The 6th Annual Global Poker Awards were held in Las Vegas this past weekend and among the winners were the show’s presenter himself, Jeff Platt. With other winners such as Adrian Mateos, Cherish Andrews, David Coleman, Abby Merk and Rania Nasreddine all honored with trophies, there were multiple winners, emotional speeches and a degree of wholesome truth about the awards ceremony, which was broadcast exclusively on PokerGO.

Andrews and Coleman Celebrate Epic Years

“I didn’t know what poker would look like for me.”

Both Cherish Andrews and David Coleman celebrated terrific years at the felt in the past 12 months as they were named Female Player of the Year and Player of the Year by the Global Poker Index. After Coleman’s victory was announced, Cherish Andrews took to the stage after her name was called out yet again, as her consistency and impressive play at the felt saw her named as Female Player of the Year in a year where Kristen Foxen among others ran her close.

After thanking those around her for their unwavering support, PokerStake player Cherish revealed that while she’s enjoyed a great year at the felt in 2024, it has been a very tough one for her away from the felt.

“In June of last year, I lost my my oldest brother unexpectedly. I didn’t know what poker would look like for me after losing him, but my family reminded me that he loved me a lot, he loved poker and he really supported my journey, though he never got to make it to Las Vegas with me. It was one of his dreams to come out here and play. I know he’s here tonight and this is for him.”

There was a warm round of applause, heartfelt in its fullness as the room embraced Cherish Andrews, not just congratulating her on making it to the top in her profession but in making it at all through a year that was evidently hard for her to bear.

Carter’s Triple Headlines Multiple Winners

The night was about many winners, such as the amazing Barny Boatman, whose performance at the EPT Paris final table won the GPA on a night many thought was Jeff Platt’s and co-host Drea Renee’s finest in terms of presentation. There was a new multiple winner on the roster, too.

Before 2024, many American poker fans might have been forgiven for not knowing much of Barry Carter’s work. The British poker writer has been an ever-present in Europe, however, where he work is admired and after co-authoring four successful strategy books with Dara O’Kearney – the pair once again won Best Book for Beyond GTO: Poker Exploits Simplified – and featuring in a regular slot on The Chip Race podcast – which again scooped the GPA – Carter’s X.com barbs landed him Best Social Media Personality.

From lampooning poker’s biggest names to grabbing low-hanging fruit and lobbing it humorously at a gleeful poker public, 2024 belonged to Barry Carter online and he used his speech – delivered appropriately and digitally to Jeff Platt’s phone – to thank all the scumbags who acted shadily to put him in his position.

While she was nominated for four awards, Caitlin Comeskey failed to grab one this year, but others were happy to step in. Comeskey’s friend Nikki Limo won Best Media Content (Short-Form Video), Abby Merk was the Rising Star of Content Creation and Rania Nasreddine – who told us a few weeks ago that she thought she had no chance of winning – took home the gong for GPI Breakout Player of the Year, using her time on stage to highlight the reality of ‘going pro’ when your family don’t know the poker industry, a topic that will have resonated with thousands watching at home.

The Element of Truth

“Thank you for supporting the world of poker journalists for the last 20 years.”

Over the course of any awards ceremony, a narrative floats up out of the winners and losers. To some, including Daniel Negreanu, this year saw an increased influx of ‘Euro’ winners, players and creators from Europe. But to others, this former live reporter and poker journalist included, there was a thread of truth that sat just beneath the veneer of celebration in the room.

Cherish Andrews spoke of the enormous familial support that exists behind an elite poker professional’s success. Jeff Platt thanked his entire team for what on the surface was his personal achievement. Journalists Lance Bradley – formerly of Pocket Fives­ – and Brad Willis spoke plenty of truth during the award of Best Journalist, which was handed to Willis by the former GPA award-winning Journalist Bradley, who in the past few days blew the lid on his – and his entire team’s – shock departure from the World Poker Tour.

“I don’t know who’s sweating more – the four nominees hoping I’ll say their name next or the eight people at that table hoping I don’t say theirs.” Said Bradley, indicating the table full of World Poker Tour folk who doubtless bear the responsibility for the culling of a team of writers nominated for multiple awards on the night.

It was a brave move from someone respected throughout all – or virtually all – of the poker community. Willis was, as anyone who has read his work might have expected, fascinating, gripping and entertaining in accepting his award. He even found time to try to pass it forward.

“Thank you for supporting the world of poker journalists for the last 20 years. Everybody works really hard and in a way people don’t understand how much they put into it.” He said. After thanking many folks in the industry, mentioning his family brought out a home truth about the miles those such as himself put in on the road.

“Most of all, I have to thank my wife Michelle and my sons. I’ve been on the road for 20 years and I miss them a lot, including today. I’m grateful for them and all their support. Why am I crying in front of people? Makes zero sense.”

On a night packed with emotion, the truth and a surprising amount of substance for an awards ceremony, those tears made total sense.

Here are all the winners on a fabulous night in Las Vegas.

6^th Annual Global Poker Awards:

GPI Poker Player of the Year: David Coleman (United States)

GPI Female Player of the Year: Cherish Andrews (United States)

PGT Player of the Year: Jeremy Ausmus (United States)

GPI Breakout Player: Rania Nasreddine (United States)

Best Final Table Performance: Barny Boatman (England), EPT Paris Main Event

Players Choice for Toughest Opponent: Adrian Mateos (Spain)

Best X/Twitter Personality: Barry Carter (England)

Best Streamer: Benjamin ‘Spraggy’ Spragg (England)

Best Vlogger: Brad Owen (United States)

Best Short-Form Content Creator: Marle Spragg – ‘Marle Poker’ (United States)

Rising Star in Content Creation: Abby Merk (United States)

Best Industry Person: Francine Watson (England)

Best Tournament Director: Luca Vivaldi (Italy)

Best Journalist: Brad Willis (United States)

Best Live Tournament Reporter: Mickey Doft (United States)

Best Director of Poker Operations: Ryan Beauregard (United States)

Best Event: World Series of Poker Main Event, Horseshoe Las Vegas

Best Mid-Major Tour/Circuit: Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP)

Best Stand-Alone Festival/Series: Irish Poker Open, Royal Dublin Society

Best Episodic Poker Series: The Big Game on Tour by PokerStars

Best On-Air Talent: Jeff Platt (United States)

Best Podcast: The Chip Race (David K Lappin, Dara O’Kearney for Unibet Poker)

Best Poker Book: Beyond GTO: Poker Exploits Simplified (Dara O’Kearney, Barry Carter)

Best Media Content (Written): A Further Investigation into the Existence of the BotFarm Corporation (Jonathan Raab for Poker Pro)

Best Media Content (Video): The Four Rules of the Poker Kings (Greg Clark, BBC Scotland)

Best Media Content (Short-Form Video): Nikki Limo (United States) – What’s it like playing poker as a woman

Best Media Content (Photo): Danny Maxwell (Ireland) – ‘Barny GOATMAN’ (below)

Best Hand (Fans Choice): Xuan Liu stars in Wild Hand at The Lodge

Most Entertaining Player (Fans Choice): Alejandro ‘Papo MC’ Lococo (Argentina)

Most Original Trophy Design (Fans Choice): PGT Texas Poker Open Belt Buckle

Best Poker Live Stream (Fans Choice): Poker at The Lodge

Best Poker Room (Fans Choice): Playground Poker Club Montreal, Canada

GPI Award of Merit: Gene Calden

The Hendon Mob Award: Dominick French

Charitable/Community Initiative: Poker GivesSet featured image

Watch all the drama of an emotional 6^th Annual Global Poker Awards here if you’re a PokerGO subscriber.