Players to Watch as the 2025 Season Heads Into Its Final Stretch
As we enter the last month of the year (and perhaps the busiest), it's time to reflect on the year we've had.
For instance, the 2025 calendar has produced a clear group of standouts across high rollers, elite tour stops, and breakthrough-tier events.
Each player listed below has verifiable results, documented momentum, and a clear statistical case for inclusion based on publicly available data from Hendon Mob, WPT® reports, and major tour coverage through late 2025.
These profiles focus on late-2025 form, recent major results, and verifiable live data, not just lifetime fame.
Jesse Lonis — United States
Jesse Lonis has been one of the most consistent elite performers in 2024–25
Jesse Lonis has been a fixture near the top of major Player of the Year leaderboards throughout 2025. Hendon Mob’s updated database lists $26,717,331 in total earnings and a career-best score of $3,446,298, a profile matched by multiple high-roller wins across the WSOP, Triton, and PGT.
Public final-table reports confirm that Lonis has cashed across almost every major stop this year, often against the toughest fields on the calendar.
His blend of mixed-game strength and high-stakes No-Limit consistency makes him one of the strongest all-round players heading into the final quarter of the season.
Why hot in late 2025?
Lonis enters the final stretch as a legitimate POY contender based on verified standings and results.
| Field | Data |
| Country | United States |
| Total Live Earnings | $26,717,331 |
| Best Single Score | $3,446,298 |
| 2025 Highlights | Multiple high-roller titles, consistent POY leaderboard presence |
| Major Achievements | WSOP bracelet, deep Triton & PGT runs |
Yunkyu Song — South Korea / United States
Yunkyu Song is the season XXII WPT® Player of the Year
Yunkyu Song recorded one of the most complete WPT® seasons in recent history. WPT’s official Season XXII report confirms five cashes, several top-five finishes, and a title run at WPT Prime Playground, securing him the Player of the Year title.
Hendon Mob lists $1,606,654 in total earnings, with a career-best $252,059 score for his runner-up finish at WPT® bestbet Scramble.
His rise has been fast by any standard. Song only began taking tournament poker seriously a few years ago, and his ascent is backed by consistent, documented results.
Why hot in late 2025?
Song is now one of the most dangerous young names on the WPT® circuit, with a verified year-long performance curve.
| Field | Data |
| Country | $1,606,654 |
| Total Live Earnings | $252,059 – 2nd at WPT® bestbet Scramble |
| Best Single Score | WPT® Prime Playground Champion |
| Recent Highlights | WPT® Player of the Year |
Ángel Guillén — Mexico
Ángel Guillén is a veteran pro, WSOP bracelet winner, and key WPT® Global Ambassador
Ángel Guillén is one of the most recognisable LATAM professionals in the modern era. Hendon Mob reporting places his live earnings above $2M, backed by confirmed deep runs across the WSOP, LAPT, EPT Barcelona, and major North American circuits.
His 2025 jump in visibility stems from his performance at WPT Australia, where official event reports confirm two titles in 72 hours and a team victory with Los Jefes in the festival’s debut team format.
Guillén’s long-time role as a WPT® Global Ambassador and his prominence across LATAM and APAC coverage position him as a bridge between regional markets and the wider tour.
Why hot in late 2025?
Two titles, a team win, and one of the strongest ambassador profiles entering WPT® World Championship month.
| Field | Data |
| Country | Mexico |
| Total Live Earnings | $2,943,414 |
| Best Single Score | WSOP $2K NLH bracelet victory (2009) |
| 2025 Highlights | Two WPT® Australia titles + team-event win |
| Major Achievements | WSOP bracelet, long-time WPT® Global Ambassador |
Rania Nasreddine — United States (Lebanese-American)
Rania Nasreddine is a breakout force on the European circuit
Rania Nasreddine has built one of the most impressive non-pro tournament résumés of the last two years. Hendon Mob’s updated figures list $2,107,669 in earnings, with a career-best €572,962 (≈$620K) for her 4th-place finish at EPT Barcelona 2024. She also placed 3rd at EPT Monte Carlo 2024, both results confirmed by PokerStars’ official payout sheets.
Her ability to final-table elite events while maintaining a legal career has been widely reported and sets her apart from similarly ranked players.
Why hot in late 2025?
