Poker Honors Presented at Global Poker Awards in Las Vegas

The first Global Poker Awards ceremony was held at the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas on the evening of April 5, 2019. Poker players and many in the industry attended to honor those who were nominated for their poker accomplishments, including play, events, reporting, and industry contributions in 2018.

The event was hosted by the Global Poker Index and Poker Central, and it was presented by PokerStars. Some attended in Las Vegas, while others watched online at PokerGO, which was opened for free viewing, or followed along with updates on social media.

Of the nearly two dozen awards, there were 13 with pre-announced nominations. Winners were chosen by a jury of poker industry representatives, though their identities have not been revealed.

Nominees and Winners

The winners in these categories are highlighted.

Tournament Performance:

–Justin Bonomo in Super High Roller Bowl IV

–John Cynn in WSOP Main Event

–Maria Lampropulos of PCA Main Event

–Dylan Linde at WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 @john_cynn wins the 2018 Tournament Performance of the Year Award for his @WSOP Main Event Win – Watch the #GlobalPokerAwards for free on: https://t.co/7mE83fp7Rk pic.twitter.com/vziHieNPmD

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Breakout Player:

–Almedin Imsirovic

–Maria Konnikova

–Ping Liu

–Christopher Michael Soyza

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 Almedin “Ali” Imsirovic wins the award for Breakout Player of the Year – @aliImsirovic. Watch the #GlobalPokerAwards for free on: https://t.co/7mE83fGJfU pic.twitter.com/dVwCdKxSEc

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Streamer of the Year:

–Jeff Gross

–Jason Somerville

–Jaime Staples

–Lex Veldhuis

🎞 The King of @TwitchPoker and 2018 #GlobalPokerAwards Streamer of the Year is: Lex @RaSZi Veldhuis pic.twitter.com/mzFPB3c9MP

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Vlogger of the Year:

–Marle Cardeiro

–Joe Ingram

–Andrew Neeme

–Daniel Negreanu

–Doug Polk

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 Andrew Neeme wins the Vlogger of the Year Award @andrewneeme. pic.twitter.com/tlpGIueLGw

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Podcast:

–LFG Podcast with Chad Holloway and Jamie Kerstetter

–Poker Central Podcast with Brent Hanks and Remko Rinkema

–PokerNews Podcast with Sarah Herring and Jeff Platt

–Chip Race Poker Podcast with David Pappin and Dara O’Kearney

–Fives Poker Podcast with Lance Bradley and Donnie Peters

ICYMI: 🌐🏆Huge congrats to The Chip Race Poker Podcast on winning Podcast of the Year Award #GlobalPokerAwards @dklappin, @daraokearney, @thechiprace, @UnibetPoker pic.twitter.com/K8z9Ic5UO0

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Broadcaster:

–Maria Ho

–Lon McEachern

–Nick Schulman

–Lex Veldhuis

ICYMI 🌐🏆 And the winner for Broadcaster of the Year is: @MariaHo🎙#GlobalPokerAwards pic.twitter.com/M0C3xUFGt9

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Poker Journalist:

–Drew Amato

–Sarah Herring

–Remko Rinkema

–Christian Zetzsche

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 Sarah @AuntyChardonnay Herring wins the award for Poker Journalist of the Year. Congrats #GlobalPokerAwards pic.twitter.com/AYMXSEtuYq

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Media Content:

–Drew Amato for photo of Doyle Brunson at last WSOP

–Lance Bradley for book “The Pursuit of Poker Success”

–Haley Hintze for article entitled Vayo v. PokerStars

–Poker Central/PokerGO for Super High Roller Club broadcast

🌐🏆 Media Content of the Year: Lance Bradley: The Pursuit of Poker Success, published by D&B Publishing #GlobalPokerAwards – @Lance_Bradley & @DBPoker1

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Industry Person:

–Angelica Hael of World Poker Tour

–Cary Katz of Poker Central

–Matt Savage of WPT, TDA, etc.

