Nikhil Segel, known as ‘JuicyPlankton’ on his social channels, is an Indian recreational poker player who shot to notoriety in 2018 when he won Jaime Staples’ #MyUltimateSweat competition on PokerStars. Canadian poker streamer Staples, who had recently shed a load of weight, laid down the gauntlet to the online poker community to try and emulate his achievement. Segel took first prize, beating the other five finalists to clinch a PokerStars Platinum Pass worth $30,000.
To win the contest Segel quit smoking altogether, kicking a 50-a-day habit, as well as dropping his weight and stabilising his blood sugar levels as a diabetic. Staples noted Segel’s inspiring journey, which earned him the Platinum Pass to enter the 2019 PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) in the Bahamas.
Segel travelled to the 2019 PSPC Main Event, and although he didn’t manage a deep run in the tournament, he made a lasting impression. In fact, Segel managed to convince PokerStars to establish another lower-value event aimed at the +1s and those who busted out early from the PSPC Main Event. Sure enough, the Nikhil Segel Platinum Pass Winners Invitational was born. It proved to be a very popular tournament, cementing Segel into PSPC folklore for good.
He also landed a second Platinum Pass from PokerStars for the 2023 PSPC Main Event, having been recognised as a champion of the people, supporting others in their bids to win a Platinum Pass. Segel has been known to live-stream his recreational poker sessions on Twitch, where he particularly enjoys mixed-games.
Away from the felt, Segel is a single father of two, a professional architect and an amateur photographer.
