Australia Poker 2025 SPI Review: Top Ten Australian Poker Players

The 2025 poker season served as a definitive showcase for the southern hemisphere’s powerhouse, with the top ten Australian poker players asserting their dominance across both local and international circuits. According to the Somuchpoker Poker Index (SPI) , the 2025 leaderboard highlights a year where Australian professionals successfully translated their aggressive domestic strategies into massive global rankings.

The following table details the consistency and raw earning power of the top ten Australian poker players in 2025.

2025 SPI Score: Australia Top Ten

Player Profiles

1. Dylan Foster

Sitting at the absolute summit of the top ten Australian poker players is Dylan Foster . His 2025 campaign was a masterclass in high-frequency deep runs, resulting in a dominant 2025 SPI Score of 20,591. Foster participated in 43 events across 12 festivals, accumulating SPI earnings of $579,495.

Approaching $1.5 million in total live tournament earnings, Foster’s season highlight came at the APT Manila Classic 2025 , where he secured a 3rd-place finish in the APT Main Event for PHP 4,577,000 (~$78,665). Impressive as it is, his best live cash remains $144,969, set at WPTDS Sydney 2022 with a runner-up finish in the WPTDS Sydney 5k Challenge event for AUD 194,295 (~$144,969).

2. Yita Choong

Ranked second among the top ten Australian poker players, Yita Choong balanced a selective schedule with elite results. Choong achieved a 2025 SPI Score of 17,167, fueled by impressive SPI earnings of $649,905. With nearly $3.5 million in career winnings, his 2025 peak came from a 3rd-place finish in a major event, the K Poker Cup Single Day Super High Roller , at the  Jeju Poker Festival in South Korea for $307,000, which added significantly to his reputation as one of the country’s most technical tournament specialists.

Notably, Choong’s career-high cash stands at $395,545, which he earned at the 53rd World Series of Poker in 2022 with a remarkable 4th-place finish in the Millionaire Maker event.

3. William Jia

William Jia secures the third spot in the top ten Australian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 12,767. Jia proved to be one of the most consistent forces in the southern circuit, recording 25 cashes and SPI earnings of $336,130. His total live earnings have now surpassed $1.7 million, with his best live cash of $88,866 coming from a dominant victory in the Main Event at the VIPT Hanoi 2024.

Jia’s 2025 reached its peak at the Poker Dream 19 in Malaysia, where he made an outstanding final table appearance in 3rd-place finish at the Super High Roller event for MYR 348,000 (~$83,149), marking a spectacular highlight of his year.

4. Andrew Han

Andrew Han holds the fourth position in the top ten Australian poker players list with a 2025 SPI Score of 11,825. Han navigated 11 festivals to secure SPI earnings of $229,310. Known for his patient and resilient strategy, Han has amassed over $300,000 in career earnings, with his 2025 highlight being a 12th-place finish in a marquee regional festival, the APT Championship Taipei 2025 .

Earlier in the 2025 season, Han proved his ability to compete in elite fields by finishing 2nd in the High Roller at the Poker Palace Summer Championships in Sydney. He took home AUD 50,000 (~$31,716), further solidifying his reputation as a high-stakes threat. In late 2025, he navigated a massive field in the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout , ultimately finishing in 12th for TWD 2,055,300 (~$66,515). This result not only marked his arrival as a serious contender in premier international fields, but also set a new benchmark in his poker resume.

5. Anton Lu

Rounding out the top five is Anton Lu , who recorded a 2025 SPI Score of 11,671. Lu was remarkably active, attending 14 festivals and accumulating SPI earnings of $290,580 across 40 events.  With total live earnings nearing $1.8 million, his best live cash stands at $143,401, set in the Super High Roller at the Poker Dream 12 Jeju 2024 .

Lu remains a staple of the Australian grinder community, frequently appearing in the final stages of mid-to-high stakes events. He’s recognized for his technical adaptability across a wide range of tournament formats, including Super High Rollers, Mystery Bounties, and Freezeouts. His 2025 highlight came from the online event, High Roller 6-Max, at the WSOP Online. He secured a 4th-place prize of $105,600.

