The tournament field in 2025 is faster, bigger, and sharper than ever before.
Poker and mahjong, two classic mind games, are drawing players from around the world – veterans, newcomers, and online grinders. Poker is breaking records with massive prize pools, while mahjong is building a solid, growing international scene.
Let's take a closer look at where competition is heating up – and why now's a great time for players to join in.
Poker in 2025: Record Events and New Stars
Poker tournaments have grown bigger than ever.
GG World Festival launched with a $250 million guaranteed prize pool, one of the biggest ones in online poker history.
Events such as the $525 Global Mystery Bounty Festival, $1,500 GG World Championship, and $10,300 GGMillion$ Super Main Event each offer $10 million in guarantees, attracting players worldwide.
Live poker is taking off as well.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) returns to Las Vegas with over 120 bracelet events. The Main Event alone will likely break last year's record with more than 10,000 players.
The PokerGO Tour (PGT) continues to grow, with Shannon Shorr winning the U.S. Poker Open and Eric Blair leading the season rankings after several deep finishes.
Globally, the Triton Poker Series in Jeju made headlines. Pokercode's team, led by Fedor Holz, dominated the series. Mario Mosböck won $1.8 million, while Matthias Eibinger collected big bounty money.
On the World Poker Tour, Artem Vezhenkov and Shawn Daniels secured major titles, keeping WPT's momentum strong into 2025.
Mahjong in 2025: Making a Stronger Global Scene
Mahjong is quietly but steadily expanding – and it’s not planning to stop.
The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) 2025 card now represents Red and Green Dragons, changing common strategies and making games more dynamic. Players need sharper reads and quicker adaptability to compete on a certain level.
Internationally, Tokyo will host the World Riichi Championship (WRC) 2025. The format covers heats, semi-finals, and a grand final, bringing together qualifiers from Europe, North America, and Asia.
Interest in Riichi Mahjong is taking off, and WRC is helping push it even further onto the global stage.
Online, Mahjong365 has become one of the leading platforms for ranked matches, tournaments, and skill development. With real-time analytics and tournament ladders, all those who play at Mahjong365 can also use the platform to take serious training before entering live events.
At the same time, smaller circuits in Western Australia, Tampa, Dallas, and Las Vegas are advancing, giving local players more chances to sharpen their strategic advantage and progress toward the biggest championships.
How Technology Affects These Tournaments
Technology is completely changing tournament play for both games.
In poker, players now routinely use GTO solvers, HUDs, and coaching platforms. They analyze live hand replays to adjust strategies in the middle of the tournament.
Major events stream with real-time odds, detailed player stats, and better commentary, making exclusive poker more accessible to everyday viewers.
Mahjong is making impressive progress as well.
Right now, most platforms have instant scoring, ranked matchmaking, and detailed stat tracking. Live tournaments now have virtual tables that automatically log discards, speeding up play and reducing errors.
Online qualifiers for live events have become something common, which gives skilled players a chance to compete without big travel budgets.
For both of them, better tech means tougher play and more people watching.
Two Hot Trends – Poker and Mahjong
Poker is still number one when it comes to size and prize money, with support from giants such as GGPoker, PokerStars, and PokerGO.
Seasoned players now treat poker more like a professional sport, with real team sponsorships, formal coaching, and media training.
Even though it’s smaller, mahjong is picking up serious momentum.
The World Riichi Championship is growing, and new platforms make the game more accessible. Mahjong is now surpassing its usual reputation, and it’s becoming a serious global competitor.
Both games are more accessible and international than ever, and both reward players who have instinct and prepare well.
The Takeaway
Poker and mahjong are getting ready for the new season.
Even though poker has been breaking prize pool records and welcoming new stars for decades, mahjong is finally making a name worldwide.
With new, innovative technology, bigger online communities, and an emerging generation of players entering the stage, tournaments are better, faster, and more interesting than ever.