The Global Poker Awards are back this year with the fourth annual ceremony set for March 3 at the PokerGO Studio at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The annual ceremony is presented by the Global Poker Index (GPI) and The Hendon Mob (THM). The event recognizes some of the best in the game from play on the felt to poker content to special moments.
Organizers announced this year’s 29 categories on Monday and PokerGO will stream the ceremony starting at 5:30 pm PT.
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A look at this year’s Global Poker Awards
When the awards get underway, poker fans can expect a ceremony featuring awards for players and poker moments but also for media content, best hands, and the annual poker icon recognition.
The GPI already named players of the year earlier this month and those players will be recognized as well. These players will receive their trophies for topping the standings in 2022 in several categories.
- Stephen Song – Player of the Year and Mid-Major Player of the Year
- Cherish Andrews – Female Player of the Year
The GPI Players Choice trophy also returns and is voted on by the GPI top 100 ranked players. Other categories include Poker Icon, Final Table Performance, Best Blogger, and Streamer.
🏆♣️ GPI Players of the Year Announced ♣️🏆
🥇 Stephen @songstephen11 Song 🇺🇸 captures two titles
🥇 Cherish @CherishAndrews Andrews 🇺🇸 wins Female PoY
🌐 79 players named National PoYs
📝 https://t.co/iveyF0VZRM pic.twitter.com/xmJU45btVe— Global Poker Index (@gpi) January 4, 2023
New awards introduced, fan voting in the mix
Organizers also added three new categories including Best Comeback Player. Voters choose from a list of star players who haven’t been ranked inside the GPI top 1,000 in any of the three previous point-scoring seasons (2018, 2019, 2022).
Content creators also get a chance at a new award. This year sees the Rising Star in Content Creation celebrate those new to content creation, but creating some buzz.
Poker fans will again have a chance to vote themselves in the final round in the Fans Choice Awards. These feature four categories, including the new “Fave Live Stream” Award. This celebrates those working in front and behind the scenes in the live poker streaming world.
Fans also get to vote for three returning categories: Best Hand, Poker Personality, and Best Trophy. In the industry awards, the Mid-Major Tour/Festival Award returns for this year’s ceremony. This trophy is up for grabs for the first time since 2020.
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Voting begins for all awards
Many of the awards are determined by voting panel members. Those preliminary round ballots went out Monday. Final round voting then begins on Jan. 29.
Final nominees are then expected to be announced on Feb. 2. Last year’s awards became the first ceremony since 2019 because of the pandemic. Among the awards handed out included Brad Owen earning Best Vlogger and Veronica Brill received Best Charitable Initiative.
Enrique Malfavon scored Photo of the Year for capturing the World Series of Poker Main Event bubble boy Kevin Campbell. GPI posthumously awarded Poker Icon to Mike Sexton. Matt Savage earned Industry Person of the Year.
Voters named Paul Campbell as Tournament Director of the Year and the WSOP Main Event took Best Event of the Year. Here’s a look at all the categories for this year’s awards.
Fourth Annual Global Poker Awards categories
GPI Poker Player of the Year The Hendon Mob Award Best Broadcaster
GPI Female Player of the Year Best Twitter Personality Best Podcast
GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year Charitable Initiative Best Media Content: Written
PGT Player of the Year Best Streamer Best Media Content: Video
GPI Breakout Player Best Vlogger Best Media Content: Photo
Best Final Table Performance Rising Star in Content Creation Fans Choice: Poker Personality
Poker ICON Best Industry Person Fans Choice: Best Hand
Players' Choice for Toughest Opponent Best Tournament Director Fans Choice: Best Trophy
Comeback Player Best Event Fans Choice: Fave Live Stream
GPI Award of Merit Best Mid-Major Tour/Festival