MUMBAI: Raj Kundra-led Viaan Industries, which launched the ‘Match Indian Poker League’ last year, is looking to take the league format to the online platform. Buoyed by the success of the recently concluded season 2 of Match IPL, Kundra is ready to launch the Online Team Poker League (OTPL).
It will see participation from 30 teams and have an annual prize pool of Rs 6.6 crore. “There is a significant uptrend in people playing poker ... after seeing the response for Match IPL, I felt there is a need for a year-long property. So we created this IPL, wherein 30 teams will play ‘No Limit Texas Hold’em’ tournament every alternate Saturday via a specially designed app by Viaan Industries,” Kundra, who is the company’s chairman, told ET.
While the first season will start in July and end in November, from the next year, it will be spread over January to November. The winning team will represent the country in the World Online Team Poker League to be held in December every year.
“We have already signed 15 teams out of 30 and the response is phenomenal,” Kundra said. “I have also locked partnerships in the US, UK and Israel. Will have some more in other countries in the next couple of months and in July we will launch OTPL in India and internationally.”
The format of the game will see each team starting with 50,000 chips every match day, which will go on for four hours. At the end, collective chip count will be added to the league rankings.
The app will offer in-app purchases for teams to create their own rooms and practice for the upcoming tournaments. The technology will facilitate every element of the sport from gameplay to administration of competitions and record keeping.
It will see participation from 30 teams and have an annual prize pool of Rs 6.6 crore. “There is a significant uptrend in people playing poker ... after seeing the response for Match IPL, I felt there is a need for a year-long property. So we created this IPL, wherein 30 teams will play ‘No Limit Texas Hold’em’ tournament every alternate Saturday via a specially designed app by Viaan Industries,” Kundra, who is the company’s chairman, told ET.
As per the plan, Kundra will sell the rights of 30 teams for Rs 10 lakh each. Each of the franchisee will pay an annual licence fee of Rs 55 lakh. Every team will have eight players who will play online twice amonth to top the leader board. The collective chip count of all team players will be added up, giving the monthly rankings of teams and monthly prizes. The team with the most chip count at the end of the season in November will win the cup and the prize money will be shared among the top eight teams.
While the first season will start in July and end in November, from the next year, it will be spread over January to November. The winning team will represent the country in the World Online Team Poker League to be held in December every year.
“We have already signed 15 teams out of 30 and the response is phenomenal,” Kundra said. “I have also locked partnerships in the US, UK and Israel. Will have some more in other countries in the next couple of months and in July we will launch OTPL in India and internationally.”
The format of the game will see each team starting with 50,000 chips every match day, which will go on for four hours. At the end, collective chip count will be added to the league rankings.
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The app will offer in-app purchases for teams to create their own rooms and practice for the upcoming tournaments. The technology will facilitate every element of the sport from gameplay to administration of competitions and record keeping.
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