The Thai Poker Sports Association held a celebration for Pro Punnat becoming world No. 1 and revealed plans to fully promote poker in Thailand.
The Thai Poker Sports Association organized a grand celebration honoring “Pro Punnat Punsri” for reaching the top spot in the GPI 2025 rankings. The association's president shared plans to collaborate with educational institutions to continuously promote poker in Thailand, aiming to see more Thai players succeed on the global stage in the future.
On 15 Feb 2026 at the Wanalai Ballroom & Diamond Garden, 12th floor, Grand Centre Point Lumpini Hotel, Bangkok, the Thai Poker Sports Association, together with “Ten Natak,” Thailand’s No. 1 poker community, held a press conference and official trophy ceremony under the concept "World’s No.1 Trophy Ceremony - National Result Celebration" to congratulate “Pro Punnat Punsri,” association member #001, for bringing recognition to Thailand.
The event was honored by the presence of Mr. Thana Chulpanasak, president of the Thai Poker Sports Association; Ms. Oranit Engchuan, Strategy Director of Ten Natak Company Limited; along with numerous distinguished guests.
This is a proud moment for Thai sports as “Punnat Punsri,” known as “Pro Punnat,” rose to become world No. 1 in the 2025 Global Poker Index (GPI) annual rankings, officially announced on 7 Jan 2026. He is the first Asian player to earn the title GPI World Player of the Year 2025.
Over an 18-year professional poker career, “Pro Punnat” has consistently performed on the international stage, earning over 31,793,767 USD—more than one billion baht—in total prize money. The 2025 season was a golden year for him, winning multiple world-class tournaments and achieving outstanding results that pushed his ranking to the top throughout the year before officially claiming No. 1.
The GPI ranking criteria consider tournament results, event quality, number of participants, and prize money, reflecting a player’s overall competitive ability. Pro Punnat’s success earned him top honors in all four main award categories: GPI Ranking Awards, GPI Player of the Year, GPI Asia Ranking Awards, and GPI Asia Player of the Year, confirming his status as the world’s best-performing poker player last year.
Additionally, Thai poker received good news from leading female player Methavee Taweekitwatee, who won the GPI Thailand Female Ranking Awards and GPI Thailand Female Player of the Year for the 2025 season. Methavee took first place in the #21 High Roller – Single Day – Mystery Bounty event at the Asian Poker Tour Jeju Classic 2026, overcoming over 141 competitors to claim more than 1.7 million baht in prize money, showcasing the strength of Thai female poker players internationally.
Pro Punnat revealed that last year was very significant. The association has worked together for over two years to promote poker in Thailand. They have engaged in discussions with relevant agencies to establish poker as a sport. Their efforts paid off when the Sports Authority of Thailand officially registered poker as a sport last year. He expressed gratitude to all Thais and the poker community who have supported the advancement of poker as a sport. Looking ahead, he plans to continue competing in global tournaments to demonstrate poker as a skillful, strategic game that offers endless opportunities for players to develop.
Mr. Thana Chulpanasak stated this achievement is a source of pride for Thailand and reflects the development of the Thai poker scene overall. He pledged to continue supporting Thai athletes to help them develop their potential and gain recognition internationally.
"The association has several plans underway. First, we will create an official website to disseminate information and promote poker to the public. We will also open membership registration with various categories, all detailed on the website. Furthermore, we plan to collaborate with educational institutions such as Kasetsart University and the Sports Authority of Thailand. In the future, poker may even be included as part of academic courses or curricula," said the president of the Thai Poker Sports Association.
He added, "We also plan to organize ranking tournaments in Thailand to allow enthusiasts to compete. Those who perform best may receive support to advance to international competitions."
"Finally, I want to emphasize the growth of poker in Thailand. The current momentum is strong, and I hope both the government and private sectors will help further develop the sport. I look forward to seeing more Thai players compete on the world stage," Mr. Thana concluded.
Meanwhile, Ms. Oranit Engchuan said the success of Thai athletes this year demonstrates their genuine potential to compete globally. The private sector is ready to support communication, education, and opportunities for international competition.