How WSOP 2025 Is Shaping Poker’s Next Generation of Poker Stars

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has made some of the world’s best players into legends. Names like Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu are known to pretty much anyone in the poker scene. But while the apex predators are always a threat at the tables at the Horseshoe Casino, new faces continuously emerge to change the game. Next generation poker players are bursting onto the scene with deep runs in premier tournaments. This year will likely be no different, with a number of talented competitors set to make waves at various events, so let’s take a look at some of the next generation poker stars.

Players To Watch at the 2025 WSOP

Keep an eye on former Ignition partner Landon Tice, a 26-year-old American who built his name crushing online cash games before joining high profile live games. Tice has been making waves for a couple of years, but WSOP 2025 is going very well so far. He’s cashed in multiple events already this year and just took 4^th in Event #22: the $25K High Roller. This earned him over half a million dollars! Tice is undoubtedly one of the young guns the poker world’s been waiting for.

Another rising name is Samuel Mullur, a 26-year-old Austrian. He stunned the field at the WSOP Winter Edition in the Bahamas by taking down the $50,000 Super High Roller game for a staggering $2.7 million prize. Now he’s hunting another bracelet in Vegas. With his confidence and bankroll, we’d say he’s one of the more dangerous 20-somethings in the field.

Put Tom Fuchs on your radar. He won the $50,000 WSOP Bracelet Event at the end of 2024 and outlasted a field stacked with heavy hitters. Expect to see his name popping up on deep runs.

Don’t sleep on Fabian “Taurus” Niederreiter. He’s a 23-year-old from Germany who’s been making his way up the high-roller ladder with serious speed. He also has a nice record going at online WSOP events this year. If he shows up at WSOP live events, players would be wise to tread with caution.

Trend of Twentysomethings at Final Tables

The average age of players making final tables varies from year to year, but we’ve been seeing quite a few twentysomethings making it to the end of WSOP events. For the first years of the tournament, the average age at the final table was around 47. By 2019, it was down to 32, and it has continued decreasing since then. With older players divided on whether the format is an excessive test of endurance (Phil Hellmuth won’t be playing the Main Event this year due to this issue), the trend of more players under 25 reaching final tables is definitely primed to increase.

If you want an example, check the final table of last year’s $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event, aka the “Mini Main Event”. The final table had four players under 25. The youngsters are out in force.

The New Digital Training Grounds

Where are new wave players coming from? Well, online poker sites, for starters. But how are they getting so skilled? Digital poker academies, Game Theory Optimal (GTO) simulators, hand analysis tools, Discord chats, YouTube hand breakdowns from pros… the list goes on and on. The Internet is packed with poker resources. If you want to step up your game, there are more places to go than ever before. Even the early poker boomers didn’t have it so good.

The Young Turks of this year’s WSOP are coming from platforms like Upswing Poker, Run It Once, and Raise Your Edge, among other places. They know advanced poker math, have no fear of 3- and 4-betting in unexpected places, and have a solid theoretical backing for their plays. It’s a lot like when people first got their hands on legendary poker player Doyle Brunson’s Super/System all over again, just with new resources.

The WSOP Embraces Next Generation Poker Stars

The WSOP obviously is trying to find ways to showcase newcomers and give them interesting opportunities to show out. Although veteran pro Matt Glantz is on the way to a victory, Event #19 with a $500 buy in was very friendly to newcomers. The same is true of WSOP Event #5, the “Housewarming” game. Its low buy in of $500 also brought in a staggering 20,000+ entrants. Many, no doubt, came from the pool of newer players.

Low buy ins are definitely driving how new poker talent is emerging at WSOP 2025. There are also branded resources from the WSOP, like WSOP Academy seminars, coaching sessions, and more, that show the organization’s interest in cultivating new talent.

Social Media and Modern Poker

Twitch and TikTok are definitely helping fuel new interest in poker among younger players.

Influencers like Canadian poker pro Jaime “PokerStaples” Staples are also taking viewers into the worlds (and minds) of serious poker players. Platforms where younger players hang out are a great place to promote the game to a fresh generation. Pros that stream and create content are helping new fans understand hand analysis, poker tournament strategy, the mental game, and even how to handle bad beats.

The WSOP really provides a great opportunity to new talent that is looking to reach a broader audience. With a breakout performance at the tables, a player has a chance to transition into poker as a full-time career. They can connect with training sites, book sponsors, and build a brand for streaming, all on the back of a single hot run – if they play their cards right.

Looking Ahead

The landscape continues to shift. Old strategies and the fundamental math behind poker have not changed. But the way players approach the game offers room for next generation poker stars to offer a fresh perspective on how each spot should be played.

There are plenty of future stars in professional poker who are no longer “up and coming.” They’re here, and they’re looking to make their mark at WSOP 2025.

Planning to take on an event? Practice for the WSOP at Ignition Casino.