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2025 GPI Year in Review: Punsri, Foxen, and Lakhdari Secure Global Titles
- Punnat Punsri makes history, winning GPI Player of the Year, first Asian to achieve this.
- Kristen Foxen becomes all-time female money leader and wins her fifth Female POY title.
- Omar Lakhdari dominates mid-stakes poker, securing GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year.
The 2025 poker season has reached its conclusion, marking a transformative moment for the Global Poker Index (GPI).
This year’s rankings have crowned a trio of champions. Punnat Punsri, Kristen Foxen, and Omar Lakhdari, who each dominated their respective categories during a year of relentless high-stakes competition. Although the formal Global Poker Awards ceremony is taking a hiatus, these results stand as the definitive objective measure of tournament excellence.
Punnat Punsri: A Historic Victory for Thailand
For the first time since the inception of the rankings, a player from Asia has captured the GPI Player of the Year title. Thailand’s Punnat Punsri finished the year with 4,458 points, narrowly defeating American pro Jesse Lonis (4,450 points) and Russia’s Artur Martirosyan (4,323 points). Punsri’s campaign was defined by volume and victory, recording 60 in-the-money finishes and seven individual titles.
2025 GPI POY Top 5
| Position | Player | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | 4,458 |
| 2 | Jesse Lonis | USA | 4,450 |
| 3 | Artur Martirosyan | Russia | 4,323 |
| 4 | Alex Foxen | USA | 4,295 |
| 5 | Brandon Wilson | USA | 4,219 |
Kristen Foxen: Foxen Becomes the All-Time Leader
2025 GPI Female Player of the Year
Kristen Foxen has once again asserted her dominance, winning her fifth Female Player of the Year title in eight years. Finishing with 3,734 points, over 700 points ahead of runner-up Cherish Andrews,
Foxen’s year was highlighted by becoming the all-time female money list leader.
She surpassed Vanessa Selbst’s long-standing record in September following a $1.1 million score at the Triton Super High Roller Series in Jeju. With over $4.6 million in total 2025 earnings, including a win at PokerGO Cup Event #7, Foxen remains the queen of consistency.
2025 GPI Female POY Top Three
| Position | Player | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kristen Foxen | Canada | 3,734 |
| 2 | Cherish Andrews | USA | 2,993 |
| 3 | Meng Ling Lin | China | 2,836 |
Omar Lakhdari: Lakhdari Rules the Mid-Stakes
2025 GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year
Omar Lakhdari dominated the Mid-Major circuit (buy-ins up to $2,500) with 2,786 points. His path to victory included a WSOP Circuit Ring in Middelkerke and a WPT Prime title. Lakhdari’s high volume of play at the Chamada Poker Series, where he won two Main Events, secured his lead over runner-up Evan Sandberg.
A Few More Winners
Regional excellence was also recognized across four continents:
- North America: Jesse Lonis
- South America: Nacho Barbero
- Europe: Artur Martirosyan
- Asia: Punnat Punsri
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