Poker is a timeless game, is it not? The fact that players of all ages congregate around the same poker tables is proof of that. The fact that Gen Zers and Baby Boomers enjoy playing the same game shows that poker is the perfect game for anyone and everyone.
While the veterans of the poker world – like Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth - have managed to make a name for themselves already, new poker players are still fighting for recognition. Can the younger generation of poker impact the industry like their older counterparts? Which of the newest additions to the poker tables has the potential to become a star?
So let's see the players who, we, at Everygame Poker, are watching these days.
Brock Wilson
While only 27 years old, this American poker player made more than $8,600,000 in his short career (so far). Like many successful poker pros in the past, Wilson's passion for poker blossomed in his early high school years. But even though he kept improving and building his bankroll while studying in college, upon graduation he decided to pursue a career away from the poker tables.
Apparently, working two years in the finance sector was enough for Wilson, which is when the young poker enthusiast chose to set rationality aside and pursue a career in poker. In mid-2018, Wilson began appearing in more and more poker games, slowly but surely making a name for himself. He won both a WSOP and WPT that year, establishing himself as an up-and-coming poker star.
Interestingly enough, Wilson also practiced (and won) a lot of online poker events at the beginning of his career, but he is now focusing on live tournaments and events.
2024 was an especially good year for the young poker pro, as he won 1st prize in the WPT Alpha8 Trifecta Event, in addition to dominating the Wynn Summer Classic event in Las Vegas. Now, Wilson is already high on the list of all-time money winners, which makes us wonder what else he can achieve in a couple of years!
Charlie Carrel
Maybe one of the most successful up-and-coming players in recent years, the British 30-year-old poker pro won more than $9,600,000 in live earnings throughout his career. His first major win took place in 2015, when the young pro won 1st place in a European Poker Tour event, scoring more than €1,000,000 in the process.
But while his performance at live events is rather impressive for his age, it can't compare to his extravagant online achievements. While his last live recorded win took place in 2023, his online presence is stronger than ever. According to his YouTube channel, which currently has 82.1k subscribers, Carrel managed to turn $50 into $10,000,000 by playing the game he loves and now he teaches the next generation of players how to do the same.
Kyna England
The young American player might be a bit low-key compared to the other players on this list, but there is a reason why she was named the MSPT Player of the Year a few years back.
With more than $1,000,000 in live earnings under her belt, England managed to build her bankroll slowly and steadily by participating in many of the biggest poker events in the world.
Her most noticeable achievements include winning 3rd place in the 2021 WPT Venetian Main Event ($448,755) and landing 1st place in the MSPT 2021 Main Event ($186,709). This year, she also won 2nd place in the WSOP Ladies Event, which is rather impressive. Since there are not many women at the top of the poker charts, we are certainly hopeful that this player will manage to break the glass ceiling and give the boys a run for their money.
Which Young Poker Players Will Turn into Legends?
There is no knowing which of those young poker players will make a serious impact on the industry, but they have certainly managed to impress us so far!