Thai sports has made a new historical milestone as Punnat Punsri, the first Thai poker player, officially claimed the world No. 1 spot in the 2025 Global Poker Index (GPI) annual rankings.
“Pro Punnat” accumulated enough points to surpass top American poker player Jesse Lonis in the final stretch of 2025, securing the world’s No. 1 poker player title and bringing pride to all Thai people.
Additionally, “Pro Punnat” became the first Thai and Asian poker player in history to simultaneously hold the No. 1 position in all four main Global Poker Index (GPI) scoring categories: the GPI Ranking Awards, GPI Player of the Year, GPI Asia Ranking Awards, and GPI Asia Player of the Year. This marks a significant achievement for Thai poker on the global stage.
Throughout the 2025 season, “Pro Punnat” delivered outstanding performances in top global tournaments such as the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series, European Poker Tour (EPT), Asian Poker Tour (APT), and World Series of Poker (WSOP). His total earnings reached $10,951,494 USD (approximately 342.9 million baht) from events in 14 countries. He cashed in over 61 events and won seven titles across various formats, demonstrating his versatility and elite status as a world-class poker athlete.
In the GPI rankings, “Pro Punnat” started the season ranked No. 5 globally, steadily climbing to finally reach the No. 1 position on 10 December 2025. In the GPI Player of the Year (POY) leaderboard, he overtook other top global players in the season’s final phase after intense competition.
“Pro Punnat Punsri” said, “I want to thank all Thai people who have continuously supported me. There were many times I faced difficult situations, but I managed to turn things around, partly thanks to the encouragement and support from poker fans across Thailand. I also thank Ten Nata for providing every push for me and Thai poker players and for closely following my mission’s progress throughout the year. All of this support was essential for reaching my goals last year.”
Ms. Oranit Engchuan, Strategy Director at Ten Nata Co., Ltd., the main sponsor supporting “Pro Punnat” to reach the global level, stated, “This is another milestone for Thai poker as Thais have proven themselves on the world stage. Pro Punnat’s success is a source of pride for Thai poker sports and clear evidence that Thai athletes can reach the world’s top through effort, discipline, and consistency. Ten Nata is committed to continuing to support the development and elevation of Thai poker sports. Furthermore, we reaffirm our dedication to supporting the growth of poker in terms of competition, athlete standards, and building a positive international image.”