Rising Poker Players Under 25 to Watch in 2025

Why Young Players Are Thriving in 2025

Poker has never been more accessible or more competitive than it is today. The new wave of young pros we are seeing combines a deep technical understanding with the global experience that simply didn’t exist a decade ago.

Three major forces are shaping this poker evolution:

1. Digital training ecosystems
   GTO solvers and databases, along with video libraries, allow 20-somethings to develop world-class skills from their laptops at home. Players such as Leon Sturm and Michael Jozoff honed their craft entirely online before ever playing poker live.
2. Online platforms as launchpads
   Millions of hands played at WPT® Global mean today’s young stars log more experience by the age of 23 than many veterans did by 30.
3. The WPT® as a global stage
   With WPT® Prime and Main Tour stops across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, rising pros can now find truly meaningful opportunities to prove themselves in live events. Every year, we see more players under 25 cash in WPT® events than ever before.

The combination of modern access and analytics is producing the most exciting new generation poker has ever seen.

Rising Stars to Watch

Here are five players aged 25 or under whose performances and potential have captured global attention already:

Leon Sturm (Germany, 23)

Leon Sturm’s name already commands huge respect, especially in high-stakes circles. This year in 2025, he won the Super High Roller at EPT Barcelona, earning €1,450,385 after defeating David Coleman heads-up.

Sturm has already surpassed $11 million in earnings and continues to dominate online under his “Rumukulus” alias. His mix of solver precision and fearless intuition makes him already a genuine WPT® star.

Michael Jozoff (United States, 25)

Michael Jozoff embodies the new-school American grinder; data-driven and disciplined, unafraid to take on the game’s elite. At 22, he captured the WSOP Circuit Main Event at the Bicycle Casino for $161,500, defeating Eugene Tito heads-up.

Formerly, he was the #1-ranked American online MTT player. Jozoff has now transitioned smoothly into live poker; he also balances content creation and coaching while adding multiple six-figure finishes in 2025. 

Clemen Deng (United States, 24)

Clemen Deng is a quiet force, but he is turning heads on the international stage. After deep runs at Triton and PGT events, he surpassed $1 million in live earnings before his 25th birthday.

He is known for his discipline and his tactical balance, and Deng has been featured in “Top 5 Under 25” lists by multiple poker media outlets. 

Casimir Seire (Finland, 23)

Finland has produced some of poker’s sharpest minds, and Casimir Seire is the newest pick of the bunch. As a consistent finisher on the European circuit, Seire is climbing the GPI ranks thanks to some steady EPT and WPT® results.

Easily among the rising WPT® stars in Europe, Seire blends his Finnish discipline with modern GTO logic. His good results and strong attitude have recently positioned him as one of Europe’s most promising young poker players in 2025.

Connor Rash (United States, 24)

Connor Rash is a top-tier grinder; methodical and steady, and always in the mix. Well known for his consistency across the U.S. mid-stakes circuit, Rash has delivered multiple deep runs on the WPT® Prime tours.

Praised often by peers for his composure and his discipline, Rash excels at exploiting field tendencies and adjusting to the table dynamically. With his skillset and patience, a breakthrough in 2025 feels inevitable.

The WPT® Connection

The World Poker Tour remains the global benchmark for competitive poker, and now it also serves as a platform for the best young talent in poker.

In 2024, over 20 players aged 25 or younger reached WPT® final tables across Prime and Main Tour stops, all the way from Paris to Wynn Las Vegas. With the WPT Global platform, anyone can qualify online for the same prestigious live events these young players are conquering.

Leon Sturm and Clemen Deng have already cashed in some high-stakes WPT® fields, while Michael Jozoff and Connor Rash have been consistent performers at WPT® Prime stops. Their success reflects a shift, showing how youth and technology are merging with live tournament prestige.

The Future of Poker Is Global

Europe is producing data-driven tacticians such as Seire, and the U.S. is filled with adaptable hybrid players such as Jozoff and Rash, while Asia is nurturing fearless competitors ready to dominate the WPT® events.

They are forming an international wave of new talent, all connected by digital platforms and study tools. The result is a faster and smarter era of poker.

As these rising poker stars continue to climb, stay tuned for WPT® Global coverage and qualifiers, highlighting stories of the next generation of world champions.

FAQs

Which young poker players are dominating the WPT scene?

Michael Jozoff, Clemen Deng, and Connor Rash are all emerging names in the WPT Prime and Main Tour fields; they represent the next generation of top-tier WPT competitors.

How old do you have to be to play in a WPT event?

You must be at least 18 years old (or the local legal gambling age) to play in World Poker Tour® events, or utilise the many promotions available.

Which rising WPT stars should I follow in 2025?

Leon Sturm, Clemen Deng, and Casimir Seire. They’re all strong contenders to make major winnings in 2025.

Where can I follow updates about young poker players?

You can find regular coverage and updates on the WPT Global homepage, where poker’s rising stars and event highlights are featured year-round.