Praz Bansi, a 29-year-old professional poker player from London, only started playing poker in 2005. His first major tournament cash came at the 37th World Series of Poker in July 2006. In his first event, the $2,000 No Limit Hold'em, Bansi finished 73rd, earning $7,462. But it was in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event that he announced himself to the poker world, winning the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event and taking home $230,209 and a WSOP bracelet.
In December 2006, Praz Bansi returned to America and competed in four $1,000 No Limit Hold'em events at the Fifth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas. In an impressive and consistent overall performance, Bansi made the final table in each event, finishing 3rd in three events and 4th in the fourth, leaving The Bellagio with $47,840.
A month later, Praz Bansi kicked off 2007 by winning the £1,000 No Limit Hold'em event at the inaugural Grosvenor UK Poker Tour tournament in Bolton, England. In a field of 187, Bansi’s win earned him a handsome $145,580. He followed that up by winning the £1,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event at the Poker Festival in Birmingham only a month later. Bansi beat out 92 other competitors to emerge victorious and pick up a winner’s check of $63,979.
In April 2007, Praz Bansi made the trip to Las Vegas for the Fifth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic, where he competed in the $25,000 World Poker Tour No Limit Hold'em Championship event. In an event that saw 639 entrants and a staggering $15.5 million prize pool, Bansi finished 50th, earning $61,880 for his efforts. At the 38th World Series of Poker in June 2007, Praz Bansi entered two $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em events, finishing 10th in one and 16th in the other, for total earnings of $35,371.
At the Sixth Annual Five Star World Poker Classic in Las Vegas in April 2008, Praz Bansi won two $2,500 Super Satellite events, earning $51,400 in total and with it a place in the $25,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship Event. In a field of 545 and a prize pool of a little over $13 million, Bansi finished in 88th place, leaving the Bellagio $39,570 richer.
Bansi entered the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event at the 39th World Series of Poker in June 2008, but failed to make an impression, finishing 49th and picking up $9,018. He then moved closer to home for the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour in August 2008, where he secured 18th place in the £500 No Limit Hold'em event, earning a meager $1,322.