The new season will be held in “phygital” format.

 

After the success of its previous three seasons, the Poker Sports League (PSL) is returning with its fourth season in a new avatar – phygital. With the pragmatic proliferation of integrated technology in the gaming sector, the new season of PSL promises to be larger and more exciting than ever.

The PSL’s online qualifiers will begin from November 25 and the league will go on for two months, with 2-3 matches per week hosted virtually. The season finale will be hosted live on-ground from February 7 to 13, 2022, first-time ever since the pandemic.

Riding high on the gaming spirit, the tournament will give a chance to the players to represent their state and open avenues for budding players in the mind sport category. The participants, if selected, will get a coveted opportunity of practicing and improving their game with the best in the country while preparing for the qualifiers. All one needs to do is download Hashtag Poker and learn the basics for free.

The Indian online gaming industry is at cusp of transformation, looking at a growth trajectory over US$3.9 billion in 2025 according to KPMG. This robust growth has fostered and led to improved social skills, decision-making skills, improved brain function, development of key skills, and memory enhancement for the players.

The industry’s ability to adapt to newer technological concepts like phygital is a testament to its growth, as the game developers and publishers have direct interest in being present in a multi-dimensional ecosystem where all aspects are interconnected.

 

Mr. Pranav Bagai, CEO and Founder, Poker Sports League announcing the season said:

“The gaming sector is opening up newer avenues and ways where amateur players can learn and get coached with the best in the field. We are thrilled to see the confluence of technological integration in the sector as it becomes a rewarding experience in every aspect of life. Having said that, we’ve had an excellent response in the last season and we’re excited to present our flagship product, Poker Sports League in a Phygital format this year.

“The poker fans can now look forward to a slew of interesting challenges ahead of them.

“We are thrilled to have 6 teams playing this year and anyone who knows the basics of poker – can play a series of online poker games to secure a spot in this India wide poker league. This season promises to be a fun-filled experience. From unique poker challenges to rewarding cash prizes we have it all. We are excited and looking forward to see the how the season unfolds as the players find their team camaraderie, dwell on the sportsman spirit and soak in all the glamour and flair of the finale.”

 

Participating in the PSL has never been easier. Here’s how the tournament has been structured:

• PSL Season 4 qualifiers will see a total of 15 matches where each participant will get a chance to play a maximum of 6 matches. 5 spots in a team are for amateur players. They simply need to play 6 of the 15 free “qualifiers” running from November 25 to December 9.
• Out of all the participants, the top 180 participants will make it to the draft, after which there will be a separate three-day series of qualifier finals where out of these 180 qualifiers, top 30 will get a confirm seat in a PSL team and then the team owners will bid for their respective teams. A total of 6 teams with 11 players each will compete against each other for a prize payout of INR 2 cr+.
• This edition of the PSL will see each team have six players from qualifiers including a substitute. Moreover, with the rising interest of women for the sport, there is a separate category for women, ensuring their participation.

 

Keeping in line with the concept of PSL Season 4, every participant who makes it to the team will get remunerated and get a success fee from the prize pool in case their team wins.

In line with the concept of the Poker Sports League’s Season 4, the league will be played online on the company’s proprietary application, Hashtag Poker, and will be streamed online on its OTT platform.