KKPoker is delighted to announce the return of Sharath Maddur to the KK Elite Team for 2026!
Last year, Canada’s Sharath won a $12,000 Vegas Dream package and had the poker adventure of a lifetime by cashing in the Main Event for a $15,000 cash prize.
Today, KKPoker can confirm that Sharath will once again represent us in Vegas for a second year running, after winning not one but TWO Vegas Dream packages!
Sharath navigated the online qualifier tournaments to bank a $12,000 Main Package AND a $3,000 Mini Package! That’s $11,000 in tournament buy-ins and $4,000 in cash for travel, hotel, and expenses.
KKPoker caught up with Sharath once again to get his thoughts on this remarkable achievement, and learn all about his plans for another exciting opportunity in Las Vegas this summer!
BACK TO VEGAS
Congratulations, Sharath! Winning a Vegas Dream Main Event package two years in a row is a fantastic achievement. What went through your mind when you realized you’d be going back to Vegas again? And how does this second win feel different compared to the first time?
“I decided early this year that I’d only go to Vegas if I won a Main Event package again, like I did last year.
“I gave it everything in the first Canada-exclusive Vegas Dream event, but fell short, finishing 3rd. That one hurt, especially losing JJ vs AJ, where my opponent hit a 3-outer. If I win that hand, I’m heads-up, and I really liked my chances.
“A week later, I won the Mini VD package, which meant I was going to Vegas regardless. That was exciting, but it also brought pressure. I really wanted to win the Main Event ticket to make the trip feel complete.
“When I heard about the global Vegas Dream package, I started preparing more seriously. I paid attention during satellites and Day 1 flights, and took notes on previously unknown players. That made me slightly more comfortable going into Day 2.
“The first win will always be special. It was a big jump from being an amateur with no real results. This second one feels different. It was more about handling pressure and proving to myself that I could do it again. I had to work a lot harder for this one, and that makes it special in its own way.” said Sharath.
KEY HANDS
What were the key hands from the VD ME Satellite Final Table?
“One key hand came when we were down to the final table. I opened AKo from the cutoff with around 28 big blinds, and a player jammed for about 23 bigs. This was a tough spot for me because I’ve always avoided flips and preferred post-flop play. But I’ve been working on that—accepting high-variance but +EV spots.
“The previous hand, I opened AJo and folded to a jam from the same player, so that made me think his range could include weaker Ax hands. I also didn’t think he’d play AA or KK that way, given the stack sizes. I eventually called, and was against JJ. The board ran low, and I was already telling myself I made the right decision regardless of the outcome. Then a king hit the river, which gave me the chip lead.
“Heads-up against AdrianAdrian was intense. He had about a 3:1 lead and did a great job applying pressure. There were a lot of swings—I got back to even at one point, but then dropped down again.
“The biggest moment came when I picked up KK on the button with 24BB. I min-raised, he 3-bet, and based on how often he had been 3-betting Ax, I jammed expecting something like A-rag. He snapped with AA. It was exactly the kind of cooler I was hoping to avoid.
“But the turn brought a king, giving me a set, and I held. That completely flipped the situation—I went from nearly out to having a big chip lead. A couple of hands later, I jammed 33 into his A4 and it held.
“I’ve been on the wrong side of those spots plenty of times, so it felt good to be on the right side of one finally.”
“I CAN COMPETE”
Last year, your goal was to cash in the Main Event. This year, you’re returning to Vegas after already proving you can compete. Has your mindset shifted from “participate” to “perform”?
“That’s probably the biggest change in my approach this year. I’ve already proved to myself that I can compete and make money. This time, I want to focus on building a stack and aiming for a deeper run.“
What would success look like for you in Vegas this year?
“I’m trying to define success more in terms of planning and execution rather than results. I’ve always been very results-oriented, so separating decisions from outcomes is something I’m actively working on.
“If I can plan well, understand the table dynamics, and execute without fear or tilt, I’d consider that a success regardless of the outcome. Of course, the goal is to go as deep as possible, but I don’t want to play scared just to min-cash. If I face a big ICM decision late in the tournament, I’ll still make the +EV play.“
GROWTH IN THE GAME
After returning from Vegas, Sharath continued to perform on KKPoker by making Day 2 of the KKLIVE Montreal Main Event, and he went on to achieve 3rd place!
