A month ago, the Global Poker Index announced its Player of the Year award recipients: David Coleman, Cherish Andrews, and Han Feng. While Coleman and Andrews are widely recognized figures in the poker world, Feng’s victory came as a surprise. He made headlines by defeating the four-time GPI Female Player of the Year, Cherish Andrews, to claim the prestigious GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year award.
In this report on rising poker stars, we explore Han Feng’s impressive poker career and his journey to winning the Mid-Major Player of the Year award.
Han Feng’s Poker Accolades and Career
Han Feng’s live poker journey began in 2021 when he secured his first recorded live cash with a money finish in the I-35 Cup $600 NLH, earning $2,019. A year later, he significantly improved his results by finishing 69th in the Wynn Las Vegas $3,500 NLH Championship, taking home $15,042. In 2022, Feng made his debut in the World Series of Poker (WSOP), cashing in Event #75: $777 NLH Lucky 7’s for $1,557.
Later that year, Feng reached the final table in the WSOP Circuit Online Event #11: $320 NLH Double Stack, finishing in 8th place and collecting $3,950. His breakthrough moment came in the summer of 2023 when he achieved his first six-figure score of $119,048 for finishing 2nd in the Venetian DeepStack Championship $1,100 NLH. The following month, he added another notable score by cashing in the 54th WSOP Main Event for $40,000. Feng closed the year on a high note by winning his first live poker trophy in the $300 NLH Turkey Shootout, pocketing $25,000.
Feng’s 2024 campaign began with a milestone victory, as he won his first major title at the Moneymaker Poker Tour Houston $1,100 Main Event, earning an impressive $54,100. His success continued in March when he captured his maiden WSOP Circuit ring by winning the WSOP Circuit Tulsa $1,700 Main Event for a six-figure payday of $144,413. In August, he secured his second WSOP Circuit ring after triumphing in the WSOPC North Carolina $600 PLO, banking $33,504.
In October, the two-time circuit ring holder added yet another trophy to his collection by winning the Champions Club Fall Poker Open $1,500 NLH Main Event, taking home $159,805 – his career-best score to date. He wrapped up the year with a deep run in the 2024 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, where he cashed for $21,600.
Being Crowned as the 2025 GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year
Feng had an outstanding 2024, cashing in 49 events and winning five of them. His stellar performances earned him 3,014.45 points, helping him to claim the prestigious 2025 GPI Mid-Major Player of the Year title. Feng amassed over $917,000 in earnings throughout 2024, solidifying his status as one of the top rising stars in the poker world. In 2025, he has already racked up five cashes, including a runner-up finish for $42,525 in the $ 2,000 NLH- One-Time High Roller (Event #3) at The Beau Rivage Heater, Biloxi. Given his recent performances, he is a rising star in the world of poker and definitely a player to watch out for in 2025.
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