Her verified final-table consistency across back-to-back EPT stops marks her as one of the strongest emerging tournament players in Europe.
| Field | Data |
| Country | United States |
| Total Live Earnings | $2,107,669 |
| Best Single Score | €572,962 (~$620K) – 4th at EPT Barcelona 2024 |
| 2025 Highlights | Continues to post strong European results |
| Major Achievements | Back-to-back EPT deep runs |
Boris Angelov — Bulgaria
Boris Angelov broke out with a 5th-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Main Event, confirmed at $2,500,000 in the official WSOP payout list. His total live earnings have since climbed to $5,021,016, supported by additional deep runs at EPT Barcelona and EPT Monte Carlo through 2025.
Angelov’s post-Main Event performance curve has been unusually strong. Many ME finalists struggle the following season. Angelov has done the opposite, repeatedly reaching late stages in stacked European fields.
Why hot in late 2025?
One of the strongest “post-ME breakthrough” stories of the decade, backed by verified multi-tour results.
| Field | Data |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Total Live Earnings | $5,021,016 |
| Best Single Score | $2,500,000 – 5th in the 2024 WSOP Main Event |
| 2025 Highlights | Consistent deep runs in elite European fields |
| Major Achievements | Major EPT results + WSOP ME final table |
Ethan “Rampage” Yau — United States
Ethan Yau is a WPT® Global Ambassador and one of poker’s biggest crossover stars
Ethan Yau blends creator influence with legitimate high-stakes results. Hendon Mob lists $3,072,900 in live earnings and a best score of $894,240. His record includes a WSOP bracelet (2020) and six WSOP Circuit rings, all confirmed through WSOP reporting.
Across 2024–25, Yau posted deep runs in several Wynn High Rollers, WSOP events, and WPT fields. As a WPT® Global Ambassador, he remains a central figure in connecting online audiences with major live stops.
Why hot in late 2025?
Few players draw as much global attention while maintaining consistent mid-to-high-stakes results.
| Field | Data |
| Country | United States |
| Total Live Earnings | $3,072,900 |
| Best Single Score | $894,240 |
| 2025 Highlights | Deep runs across Wynn, WSOP, and WPT fields |
| Major Achievements | WSOP bracelet (2020), six WSOPC rings |
Noel Rodriguez — United States
Noel Rodriguez is a seven-figure WSOP high-roller breakthrough
Noel Rodriguez exploded onto the high-roller map with a $1,111,897 runner-up finish to Nick Schulman in the 2024 WSOP $25K 8-Max, confirmed in WSOP’s final table report.
Updated public data now lists $3,827,044 in total earnings, supported by further deep runs across high-buy-in events through 2025.
Rodriguez’s trajectory has been steep and verifiable. His $25K performance instantly placed him among the Americans to watch in elite fields.
Why hot in late 2025?
A genuine high-roller newcomer with hard data behind the hype.
| Field | Data |
| Country | United States |
| Total Live Earnings | $3,827,044 |
| Best Single Score | $1,111,897 – WSOP 2024 $25K High Roller (2nd) |
| 2025 Highlights | Multiple deep runs in $10K–$25K fields |
| Major Achievements | Rapid ascent in elite high-roller events |
Brad Owen— United States
Brad Owen, WPT Ambassador and one of poker’s most influential figures
Brad Owen remains one of the most impactful voices in poker. His updated live earnings sit at $1,203,147, including $152,266 from the WPT Alpha8, verified through official WPT records.
Owen also made the final table of WPT Gardens and posted a strong run in the WPT World Championship, both heavily covered by WPT media channels.
Why hot in late 2025?
As a WPT Ambassador and partner, Owen is central to the tour’s public footprint. Massive reach + consistent live results keep him relevant in every major WPT field.
| Field | Data |
| Country | United States |
| Total Live Earnings | $1,203,147 |
| Best Single Score | $152,266 – WPT Alpha8 |
| 2025 Highlights | High-visibility deep runs across WPT stops |
| Major Achievements | WPT Ambassador, major content creator, consistent WPT finishes |
Summary
The profiles above point to three late-season trends.
First, the US high-roller pool has added genuine new names like Noel Rodriguez and Mark Egbert, shifting attention away from the usual rotation of elite regulars.
Second, the WPT® ecosystem continues to push international growth. Song’s POY run and Guillén’s LATAM/APAC impact reflect the tour’s expanding global footprint.
Third, Main Event breakout players like Boris Angelov are converting spotlight performances into multi-tour momentum.
As the 2025 season moves into its final WPT® stops and the World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, these are the names most likely to shape final tables, headline storylines, and Player of the Year debates.
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