Nipun Java Poker Player Biography
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
January 1, 2024
Nipun Java is the winner of three WSOP bracelets who had never played poker before moving to the United States and living there for over ten years. He finally took the leap of faith and quit his day job in 2014 to become a professional poker player. But the good news is that he has never looked back.
Who is Nipun Java?
Nipun Java was born in New Delhi, India, and lived there until he got his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Then, he was accepted into an MA program in software engineering at the University of Arizona, US. After graduation, he got a job at a company called St. Jude Medical, programing pacemakers and defibrillators.
He started playing poker in personal home games with people he met on a social communication website. After several years of strictly playing home games, he felt confident enough to step into a casino and play there occasionally.
How did Nipun Java start playing poker?
Nipun had a full-time, well-paid day job in his professional field, something he had been studying for years to master. But the temptation of playing poker more and more eventually made him leave his job and start playing at online events and tournaments. The first official win he experienced was in June 2009. He participated in the Grand Poker Series at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, won 2nd place, and earned $9,620. After that, there was a string of little wins until he made his first 5 figures in the 2010 LA Poker Open. These tournaments were held in the Commerce Casino, bringing him fifth place and $34,650. He continued playing until he managed to increase his record and reach a six-figure prize in the 2014 World Poker Tour. This was the year he called himself a professional poker player and quit his job as a programmer. His ranking in these tournaments was second, and his prize was $114,955.
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Nipun Java’s experience with WSOP
Nipun won his first WSOP at the Bicycle Casino in a tournament between March 21st and April 1st, 2014. His prize in this tournament was $226,785. He almost won the next WSOP tournament in 2015, winning second place and adding $270,509 to his total winnings.
2017 was a magical year for Nipun. It looked like he could do nothing wrong. First, he won his second WSOP at the Rio Hotel and Casino and earned $75,318. Just a month later, in July 2017, he scored another WSOP at the same place and pocketed $237,688. Then he stepped into the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in August and stepped out with a first-place title and 230,848 dollars of prize money.
Since then, he has attended the WSOP three other times and walked out with a title. In 2019, the WSOP Circuit gave him second place and $118,764. The next WSOP Circuit changed his second place to first place but reduced his prize to $54,993. And finally, on July 16th, 2023, he participated in the online event of WSOP and won yet another first place with a prize of $195,151.
Nipun Java’s personal life
As a personal rule, Nipun does not let his personal life mix with his poker life. But from what we have found on his Instagram page and interviews, he has a sister and a nephew that he is fond of. He spends his vacations with his parents in the United States or India. According to what he said in an interview, his parents were not on board with his poker career at the beginning. But as they saw his success, they warmed up to the idea and accepted him as a professional poker player.
In his free time in LA, when he is not playing poker, he plays golf and works out. He is also obsessed with watching golf tournaments and tennis tours. His other favorite pastimes are going to Indian restaurants with his friends and swimming.
Nipun Java’s net worth
Since joining the world of professional poker, Nipun Java has earned nearly $3 million from online and in-person poker tournaments and events. Unfortunately, there is no record of how much this Indian player is worth or how much money he actually has. He is ranked third in the Indian All-Time Money list and 719th in the All-Time Money list.
Nipun Java’s life in a box
| Name | Nipun Java |
| Nickname | Javatini |
| Born | New Delhi, India |
| Residence | Los Angeles, US |
| Age | 45 years old |
| Started poker | 2009 |
| Became a professional player | 2014 |
| First official poker win | $9,620 in 2009 |
| Best live win | $270,509 |
| Total live earnings | $2,966,360 |
| All-Time Money List | 719th |
| India All-Time Money List | 3rd |
| Global Poker Index Ranking | 1,093rd |
| World Series of Poker bracelets | 3 |
| WSOP Circuit rings | 2 |
| @javatinii with 1,283 followers | |
| X (Twitter) | @nipunjava with 2,087 followers |
| Nipun Java with 49 connections |
