In a fitting climax to PokerBaazi‘s National Poker Series India 2025, Gujarat’s Dhawal ‘Stick3rz’ Lachhwani etched his name into Indian poker history by winning the landmark ₹1 Crore GTD National Poker Champion (NPC) State Freeroll for Gujarat.
The high-stakes invitational, held exclusively for players from Gujarat who participated in NPS 2025, was unlocked as a special reward after Mohit Bohra’s historic victory at the NPC Showdown in Goa earlier this month.
With ₹1 Crore in guaranteed prizes on the line and only 240 eligible players, the freeroll was more than a tournament. It was a celebration of one state’s spirit and rising stature in Indian poker. And when the chips finally fell, it was Lachhwani who rose above a stacked field to seize the title and ₹10 Lakhs in prize money, wrapping up NPS 2025 with fireworks.
Lachhwani, a familiar name in India’s online poker circuit since 2018, has previously clinched titles in high-profile events like Spartan Poker’s SSS and IOPC. However, his latest victory stands out as the most defining moment of his career so far.
Gujarat’s Glorious Moment
The stage was set well before the freeroll even began. NPS 2025 had already made headlines with its record-breaking ₹100 Crore guarantee, 6 lakh+ entries, and a gripping finale in Goa where Gujarat’s Mohit Bohra became India’s first National Poker Champion. His win not only earned him ₹1 Crore but also gifted his home state a freeroll of the same value, a unique and first-of-its-kind format in Indian poker.
Held on PokerBaazi on the night of April 26, the Gujarat-only freeroll attracted 240 players, all of whom had contributed to the NPS grind over the past two months. Each started with 10,000 chips (50 big blinds).
Quietly navigating the early chaos and capitalizing on key spots in the middle stages, Lachhwani entered the final table.
It all came down to a heads-up duel with Parth ‘PapuLasith’ Shah, a rising star who’s been racking up podium finishes across PokerBaazi’s flagship events this year.
The Final Hand
In the tournament’s final hand, Shah shoved all-in preflop with Ax 6x, looking to take control of the chip lead. Lachhwani, holding Ax 8x, made the call. The board peeled out 7x 3x Qx 3x 8x—a dramatic river pairing Lachhwani’s kicker to give him the win.
A stunned yet respectful rail erupted in support of Lachhwani, who secured the ₹10 Lakh payday—his second-best career score and arguably the most meaningful.
The Podium Finishers
Parth Shah may have fallen just short, but his run was nothing short of stellar. The ₹6.14 Lakhs runner-up prize marked his career-best score, capping a red-hot 2025 run that’s seen him claim deep finishes in events like WTF, Endeavour Lite, and Blockbuster Lite.
Rounding out the podium was veteran and Gujarat Falcons owner from PSL Season 6, Jaydeep ‘JDBhaiya’ Dawer, whose consistency once again earned him a spotlight moment. He bagged ₹4.45 Lakhs for his third-place finish.
Final Table Results – ₹1 Crore GTD NPC Freeroll
- Dhawal ‘Stick3rz’ Lachhwani – ₹10,00,000
- Parth ‘PapuLasith’ Shah – ₹6,14,000
- Jaydeep ‘JDBhaiya’ Dawer – ₹4,45,000
- Fenil ‘F1111’ Bharatbhai Shah – ₹3,43,000
- Kothari ‘ifeellucky73’ Parth Atulbhai – ₹2,71,000
- Krunal ‘Krunal1800’ Harjibhai Dobariya – ₹2,34,000
- Rohit ‘smartyy352’ Sunil Bohra – ₹2,10,000
- Avni ‘xxmoneymanxx’ Samrat Kansagara – ₹1,85,000
The closing of NPS India 2025 marks a pivotal moment for Gujarat in the poker world. From Mohit Bohra’s national championship to Dhawal Lachhwani’s explosive freeroll finish, Gujarat’s poker community has made its mark in a big way.
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Source: NPS Insta Page and PokerGuru