–Ty Stewart of World Series of Poker

–Rob Yong of Dusk Till Dawn and PartyPoker

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 Angelica Hael (World Poker Tour) wins the award for 2018 Industry Person of the Year! #GlobalPokerAwards – @AngelicaHael, @WPT pic.twitter.com/nB7RQAVTPw

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Tournament Director:

–Tony Burns of Seminole Hard Rock

–Paul Campbell of ARIA

–Jack Effel of World Series of Poker

–Kenny Hallaert of Unibet Open

🌐🏆@TDPaulCampbell wins Tournament Director of the Year Category. Thank you for all the great work you do for the players and the @ARIAPoker room #GlobalPokerAwards

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Mid-Major Tour or Circuit:

–888poker Live

–RUNGOOD Poker Series

–Unibet Open

–WPTDeepStacks

–WSOP Circuit

🎞 RunGood Series takes down the award for Mid-Major Circuit of the Year #GlobalPokerAwards @RGPokerSeries pic.twitter.com/3gLEaDmLgi

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Event of the Year:

–PartyPoker Caribbean Poker Party Main Event

–Super High Roller Bowl IV

–WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic

–WSOP Main Event

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 And the Award for Event of Year goes to WSOP Main Event #GlobalPokerAwards @WSOP pic.twitter.com/QTBxEIziqR

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Moment of the Year:

–Randi Hilsercop gives husband Jeremy a WSOP trip for Christmas, goes viral and results in PokerStars gifting him a PSPC Platinum Pass

–Joe Cada wins WSOP Closer after finishing fifth in WSOP Main Event

–Doyle Brunson plays final WSOP event

–Justin Bonomo wins Big One for One Drop to complete Super High Roller streak

🌐🏆 @JustinBonomo wins the Moment of the Year Trophy #GlobalPokerAwards

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Popular Vote and Predetermined Awards

Two of the awards were given based on their standings on the Global Poker Index, and each of them finished at the top of the rankings in their given categories.

2018 GPI Poker Player of the Year:  Alex Foxen

2018 GPI Female Poker Player of the Year:  Kristen Bicknell

Your GPI Player & Female Player of the Year @WAFoxen & @krissyb24poker pic.twitter.com/rnrY8cKQF7

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

The People’s Choice Award for Poker Personality of the Year was determined by the poker public. People around the world were welcomed to submit nominees to honor those who work to promote the game on and off the tables. The four with the most votes then went back to the public for a final vote, which ended on April 3.

–Jonathan Little

–Brad Owen

–Johnnie Moreno

–Lex Veldhuis

ICYMI: 🌐🏆 With over 50% of the votes and ten of thousands of unique voters, the 2018 People Choice Award goes to Brad Owen #GlobalPokerAwards – @TheBradOwen pic.twitter.com/IOSSfZ5Gav

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

The PocketFives Legacy Award was given to the online poker player who achieved the most success, and PocketFives chose to give that honor to Chris Moorman, the most acclaimed player in nearly every category of online poker.

🌐🏆 Chris @Moorman1 Moorman receives @PocketFives Legacy Award, presented to an online legend who has made outstanding contributions to the live tournament circuit. #GlobalPokerAwards pic.twitter.com/pmcEqYCugk

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

Other award winners were chosen by the jury and awarded as follows:

–Lifetime Achievement in Poker:  Doyle Brunson

–Charitable Initiative:  Robbie Strazynski’s Run Well Campaign

–Jury Prize:  Drew Amato

🌐🏆 You may have noticed, the Lifetime Achievement Award wasn't handed out on the stream, but we're incredibly honoured to award Doyle @TexDolly Brunson the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Global Poker Award 👏 #GlobalPokerAwards pic.twitter.com/xfL5Wbq0ir

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019

🌐🏆 Robbie Strazynski wins the Charitable Initiative Award for his amazing Run Well Campaign. Congrats @cardplayerlife. Watch the full acceptance speech: https://t.co/ZhuNBVod4s

— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019