied with Gupta on points but sits in third place for Maharashtra.
  • Ganesh Durgade (Pune): He rounds out the top 4, with a Gold in NPS#30 Slamdunk and a Silver in NPS#43 (5-Max) Hyper SPRINT.

Can Mumbai maintain dominance, or will Pune steal the show?

Delhi: Chasing the Crown, Led by a New Challenger!
Delhi holds the #2 spot with 32 medals (8 Gold, 13 Silver, 11 Bronze), keeping the race for supremacy alive. Though trailing Maharashtra, they remain a strong contender as the competition intensifies.

  • Saahib Bawa: The former APT India Online winner is Delhi’s new leader! His Gold in NPS#40 Friday Freestyle (12.02 LAC) and Silver in NPS#62 Slamdunk (2.27 LAC) catapulted him to #5 on the India Leaderboard.
  • Vinay Rajpal: The early frontrunner with a Gold in NPS#7 (7-Max) SPRINT and Bronze in NPS#46 (PLO-4) Megadive, has slowed down but remains a top contender.
  • Madhav Sethi: From Rank 18 to Rank 3 in Delhi, his NPS#53 Sunday Smash title proves he’s got momentum.
  • Rajneesh Thakur: A leaderboard crusher with 1 Gold already – can he make a late surge?

Uttar Pradesh: A Two-Horse Race Between Ahlawat and Tulsyan!
UP has secured 23 medals (8 Gold, 8 Silver, 7 Bronze), thanks to these powerhouses:

  • Vikhyat Ahlawat (Noida): Holding 20 points, Ahlawat crushed NPS#12 Monday Marathon and NPS#29 (7-Max) SPRINT.
  • Vishal Tulsyan: The 2024 Indian Poker Masters Super HighRoller champion is closing in fast with Gold in NPS#44 Deepdive and Silver in NPS#40 Friday Freestyle.
  • Arush Pratap: NPS#15 Slamdunk Gold winner rounds out UP’s top 3.

Karnataka: Bhanu Prakash KC’s Dominance Faces a Challenge
Karnataka has long been a powerhouse in tournament poker, and now, it’s turning up the heat on the India and State Leaderboards. With 16 medals (8 Gold, 4 Silver, 4 Bronze), the state is dealing its way to the top!

  • Bhanu Prakash KC: The online maestro has surged to #1 on the India Leaderboard, clinching 4 medals in just 4 days! His stellar run included Gold in NPS#37 Knockout, Silvers in NPS#38 (5-Max) Hyper SPRINT & NPS#49 (6-Max) SPRINT, before sealing his 6th career medal with a win in NPS#58 Megadive on March 3.
  • Advait Rajguru:The young poker coach featured in The Circuit is hot on Prakash’s heels with 20 points on the Karnataka Leaderboard. No stranger to success, he’s already struck Gold twice in NPS#32 (PLO-5) Megadive and NPS#48 Megadive!
  • Praveen KR: His Gold in NPS#49 (6-Max) SPRINT, where he outlasted Prakash himself, proves he’s a real threat.

Will Bhanu Prakash KC hold his ground, or will Rajguru dethrone him?

Haryana: A Tight Race Between Aggarwal, Dembla & Sharma
Haryana sits at #5 with 16 medals (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 7 Bronze).

  • Snehil Aggarwal: The four-time Baazi Turbo Series champion leads the pack, having shipped NPS#14 (PLO-6) Megadive and secured Bronze in NPS#25 Marathon. With 12 points, he currently holds the 6th rank on the India Leaderboard.
  • Harsh Dembla: Clinched Gold in NPS#55 (7-Max) SPRINT and sits second on the Haryana Leaderboard with 10 points.
  • Sarthak Sharma: Secured Gold in NPS#56 Deepdive and trails closely in third place with 10 points.

This leaderboard is up for grabs – who will break ahead?

Tamil Nadu: A Close Race with Shanmughasundaram in the Lead
Tamil Nadu ranks 6th in the National Poker Series India rankings with 10 medals (6 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze), as the battle for supremacy intensifies.

  • Nishaanth Shanmughasundaram: With a Gold in NPS#11 Knockout, he leads Tamil Nadu and sits at #7 on the India Leaderboard with 10 points.
  • Ashish Munot & Yohan Patel: Both have 1 Gold each and 10 points, making the Tamil Nadu rankings unpredictable!

Who will emerge as the state’s top contender?

The Road Ahead: Who Will Reign Supreme?
With 20 days left, National Poker Series India 2025 is far from over! The battle for supremacy is at full throttle, and with every event, the rankings are shifting. Maharashtra leads the pack, but for how long? Delhi, UP, Karnataka, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu are closing in fast, setting the stage for an intense intra-state showdown.

But this year, it’s about more than just medals. The top 12 players on the India Leaderboard will go head-to-head for a historic title—India’s first-ever National Poker Champion! Who will claim the crown and cement their legacy in Indian poker?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGYCuMQzySY/?hl=en

With a ₹100 Crore GTD, the action is relentless, the stakes are sky-high, and India’s Biggest Series Leaderboard (₹1.5 Cr prize pool) is keeping players on their toes. The topper of the NPS India Series Leaderboard will walk away with ₹30 LAC, but every hand could change the game.

Stay tuned for more thrilling updates as the ultimate poker showdown continues!

National Poker Series