The Global Poker Awards are the Oscars of the poker world, celebrating not only exceptional player achievements but also those who bring the game closer to fans and drive it forward. Under its current name, it was formed in 2019 by merging the European Poker Awards and American Poker Awards, with European roots tracing back to 2001. The most recent, sixth edition took place on February 22, 2025, at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. Awardees included Adrian Mateos as the most formidable opponent according to players and Alejandro Lococo as the most entertaining player.
After the announced cancellation of the 2026 edition, it seemed this tradition would take a hiatus. The return is now more surprising, occurring at a new location with a significantly altered format. Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob announced the comeback yesterday, surprising many by moving the ceremony from Vegas to the Baha Mar resort, which also hosts WSOP Paradise this year. It's not just a change of scenery. The new list of categories suggests organizers aim to offer viewers a distinctly different evening.
🌐♣️🏆 The Global Poker Awards Return for a 7th edition at WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas
— Global Poker Index (@gpi) October 29, 2026
📝 https://t.co/L7ZaPG9BDJ pic.twitter.com/JSKmevV0dP
Fewer Industry Awards, More Spotlight on Players
This time, eleven trophies will be awarded. Noteworthy categories include Best Villain, recognizing poker's top 'bad guy', and Best Table Mate, for the most enjoyable table companion. Here, we see two entirely different personalities side by side: the player everyone wants to share a session with and the one whose presence stirs the biggest emotions.
Respect among opponents gets its own spotlight in three categories: Most Feared Player - separately for live tournaments, tournament mixed games, and cash games. They are joined by breakthrough player, best final table performance, and the GPI Poker ICON award. Content creators are still represented with awards for best streamer and vlogger.
The new award structure also means significant cuts. The announced program lacks categories for best podcast, book, journalist, tournament director, or festival. Barry Carter from PokerStrategy, who received awards for book and social media presence at the previous edition, understandably has mixed feelings about the change. However, he supports the increased focus on players as a path to making the event engaging for a wider poker audience.
Hellmuth, Negreanu, or Tilly: Fans Can Decide
The first open category is Fans’ Choice: Most Entertaining Player. Voting for the most entertaining player runs until November 3rd and offers ten candidates:
- Alan Keating
- Dan “Jungleman” Cates
- Daniel Negreanu
- Nik “Airball” Arcot
- Phil Hellmuth
- Randy “3Coin” Sadler
- Will Givens
- Jennifer Tilly
- Michael “Grinder” Mizrachi
- Phil Laak
It's a lineup where results aren't everything. Fans can appreciate humor, courage, unpredictability, and the ability to turn an ordinary cash game into a spectacle. Nominations in other categories have yet to be announced.
The Bahamas Could Solve the Empty Seat Problem
According to organizers, the decision to skip 2026 was due to the demands of preparation and production. Another issue was identified by Daniel Negreanu: as mentioned in his Mania Podcast, the previous ceremony suffered from poor attendance by the players themselves.
Teaming up with WSOP Paradise makes practical sense. Instead of persuading stars to travel for a standalone gala, the awards come directly to them during a major festival. Whether this new format will attract a larger audience remains to be seen in December. One thing is clear from the list of awards: the Global Poker Awards are not just returning with a new address. They're back with a question that could spark debate at every table - who played poker not just the best but also made it the most interesting this year?
Sources: globalpokerindex, X, PokerNews
