2026 Card Player POY Race: Top Contenders and Key Moments

The 2026 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. With just over two months left in the year, several top players are vying for the title. Punnat Punsri leads the pack with 7,624 points, closely followed by Jesse Lonis, the 2025 POY winner, who is within striking distance with 7,524 points.

Nick Schulman, inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2025, is in second place with 7,556 points. Schulman has had an impressive year, winning his eighth career WSOP bracelet and setting a new career-high score. Brandon Wilson is in third place with 7,487 points, thanks to a strong start to the year that included victories at EPT Paris and the PGT Last Chance. Alex Foxen, known for his consistency in tournament poker, is in fourth place with 7,349 points. Foxen has won four WSOP bracelets in his career and is having a strong year. Eelis Parssinen, known for his pot-limit Omaha skills, is in fifth place with 7,000 points.

The race is far from over, with several major events still to come, including the Triton Super High Roller Series stop, the World Series of Poker Paradise, the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, and EPT Prague. These events will provide plenty of opportunities for the top contenders to make their move and secure the POY title.