Castro enters the next season as one of the younger players to watch on the global poker scene
The World Poker Tour (WPT) has crowned Harvey Castro as its Season 23 Player of the Year, capping a breakout run for the 23-year-old tournament grinder. Castro, who once focused on college soccer, turned heads all season with steady results on the WPT stage.
Congratulations to Harvey Castro, the Season 23 @WPT Player of the Year! 🥇
The 23-year-old soccer star-turned poker prodigy earned $411,320 across four cashes — including a victory at the WPT Prime Lodge Championship — and won $15,000 in WPT Passports for securing the POY. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/KB7ugH6g7X
— World Poker Tour (@WPT) January 28, 2026
Castro earned the honor with $411,320 in WPT earnings across four cashes. His biggest moment came with a win in the $1,100 WPT Prime Lodge Championship, where he topped the field for $225,020 and locked up the bulk of his points.
That title was backed up by a strong second-place finish at the WPT Rolling Thunder Championship in March 2025. Castro collected $165,000 in that event, giving him the consistency needed to stay ahead in a tight Player of the Year race. Kharlin Sued finished second in the standings, while WPT World Champion Schuyler Thornton placed third.
The award adds Castro’s name to a respected list of past winners. Previous WPT Players of the Year include Daniel Negreanu, Jonathan Little, Faraz Jaka, Chad Eveslage, and Bin Weng. Joining that group highlights how quickly Castro has risen through the ranks.
Beyond the WPT, Castro posted results across several major tours in 2025. He recorded cashes on the WSOP Circuit, PokerGO Tour, and PokerAtlas Tour, showing versatility across different formats and buy-in levels.
One moment during his Prime Lodge victory drew brief attention after a table comment sparked debate online. Tournament officials reviewed the situation and found no wrongdoing, allowing the focus to return to his play.
