The moment that all the Poker fanatics have been waiting for so long has finally arrived. Team India has won its first ever WSOP bracelet, as Aditya Sushant and Nipun Java created history by winning WSOP 2017, Event 10: $1000 Tag Team Event.
We all could knew, that sooner or late the day would arrive and it did in style indeed. Besting a field of 843 teams, the tag team of Aditya Sushant and Nipun Java won their first ever respective WSOP Gold Bracelets and a prize money of $150,637 in total.
Sushant and Java were both born in India, before Java moved to the United States twelve years ago. They crossed paths during WSOP 2014 in the United States and since then became close friends. Their decision to pair up for this Tag Team Event could not have come at a better time as both smashed a strong field and came on top to win the event.
Aditya Sushant, who managed to get to Goa on a bus from Chennai, in order to participate in Indian Poker Championship 2010, barely had funds to enter the event. He somehow convinced his mentor and the Indian Poker legend Aditya ‘Intervention’ Agarwal and got staked for the event, which he later went on to win. Since then Sushant never looked back. He instantly made Poker his career choice and has been playing both online and live tournaments, across the World. He also happens to be the first Indian to come closest to winning the prestigious Pokerstars Sunday Million event, when he finished second in the event for a pay day of $168,157 in 2013. Sushant has around $300,000 in live Poker tournament earnings.
Nipun Java on the other hand has been in regular face in the International Poker tournaments and boasts some solid performances, including a second place in WSOP 2015, Event 46: $3000 PLO, Six Handed for $270,509 and a WSOP Circuit Ring to his name as well, when he won the WSOP Circuit bicycle event in March 2014. His total life tournament winnings are almost $2 Million.
Final Table: There were some notable names on the Final Table, where Sushant-Java started the day with 565,000 Chips and were placed 6th among the 9 teams remaining. They steamrolled through the day by eliminating one opponent after the other and finally setting up a heads up battle with team, David Guay-Pablo Mariz. The winning hand was as dramatic as it could have gotten, with Sushant going All-In Pre-Flop with Ace Eight and getting called by David Guay’s King Queen. The Flop saw two Queens, making it almost impossible for Sushant to win the hand. But destiny had other ideas, as the Turn and River brought an extremely unlikely, two running Aces to seal the deal and defeating their opponents in a thrilling way.
Poker is at is peak in India at the moment and this win came, just at the right time. This win will, all but inspire every other Team India player, who are currently in Vegas for the WSOP 2017. Hopefully it does enough and Team India goes on to win another few bracelets, while WSOP 2017 lasts.
Many congratulations and a huge thanks to Aditya and Nipun for getting India’s name on the Poker map. This day will be remembered forever!