It’s time for this hamlet of ours to stand on a grander stage.
It’s time for the best in our business to be recognised.
It’s time for us to shower them with rice.
Wait.
That’s a wedding.
Scratch that last sentence.
It’s time to shower them with words of praise.
The Global Poker Awards (GPA) returns.
In 2019, the Global Poker Index (GPI) teamed with Poker Central to host the inaugural GPA – a decision that brought an axe down on the necks of the European and American Poker Awards, and the pair reunite for a take two.
On Friday, March 6, 2020, the GPI and Poker Central will host the 2020 GPA live from the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Details are as sparse as organic fruit and vegetables in a small Welsh valley, but here is what we do know thus far.
The whole shebang takes place at the PokerGO Studios, and you need to be a PokerGO subscriber to watch the entire thing live.
Last year there were 20-awards, and you can expect even more this year. We don’t know how many thrones need filling with the kings and queens of poker, but we do know there is at least one new category: Player’s Choice for All-Around Poker Player and the smart money is on Stephen Chidwick.
In June, CardPlayer asked 76 players to inscribe a name on a piece of clay, and when the various parts of pottery came out of the kiln, Chidwick’s name was on a third of them. On the day CardPlayer handed Chidwick a mug inscribed with the title of “The World’s Greatest Player,” he locked up his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, winning the $25k Pot-Limit Omaha. He remains the GPI World #1.
Voting Process
Cynical complaints on the voting process marred the first GPA, with members of the poker community feeling the process for creating shortlists for the content creation categories was weak.
Speaking at the time of the complaints, Eric Danis, GPI President, ensured his team would change things up for 2020, and although we don’t have the full details, changes are on the cards.
Referring to the voting process, Danis called it ‘updated’. A panel of experts will oversee voting in each category (for example, streaming experts on the streaming category), and the GPI will lean more on fan voting.
We will bring you further news on the categories when we see them.
Here are last year’s winners.
Global Poker Awards 2019 Winners
Tournament Performance of the Year – John Cynn (WSOP Main Event)
Breakout Player of the Year – Ali Imsirovic
Streamer of the Year – Lex Veldhuis
Vlogger of the Year – Andrew Neeme
Podcast of the Year – The Chip Race
Broadcaster of the Year – Maria Ho
Poker Journalist of the Year – Sarah Herring
Media Content of the Year – Lance Bradley (The Pursuit of Poker Success)
Industry Person of the Year – Angelica Hael (WPT)
Tournament Director of the Year – Paul Campbell (ARIA)
Mid-Major Circuit of the Year – RUNGOOD Poker Series
Event of the Year – WSOP Main Event
Moment of the Year – Justin Bonomo Winning The Big Three
GPI Player of the Year – Alex Foxen
GPI Female Player of the Year – Kristen Bicknell
Lifetime Achievement Award – Doyle Brunson
Charitable Initiative – Robbie Strazynski
Jury Prize – Drew Amato
PocketFives Legacy Award – Chris Moorman
People’s Choice Award: Poker Personality of the Year – Brad Owen