Sharath, looking back at your first Vegas experience, making Day 4 and cashing, what do you think has improved most in your game since then? And did you identify any specific strategy leaks?
“There are always leaks—sometimes it feels like I fix one and open five more. The biggest one for me has been folding too often pre-flop because I’m uncomfortable with flips.
“I’ve realized that avoiding those spots makes it very hard to build a stack—you just get blinded down. I used to think I had a post-flop edge and could wait for better spots, but I’m learning to accept variance as part of the game. Another leak is not 3-betting enough. I’ve tended to keep pots small unless I had a strong hand. That’s something I’ve been working on improving.”
You spoke previously about building stamina, math skills, and adapting from online to live. Where do you feel you now have a real edge compared to 12 months ago?
“My edge is still stronger online. Live poker is much slower, and staying focused can be challenging. Last year, I worked on stamina, and by the time I got to the Main Event, I was in a good place mentally and able to do the math quickly in-game.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve improved massively since then—it’s more about getting back into that rhythm before Vegas.“
MENTAL GAME & CONFIDENCE
Last year, you mentioned needing time early on to settle the Main Event nerves and “remind yourself you belonged.” Do you expect that to be different this time around?
“I think it will be better this time, but the nerves will still be there early on. It’s the biggest live tournament in the world, so that’s natural. I’m okay with that.“
How much confidence did a deep run in your first Main Event give you?
“Quite a bit. That experience and deep run will definitely help me this time around.“
You also experienced a downswing before Vegas last year—how are you approaching variance and mental preparation differently this time?
“My downswing last year was mostly due to poor bankroll management. I always talk about BRM with friends, but I don’t always follow it myself.
“It affected my decisions—I was more focused on locking up a min-cash because I was down overall. This year, I want to avoid that situation by managing my bankroll properly so I can play more freely. It’s more of a ‘go big or go home’ mindset now.“
STRATEGY & APPROACH FOR 2026
Will your strategy for playing lower buy-in MTTs this year be different from the 2025 Main Event, or do you plan to stick to what worked previously?
“I plan to be more aggressive early on and take more calculated risks to build a stack. I’m okay with busting if I’m making the correct +EV decisions.“
Have you thought about how many tournaments you would like to play in Vegas yet?
“Probably one a day. I like the daily $250 and $400 tournaments for practice, along with the Mini Main and Main Event.“
Having now played deep into the Main Event, what do you think is the biggest edge recreational or satellite qualifiers can realistically have in these player fields?
“If you’re on a table with strong regs and pros, the edge is limited. But one thing recreational players can do is build a table image and use it.
“Most pros will assume you’re playing straightforward ABC poker. If you’re aware of that and think one level ahead, you can use it to your advantage in key spots.“
Thinking ahead to the 2026 Main Event. If you find yourself approaching the bubble or late stages again, do you think you’ll play it differently with that experience behind you?
“Yes, I think I’ll approach it differently. I’ll try to be less influenced by ICM unless I’m very short-stacked and folding into the money is the only realistic option.“
Last year you mentioned how valuable it was to have support and to discuss hands with other players and the KKPoker team—has being part of that environment accelerated your development? What are you most looking forward to about reuniting with the team in Vegas this summer?
“The team and staff were incredible last time and provided a lot of support and real-time advice. It definitely accelerated my development and pushed me to study more theory, especially seeing how solvers are used at the top level.
“I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new ones, and supporting each other through the experience.“
BE OUR NEXT WINNER!
What would you say to players grinding satellites right now who are in the same position you were two years ago?
“I’d say focus on understanding why you’re making each decision. Don’t just play hands automatically. Try to be clear about what your action, whether it’s a bet, check, or raise, is trying to accomplish.
“If you can improve your thought process and be more intentional, your overall game and EV will improve significantly. Also, it’s tempting to blame a loss on luck, and most times it usually could be. But even then, you could learn about the mistakes your opponent has made in the hand and capitalize on it in future.
“Basically, analyze your hands and learn from both your mistakes and your opponents’.” added Sharath.
At KKPoker, we regularly offer opportunities to win tickets and packages to global live poker events! See here for more information and become one of our next big winners!
