Poker’s Biggest Night: A Look at the 2024 Global Poker Awards Winners

Some of poker’s brightest stars recently gathered in Las Vegas for the 6th Annual Global Poker Awards, a night filled with celebration, recognition, and a few surprises. Held at the PokerGO Studio, the event honoured achievements across the poker landscape, from player performance to media contributions and was broadcast exclusively on PokerGO.com!

6th Annual Global Poker Awards Winners

Several winners had already been announced. David Coleman won the GPI Player of the Year title, while Cherish Andrews picked up her second GPI Female Player of the Year award. Han Feng took home the GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year trophy, and Jeremy Ausmus‘s impressive run earned him the PGT Player of the Year crown. Jesse Lonis received an award for most weeks at number one in the GPI rankings.

.@CherishAndrews accepts her second @GPI Female Player of the Year Award. 🏆#GlobalPokerAwards

Watch live: https://t.co/X1va6m4tHs pic.twitter.com/7sPWSUmKlP

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) February 23, 2025

The awards ceremony itself was a vibrant affair hosted by Jeff Platt and Drea Renee, with Platt receiving the award for Best On-Air Talent. A host of poker personalities and industry figures presented awards, adding to the excitement of the evening. Among the winners were Rania Nasreddine for GPI Breakout Player, Francine Watson for Best Industry Person, and Ryan Beauregard for Best Director of Poker Operations. Abby Merk was named Rising Star in Content Creation, and Nikki Limo won for Best Media Content: Short-Form Video.

The WSOP Main Event was crowned Best Event, the BSOP Best Mid-Major Tour/Circuit, and the Irish Poker Open Best Stand-Alone Festival/Series. The PGT’s Texas Poker Open belt buckle won for the Most Original Trophy.

PokerStars enjoyed a particularly successful night, with several wins. Benjamin Spragg was named Best Streamer for the second time, and Marle Spragg accepted the award on his behalf. She later won her own award for Best Short-Form Content Creator. Francine Watson, known for her work on shows like “The Big Game on Tour,” won Best Industry Person, and the show itself won Best Episodic Poker Series. Nikki Limo, who appeared on the show, also won for Best Media Content: Short-Form Video. Adding to their wins, Alejandro Lococo, a PokerStars ambassador, was voted Most Entertaining Player. It was a night of wins for the Spragg family and a strong showing for PokerStars.

Thank you! https://t.co/5gSp4NOX8j

— Marle Spragg (@MarleSpragg) February 23, 2025

The international flavour of poker was well-represented. The Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) was named Best Mid-Major Tour/Circuit, highlighting the growing influence of South American poker. UK’s Barry Carter won two awards for Best X/Twitter Personality and Best Poker Book, “Beyond GTO: Poker Exploits Simplified,” which he co-authored with Dara O’Kearney. O’Kearney also won for Best Poker Podcast, “The Chip Race.”

PokerOrg also had a successful evening. Its editor-in-chief, Brad Willis, won Best Journalist, beating out tough competition, including his colleague Sarah Herring. Abby Merk‘s win for Rising Star in Content Creation and Nikki Limo‘s award for Best Media Content: Short-Form Video added to PokerOrg’s strong presence. Jeremy Ausmus, a member of PokerOrg’s Player Advisory Board, had already been recognized as PGT Player of the Year.

Other notable winners included Barny Boatman for Best Final Table Performance, Adrian Mateos for Players Choice for Toughest Opponent, and Luca Vivaldi for Best Tournament Director. The World Series of Poker Main Event was named Best Event, and the Irish Poker Open Best Stand-Alone Festival/Series.

While an Indian nomination was notably missing this year (Santhosh Suvarna was nominated in the Breakout Player last year), the awards reflected the diverse nature of poker, recognizing achievements in playing, creating content, and contributing to the industry. While some went home with trophies, the entire event served as a reminder of the passion and dedication that fuels the poker world. The night was full of both expected wins and surprising outcomes, leaving attendees and viewers alike eager to see what the next year holds.

You can watch the award ceremony streamed on PokerGO`s YouTube channel below.