As the poker world eagerly awaits the reveal of this month’s Global Poker Awards winners, the Global Poker Index (GPI) has just crowned its first standout player of 2025.
Following a stellar start to the year, Shannon Shorr (1,078.90) was named the GPI’s January Player of the Month. Shorr edged out Spencer Champlin (1,062.03) and Brandon Wilson (1,038.15) for the top spot after an impressive four cashes and two victories on the PokerGO Tour (PGT).
William "Cody" Stanford, who won three WSOP Circuit rings at Horseshoe Tunica, and 2022 GPI Player of the Year Stephen Song rounded out the top five.
Global Poker Index - What are the GPI Rankings?
| Event | Finish | Prize (USD) | GPI Pts | Winner/Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGT Last Chance 10K NLHE Event #2 | 1/119 | $297,500 | 388.55 | Joe Serock (2nd) |
| PGT Last Chance 10K NLHE Event #5 | 13/121 | $24,200 | 162.32 | Martin Zamani |
| PGT Last Chance 10K NLHE Event #6 | 1/116 | $290,000 | 385.35 | Boris Angelov (2nd) |
| PGT Championship $1,000,000 Event | 30/50 | - | - | Jeremy Ausmus |
| PGT Kickoff 5K NLHE Event #3 | 11/112 | $14,000 | 142.68 | Masato Yokosawa |
Shorr, Alabama’s all-time tournament earnings leader, dominated January with a series of standout performances at the PokerGO Studio in ARIA Las Vegas.
On January 3, Shorr outlasted 118 opponents to claim the PGT Last Chance 10K NLHE Event #2 title, securing a $297,500 windfall. A week later, he added a second victory, taking down PGT Last Chance 10K NLHE Event #6 for another $290,000.
His other notable results included a deep run in the PGT Kickoff 5K NLHE Event #3, where he finished 11th for $14,000, and a 13th-place finish in the PGT Last Chance 10K NLHE Event #5 for $24,200. Despite falling short in the PGT Championship $1,000,000 Event, Shorr amassed $625,700 in tournament earnings for the month.
His January success catapulted him up to 91st on poker’s All-Time Money List and 42nd on the USA ATML. He also further solidified his status as Alabama’s most successful tournament player, extending his lead over Hoyt Corkins.
Interestingly, Shorr's best-ever year on the live felt was in 2006, the year he turned professional. He cashed for $1,622,843, with a significant portion of that coming from a $10K event at the Bellagio, which netted him $960,690. While he consistently posted strong results in live tournaments over the years, it wasn’t until 2019, according to The Hendon Mob,that he notched another seven-figure earnings year. Excluding 2020 (COVID), Shorr has surpassed the $1 million mark in tournament earnings annually ever since.
With over $600K already banked in just the first month of 2025, Shorr is on pace for another remarkable year, and with plenty of major events still to come, he may yet reach new career heights.
Shannon Shorr Closes Out PGT Last Chance Series with Second Win
| Rank | Player | Nation | Results | Wins | Top 10s | GPI Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shannon Shorr | USA | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1,078.90 |
| 2 | Spencer Champlin | USA | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1,062.03 |
| 3 | Brandon Wilson | USA | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1,038.15 |
| 4 | William "Cody" Stanford | USA | 11 | 4 | 6 | 970.37 |
| 5 | Stephen Song | USA | 5 | 0 | 3 | 945.07 |
| 6 | Ryan Hogan | USA | 4 | 0 | 3 | 943.23 |
| 7 | Kristen Foxen | CAN | 5 | 1 | 3 | 927.01 |
| 8 | Samuel Laskowitz | USA | 6 | 0 | 4 | 909.86 |
| 9 | David S Chen | USA | 7 | 0 | 2 | 898.18 |
| 10 | Michael Berk | USA | 4 | 1 | 2 | 884.70 |
*A player’s top 5 scores for the month are used to determine PoM rankings
The United States dominated January’s global rankings, nearly securing a clean sweep if not for the efforts of Canada’s four-time GPI Female Player of the Year, Kristen Foxen, who successfully defended her title in the PGT Kickoff Finale.
Spencer Champlin, the month’s runner-up, has already recorded cashes in Atlantic City, Hollywood, FL, and Las Vegas this year, securing his first 2025 title with a PGT Kickoff victory. Brandon Wilson claimed two PGT Last Chance titles and added a third-place finish to his impressive start to the year.
Wilson, from Chicago, beat Landon Tice heads-up to win Event #3 for $297,500, beating out 119 entrants. He came back the next day and did it again, this time a field of 114 for a $285,000 payday.
As it stands to date, William "Cody" Stanford sits atop the GPI Player of the Year and Mid-Major PoY leaderboards with 11 results already in 2025.
With such a strong start to the year from these players, the race for GPI Player of the Year is already shaping up to be a highly competitive one.
Cherish Andrews, David Coleman Earn 2024 GPI Player of the Year Honors