The 5th annual Global Poker Awards wrapped up its festivities earlier this week with 29 trophies awarded throughout the night, highlighting exemplary player performances and standout contributions in the poker industry. Held in the PokerGO® Studio at Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, the evening ceremony saw its halls filled with its share of poker players, personalities, and well-known figures within the community.
Repeat winners were seen all around beginning with four-time recipient of the GPI Female Player of the Year, Kristen Foxen. Players’ Choice for Toughest Opponent also saw third time straight winner Stephen Chidwick, stand up to the title once again, remaining to be the only player to do so in history. First time GPA winners such as GPI Poker Player of the Year Bin Weng and GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year Nick Pupillo, were likewise honored for their outstanding performances along with Isaac Haxton who claimed the PokerGO Player of the Year title with three wins, fourteen cashes and over $7.2 Million in PGT winnings.
🌐♣️🏆 The GPI Player of the Year: Bin Weng #GlobalPokerAwards pic.twitter.com/rapZzstmCu
— Global Poker Index (@gpi) February 25, 2024
Other figures who emerged as maiden winners included Jans Arends (Breakout Player), Toby Stone (Tournament Director), Ali Nejad (Broadcaster), Marle Spragg (X/Twitter Personality), Jaman Burton (Vlogger), Daniel Sepiol (Final Table), and Bert Stevens (Streamer). Content creators who have helped transform poker into a whole new ordeal, were also recognized for their contributions including Caitlin Comeskey for the Best Short-Term Content Creator award, Greg Liow for Fans’ Choice – Personality, and The Chip Race as a returning recipient for Best Podcast.
Global brands World Poker Tour (WPT), Pokerstars, and World Series of Poker, similarly added awards to their roster of achievements with WPT Prime coming out as this year’s Best Mid-Major Tour/Circuit and Adam Pliska as Best Industry Person. Pokerstars LIVE on the other hand, was Fans’ Choice as Best Live Stream and saw its lead director for EPT Toby Stone, clinch his first career GPA. WSOP lastly, was proud to have its Main Event dubbed as the Best Event of the year.
Additionally, Asian Poker Tour joined the list with its Taipei Lion Trophy voted as the Best Trophy by the community. A pillar of the industry, Doyle Brunson’s dedication to the game was also commemorated with the 2023 Poker Icon award. The night ended with Ali Nejad offering his gratitude to all those who helped him clinch this award, from mentors, inspirations, down to his fans.
Global Poker Awards Winners
| Category | Winner |
| GPI Poker Player of the Year | Bin Weng |
| GPI Female Player of the Year | Kristen Foxen |
| GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year | Nick Pupillo |
| GPI Breakout Player | Jans Arends |
| Best Industry Person | Adam Pliska |
| Best Tournament Director | Toby Stone |
| Best Stand-Alone Festival/Series | Wynn Millions |
| Best Event | WSOP Main Event |
| Best Mid-Major Tour/Circuit | WPT Prime |
| Best Broadcaster | Ali Nejad |
| Charitable/Community Initiative | Nadya Magnus |
| Best Final Table Performance | Daniel Sepiol at WPT Championship |
| GPI Award of Merit | GGPoker Game of Gold |
| Poker Icon | Doyle Brunson |
| The Hendon Mob Award | Casey Kastle |
| Best X/Twitter Personality | Marle Spragg |
| Best Vlogger | Jaman Burton |
| Players’ Choice for Toughest Opponent | Stephen Chidwick |
| Best Podcast | The Chip Race |
| PokerGO Player of the Year | Isaac Haxton |
| Best Short-Form Content Creator | Caitlin Comeskey |
| Best Streamer | Bert “Girafganger” Stevens |
| Fans’ Choice – Personality | Greg “Greg Goes All-In” Liow |
| Fans’ Choice – Best Live Stream | PokerStars Live |
| Fans’ Choice – Best Trophy | Asian Poker Tour Taipei Lion Trophy |
| Fans’ Choice – Best Hand | Triton London |
| Best Media Content – Photo | Rachel Kay Winter “Schulman Cool” |
| Best Media Content – Video | PokerGO: Doyle Brunson Celebration of Life |
| Best Media Content – Written | The Tales of Billy Baxter: The Final Days of Stu Ungar (David Hill for WPT.com) |
