Time and again it has been proven that poker is a game that goes beyond the barriers of culture, region, race and even gender. Over the years, there have been multiple female poker players who have shown the world their strategic prowess and their exceptional command over the game.
They continue to compete and achieve extraordinary results, thus giving their name counterparts a real run for their money. One such shining name in the global poker circuit is India’s Muskan Sethi.
Muskan Sethi’s journey in poker
Muskan Sethi was born and brought up in New Delhi, India. Muskan Sethi was introduced to poker at the age of 11 by her father who would often watch poker games. Interestingly, unlike other players, Muskan’s parents used to play card games. In fact, she once revealed that her grandmother also used to play poker before she was born and was also called ‘The Great Gambler’. However, after Muskan’s birth, they decided not to touch cards.
Later, it was her then boyfriend who introduced her to the world of online poker. Eventually, he noticed that she was doing well on play money and hence insisted that she start trying poker in the real world.
Muskan Sethi initially took up a career in fashion and modeling however later she was so drawn by the strategic and competitive aspects of the game, that she transitioned to poker as a full time career.
Today, apart from just playing the game she is also a mind coach who helps others to improve their mindset going into the game. Muskan Sethi believes, “Every game is recorded and run through software that goes through each move and is analyzed as to how differently the game could have been played.”
The big boost
Muskan Sethi got the biggest boost of her poker career when she acquired a seat among the big names in the world of poker. She played with them for $1 million on the United Kingdom’s national TV show.
She was also signed by PokerStars India as one of their early brand ambassadors.
National Award
She knew she had done something really big, when she was honoured with the “First Ladies” award by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
Talking about the highlight moment in her career winning the National Award, she said, “I was at Rashtrapati Bhavan with all those incredible women around me, including Dipa Karmakar, the family of Kalpana Chawla, and others and really felt blessed.”
Two years ago she was signed as the brand ambassador of PokerBaazi along with poker coach and pro player Abhishek Goindi.
Muskan Sethi Biopic
Notably, her life story was also acquired by IN10 Media Network’s production house, Juggernaut Productions. They announced a biopic based on one of India’s first female poker players. It is expected to be a biopic series about Muskan– India’s first female poker player.
Muskan Sethi Stats
Muskan Sethi has been playing live poker for quite some years now. Over the years, the female pro has accumulated total live earnings of $126,318 from her live exploits. Of this, her best cash to date has been $13,107, for her final table finish at GUKPT £ 1,000 + 100 No Limit Hold’em – Main Event of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour – GUKPT London Leg 1 series held in London in February of 2017. She finished in eighth place at this event.
With that she ranks 86th on India All Time Money List.
Interestingly, Muskan Sethi has also been a regular player at the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. Although she doesn’t not yet have a WSOP bracelet, she has impressive cashed at the series. Muskan Sethi has recorded 16 cashes at the WSOP so far over the years. These 16 cashes have earned her a total of $48,996 from WSOP alone.
Recent results
Most recently, Muskan Sethi was seen grinding at the recently concluded 2024 WSOP. Here she finished in the money at three different events. First she finished 60th at the $ 1,000 No Limit Hold’em – Freezeout (Online Bracelet Event #13) event, for which she pocketed $ 2,151 on 25th June 2024
Five days later Muskan Sethi recorded another score in WSOP $ 500 No Limit Hold’em – Deepstack (Online Bracelet Event #15), wherein she finished 407th for a sum of $1,096.
While these two cashes came from online bracelet events, Muskan Sethi recorded her third and final WSOP 2024 cash in a live event, namely the WSOP $ 600 No Limit Hold’em – Ultra Stack (Bracelet Event #84) event at Bally’s casino in Las Vegas. Here she took the 656th place for a pay cheque of $ 1,406.
Muskan Sethi’s achievements underscore the fact that she has impacted the poker scene in more than one way. Among the various endeavours she undertakes, one of Sethi’s most notable efforts for the poker community has been her hard work to make the game more accessible to Indian women. She is also a philanthropist who is constantly working to make the world a better place and help the skill game of poker grow.
Muskan Sethi is truly a trailblazer in the poker space having defied stereotypes and inspired countless other women to explore and pursue their interest in poker. Sethi’s consistency and success has played a crucial role in challenging the notion that poker is predominantly a man’s game.
Keep following PokerProNews for such inspiring stories of women in poker!