6. Neng Zhao

Neng Zhao ranks 6th among the top ten Australian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 10,715. Zhao focused on quality over quantity, playing just 21 events to generate SPI earnings of $437,690. His career-best score of $316,442 came in 2025 with a 5th-place finish in the APT Championship Main Event Freezeout event at the APT Championship Taipei.

Crossing the $800,000-mark in total live earnings, Zhao is well-known for his lively table talk and competitive spirit. Zhao’s success underscores his ability to adapt to diverse fields, ranging from Australian domestic circuits to the toughest final tables in Asia.

7. Joshua McCully

Joshua McCully takes the 7th spot among the top ten Australian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 9,688. A world-renowned professional, McCully’s 2025 focused on high-stakes stops, leading to SPI earnings of $379,157.

With over $2.6 million in total live earnings and ranked among the top 20 on Australia’s All-Time Money List, McCully’s 2025 highlight came from his 2nd place finish in the Triton One High Roller at Triton One Jeju (2025) for $226,000. While impressive, his career-best live cash stands still at $277,291, which he banked in the 2024 WPT Cambodia Championship by securing a runner-up finish in the WPT Main Event.

8. Jie Chen

Jie Chen ranks 8th among the top ten Australian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 9,310. Chen was an “In The Money” machine, recording 32 cashes, the second highest in the top ten. This consistency led to SPI earnings of $71,690. While his average buy-in is lower than others, his volume across 11 festivals demonstrates an incredible work ethic.

Chen has demonstrated strong performance in 2025 with several notable triumphs and deep runs, including a 1st place in the Big O Turbo Bounty event at the Gods of Poker festival in Jeju for $1,686, a 2nd place finish in the Deep Stack event at the Jeju Poker Festival for $5,045, and a 1st place finish in the Dealer’s Choice event at APT Incheon for $5,965.

9. Julian Warhurst

Julian Warhurst secures the 9th position among the top ten Australian poker players with a 2025 SPI Score of 8,399. Warhurst participated in 21 events, concluding the year with SPI earnings of $218,985.

With over $1.3 million in total live earnings, Warhurst’s 2025 momentum peaked during the APT Championship series, where he emerged as the ultimate winner in a major event, the Freezeout Championship , for his career-best live cash of TWD 2,624,300 (~$84,110), surpassing his previous record set at the Poker Dream 10 Malaysia 2024 for $229,264 and capping off his 2025 in a sensational way.

10. David Wang

Closing out the top ten Australian poker players is David Wang . Despite attending only 3 festivals, Wang leads the entire group in raw financial impact with SPI earnings of $996,115, resulting in an SPI Score of 8,142.

With over $2.5 million in total live earnings, Wang currently holds the 19th position on the Australia All Time Money List. His 2025 pinnacle was a 3rd-place finish in a massive international festival, Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II 2025 ,  for $297,000, which now stands as his career-best cash.

Where to Play in Australia

The Australian poker scene is built around iconic casino venues and a booming grassroots circuit.

• The Star Sydney : The premier destination for high-stakes action and major international festivals in New South Wales.
• Star Gold Coast : A favorite for touring pros, offering a holiday atmosphere alongside world-class tournament facilities.
• Crown Melbourne : Historically the home of Australian poker, it remains a critical hub for cash games and regional series.
• Treasury Brisbane Casino : A key location for the northern poker community, providing regular tournament schedules and robust cash game action.

Australia’s Poker Festivals

• WPT Australia: The World Poker Tour has made a massive home on the Gold Coast, drawing international fields and providing a path to the WPT World Championship.
• The APL Million : Australia’s largest homegrown tournament, the Australian Poker League (APL) Million, attracts thousands of players to Southport for a massive prize pool.
• WPT Prime Sydney: A record-breaking series at the Star Sydney that consistently shatters entry numbers for the mid-major circuit.
• Australian Poker Open : A high-stakes festival designed for the elite, focusing on high-roller events and broadcast-quality final tables.

Advancing into 2026, the race for the next Player of the Year is already heating up. With the top ten Australian poker players building on their 2025 successes, the competition promises to be even fiercer as the southern elite continue to push the boundaries of the game.