Recently, we interviewed several top pros and players, but today’s feature is truly special as we feature Kunal Patni, the most successful captain in Poker Sports League (PSL) history. Patni recently grabbed big headlines by leading his team, Deccan Aces, to a remarkable victory in PSL Season 6, securing his second PSL trophy and cementing his legacy as the league’s most successful captain.
Patni, who is also a Natural8 India Director & Brand Ambassador, is known for his bold decision to leave his successful career as an investment banker and pursue poker full-time, a journey that has spanned over a decade.
His career took off in 2014 when he won the HK$ 2,500 NLHE Rebuy Championship at the APPT Asia Championship of Poker in Macau, marking a turning point that led him to quit his job and start playing poker professionally. Since then, he has become a dominant force in the world of poker, with major victories in prestigious tournaments like the Asian Poker Tour (APT), World Poker Tour (WPT), Poker Dream, and Deltin Poker Tournament (DPT). His biggest live cash came in 2018 when he finished as a runner-up at the WPT European Main Event in Germany, earning $115,819.
Patni is currently ranked 10th on India’s All-Time Money List with more than $1 million in live earnings. While Patni has secured more than a half dozen live titles, one of his most significant victories include the High Roller Finale at the U Series of Poker in Hanoi, where he won $99,819. His performances in international events, like his 8th place finish for $ 73,225 in the 2023 WSOP $ 3K NLH Freezeout (Bracelet Event 59) and his recent 20th place finish for $ 24,697 in the WSOP 2024 $3K NLH event (Bracelet Event #60), highlight his consistent success and prowess on the global stage.
Patni also boasts a remarkable online poker resume, with more than ₹11 crore in online winnings and an impressive 106 titles. His biggest online score came in 2021 from a runner-up finish in PokerBaazi’s 1 Crore GTD NPS Highroller, where he pocketed a hefty ₹14,05,433. Patni’s success with Deccan Aces in PSL Season 6 is just one of many milestones in his poker career. With his leadership and experience, the Mumbai poker pro has firmly established himself as a key figure in Indian and international poker.
Check out our recent interview with Kunal Patni, where he delves into his team’s historic PSL victory and shares insights on his journey as the most successful captain in PSL history. He also discusses the future of the Poker Sports League, the APT Taipei event and much more. Watch the video above for his complete conversation with us!
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