Star-backed poker league to launch in Sept.

Wednesday 31st of May 2017

British businessman Raj Kundra and his Bollywood star wife Shilpa Shetty Kundra have partnered with the International Federation of Poker (IFP) to launch a new poker league in India.

The Match Indian Poker League, featuring teams owned by leading figures in Indian business and entertainment, will launch in September. Players will be selected for the teams based on their skill based ranking, where their performances have been assessed while playing against one of the world’s most advanced Poker ‘Bots' using the Match Poker app which launches in August.

The first eight teams will represent the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Kolkata and Mumbai and the Match IPL will be played over a weekend to determine the most skillful Match Poker team along with the six players that will represent the Indian National team on a global stage.

“We are delighted to be working with Viaan Industries and with Shilpa and Raj who have had the vision to recognise the potential of Match Poker and the business instincts to create an exciting and entertaining, sporting framework which will attract massive interest among players, sponsors and commercial backers in one of the world’s fastest growing markets,” IFP president Patrick Nally said in a press release.

“The IFP has worked tirelessly for many years to develop the sport and the technology to support it and make it fit for purpose as a truly 21st century mind sport. It is a mind sport in an e-sport wrapper. Match Poker is inclusive and can be played by anybody with access to a smartphone and an Internet connection, anywhere and at any time.”

“We will be working closely with Viaan Industries to support the success of the Match Indian Poker League and are confident that it will create a model for the roll-out of other pro leagues elsewhere in the world.”

“The interest in India has been simply phenomenal and we can’t wait for the launch of the app and the build-up to the Match Indian Poker league later this year.”

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