The Global Poker Awards winners
A few surprises, some vindication and a lot of awards given out last weekend in Las Vegas, live on PokerGO.
Players and industry folk alike hit Las Vegas on Friday evening to celebrate the first ever Global Poker Awards, which was a combination of the European Poker Awards and American Poker Awards.
The ceremony had a bit of controversy around it, like most award shows, because of who was left out of certain categories. One such example was prominent YouTuber Brad Owen, who was left out of the Vlogger category but did manage to win the People's Choice Award.
ICYMI: ðŸŒðŸ† 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
No surprise for tournament of the year or tournament performance of the year, those went to the WSOP Main Event and its winner John Cynn, somewhat begging the question whether such awards need to exist as they are so heavily weighted towards the Main Event? Moment of the Year, however, went to the insane year for Justin Bonomo that culminated in him winning One Drop:
🎞ICYMI: ðŸŒðŸ† @JustinBonomo wins the Moment of the Year Trophy #GlobalPokerAwards pic.twitter.com/h1skBsZGzG
— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019
Yet another impressive double for power couple Kristen Bicknell and Alex Foxen, who scooped the GPI Womens and overall GPI Award respectively. Chris Moorman bagged the online Legacy Award and no surprise, Doyle Brunson won the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
ðŸŒðŸ† 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/LGVXq7qMtO
— Global Poker Index (@gpi) April 6, 2019
Lots of poker content creators were rewarded. Lex Veldhuis scooped Streamer of The Year, Andrew Neeme was Vlogger of the Year, Lance Bradley won Poker Content of the Year and our friends at the Chip Race were named Podcast of the Year (though not there to collect it):
The moment you find out your podcast won a @GPI award https://t.co/kI4uhf30zu
— Dara O'Kearney (@daraokearney) April 6, 2019
The full list of winners
- Tournament Performance: John Cynn (WSOP Main Event)
- Breakout Player of the Year: Almedin “Ali” Imsirovic
- Streamer Of The Year: Lex Veldhuis
- Vlogger Of The Year: Andrew Neeme
- Podcast of the Year: The Chip Race Poker Podcast
- 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: Angelica Hael
- Tournament Director of the Year: Paul Campbell (ARIA)
- Mid-Major Tour/Circuit of the Year: RUNGOOD Poker Series
- Event Of The Year: WSOP Main Event
- Moment Of The Year: Justin Bonomo
- 2018 GPI Poker Player of the Year: Alex Foxen
- 2018 GPI Female Player of the Year: Kristen Bicknell
- Award for Lifetime Achievement in Poker: Doyle Brunson
- Charitable Initiative: Robbie Strazynski for his Run Well Campaign
- Jury Prize: Drew Amato
- PocketFives Legacy Award: Chris Moorman
- People’s Choice Award for Poker Personality of the Year: Brad Owen
What categories would you include or remove for next year's awards? Let us know in the comments:
