Chaar-Lee discovered poker over 20 years ago, starting with fixed-limit games before embracing the rise of No-Limit Hold’em across cash games, STTs, and MTTs. In the early days, he and his circle sometimes played more than 40 different formats in a single night. He organized the first poker camp in his region and has contributed poker technology to several televised shows. Today, he supports the SOMUCHPOKER team from the tech side, blending two decades of poker passion with technical expertise.

Updated: 2024.10.17

Once a mere college curiosity, poker became Indian player Raghav Bansal’s passion, and he now ranks eighth on India’s All-Time Money List. With total live earnings of USD 1,192,714, it’s easy to see why Bansal is one of the most revered and respected players worldwide.

Bansal is a known record-breaker. In 2015, he became the first Indian to reach the finals table at the grand WSOP, heading out the poker gates strong. At his first tournament in India, the Deltin Poker Tournament in Panjim, Bansal emerged victorious, cashing p 3,060,000 (USD 45,214).

Bansal broke his second record and made his best live cash in 2017 when he placed second in the High Roller event at the PokerStars Championship Macau, securing HKD 2,610,000 (USD 335,910). His victory became the most significant win by an Indian player in over a decade.

Returning to Macau in 2018, Bansal enjoyed a hefty HKD 845,500 (USD 108,124) prize after placing fourth in the High Roller event at the APPT Macau Poker Cup. Unwilling to let the pandemic hurt his stride, Bansal became a regular in online poker, with particularly hefty cashes during the Main Event Online Championship at GGPoker.

Bansal most recently made his Vietnam debut, participating in APT Hanoi Billions and Poker Dream 10. He placed fourth in the Main Event and cashed VND 1,320,900,000 (USD 52,135).

*Profile by Zoe Alcazaren