Pro Punnat, Asia's first poker world champion, has returned to Thailand and hopes the new government will continue to promote his success.
"Pro Punnat," a young Thai poker player and the first world champion from both Thailand and Asia, has earned over 335 million baht in prize money in just over a year. He has flown back to Thailand, expressing hope that the new government will help sustain and build on this success. Meanwhile, Mr. Thana Chulapansak, president of the Thai Poker Sports Association, believes poker can generate huge revenue for the country.
Mr. Thana Chulapansak, president of the Thai Poker Sports Association, together with Mr. Jitnara Nawarath, the association's secretary-general, and other executives, welcomed "Pro Punnat"—Punnat Punsri, the world's top poker player and the first from Thailand and Asia—upon his return to Thailand. A warm crowd of fans greeted him at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on 5 Jan 2025 GMT+7.
"Pro Punnat" Punnat Punsri won the 2025 GPI Player of the Year award, ranking first worldwide according to the Global Poker Index. He achieved 7 championships, 60 ITM (in the money) finishes, and earned over $10,674,370 in prize money throughout the year, approximately 335.4 million baht.
"Pro Punnat" said he is very happy. He has known poker since childhood, learning and practicing the game with his father. As a child, he dreamed of competing at the highest level but never imagined winning the Player of the Year award. His achievement is not from this year alone but from consistent performance since he started playing full-time in 2022. After about a week of competing seriously, he aimed to become world number one, a position no Asian had reached at that time. By mid-2025, his strong performance put him in contention for the Player of the Year title, a prestigious honor, motivating him to compete in tournaments with high points. He is very proud to have achieved this.
"My goal this year remains to participate continuously in major tours. I want many Thai players to compete on the world stage and reach final tables in global poker tournaments. The sport is growing rapidly in Thailand and Asia. I hope there will be more support for poker education as well."
"Personally, I want Thailand to view poker from two key perspectives: the private sector and the government. Support from both will be very beneficial. From the private side, increasing people's training in poker thinking and playing is good, as poker is a unique sport involving statistical analysis, psychology, situational awareness, game analysis, and reading opponents. These skills, if trained, are very valuable. Additionally, poker is a sport for all genders and ages. From the government side, having competed in many countries, I believe legalizing poker properly would greatly benefit Thailand. Poker players who come to compete in Thailand not only play but also promote local businesses. If supported correctly and played properly, poker will have far more positive effects than negatives."
Meanwhile, Mr. Thana said, "Pro Punnat" clearly shows that Thai players can be world number one in poker. As president of the Thai Poker Sports Association, he wants to use this opportunity to promote poker in Thailand to reach national recognition and become a regional hub. Hosting tournaments in Thailand could generate enormous revenue and attract athletes worldwide to see how well the country lives and the quality of its hotels and tourist sites. He wants poker to help Thailand create income from this sector and believes young people can turn poker into a career, generating substantial income for the new generation.
"A message to the new government about to take office: please consider opening up opportunities for poker. I believe poker can create many careers and businesses for Thailand," concluded the president of the Thai Poker Sports Association.