Global Poker Awards 2018: Winners, Controversies, and Big Challenges

The Global Poker Awards 2018, presented by the Global Poker Index (GPI), recognized several outstanding players in the poker community. Ali Imisirovic was named the Breakthrough Player of the Year. Justin Bonomo received the Moment of the Year award for his victory in the Big One for One Drop. Alex Foxen was honored as the Player of the Year, while Kristen Bicknell took home the Female Player of the Year award. Doyle Brunson was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Aria casino made headlines by renaming its high-stakes poker room from 'The Ivey Room' to 'Table1'. This change comes after a tumultuous relationship with Phil Ivey, whose name had been associated with the room since 2010.

Roman Romanovsky, known online as 'RomeOpro', achieved a significant milestone by reaching the top spot in the PocketFives MTT online rankings. With over $12 million in live tournament winnings, Romanovsky has also been recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of $400,000 to various causes. Additionally, Rob Young challenged Phil Hellmuth to a high-stakes heads-up duel worth $500,000, consisting of five matches with increasing blind levels.