The MGA Guide to the APS Fans Choice Awards 2025
Voting Opens: 19 December
Every December, the poker world turns its head toward the APS Fans Choice Awards — the moment where players, dealers, TDs, and fans decide who actually shaped the game this year.
And 2025 has delivered something special.
Not only did MGA secure all three nominations we were aiming for… we’re surrounded on all sides by a shortlist stacked with MGA-connected people.
People who play with us, work with us, deal for us, TD for us, film us, support us, or simply are part of the MGA bloodstream.
This isn’t just voting.
This is our entire community being recognised in one national snapshot.
Below is your full guide to all MGA nominees, why they deserve your vote, and how to cast it when the gates open on 19 December.
You’ll find the APS link here once you’re ready to vote:
👉 Just click here
LOCAL TD OF THE YEAR
Shannon Van Den Berg (The Prince)
Shannon’s nomination feels inevitable — but still incredibly satisfying.
He’s spent the last few years building mixed games into a structured, respected format in Australia, one series at a time, one ruling at a time, one perfectly curated rotation at a time.
He’s widely considered the most experienced mixed-game tournament director in the Southern Hemisphere, and it shows in every table, every series, every event he touches.
Why vote for him?
Because if mixed games had a parliament, he’d be PM, Treasurer, and the bloke writing the constitution.
BUSINESS REG OF THE YEAR
Andrew “Maddog” Shanahan
Every community has a backbone — Maddog is ours.
He’s been supporting MGA since day one, both as a businessman and a player. He’s a crusher across Australia, Asia, the WSOP and anywhere PLO, NLH or mixed games exist. He’s seen more final tables than most people have seen sunsets.
He invests, he plays, he supports, he shows up, he runs deep.
Why vote for him?
Because he bankrolls half the dreams in the room, then goes out and wins the trophy anyway.
MINOR / REGIONAL SERIES OF THE YEAR
Mixed Games Academy (MGA)
Where do we even begin?
MGA has brought more variants to Australian soil than any other operator — from 2-7 to Badeucey to Big O to a 25+ game Dealer’s Choice menu.
We have delivered flagship events like the upcoming 10K HORSE Championship in 2026, elevated structures tailored for real mixed-game players, and created a national hub of rotating brilliance.
What we lack in mass-entry NLH fields, we make up for in depth, quality, and sheer range.
Why vote for MGA?
Because MGA is the only series in Australia brave enough to rotate through more variants than most players can spell.
OTHER MGA-CONNECTED NOMINEES
These nominees aren’t just familiar faces.
They are the beating heart of the MGA ecosystem — the people who keep the wheels turning, the games running, the stories told, and the players coming back.
CIRCUIT DEALER OF THE YEAR
Aya Masuda
Aya is a world-class dealer whose experience TD’ing mixed games in Japan predates most Australians even learning how Stud8 works. She joined our community already fluent in every rotation.
She didn’t adapt to mixed games here — she upgraded us.
CIRCUIT TD OF THE YEAR
Dom Parker
Dom has worn more hats than a Vegas gift shop: dealer, floor, back-of-house, TD, operational support, logistics — he does it all.
He’s one of the rare people who can step into the Prince’s shoes… and actually do up the laces.
LOCAL DEALER OF THE YEAR
Johnny Reid
A foundational MGA dealer.
Johnny has dealt more mixed-game variants than most players have bad beats. He’s reliable, calm, consistent, and his table pace is elite. When things get messy, Johnny doesn’t — the deck practically listens to him.
SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR
Tayla Pickles
Tayla is the quiet engine behind countless successful events.
She’s the reason things run smoothly, look organised, and stay upright. The fact she isn’t nominated in multiple categories is a miracle. If poker rooms had gravity, it would be Tayla.
MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR
Jamie Hall
Jamie brings personality, clarity, creativity and humour to poker coverage — something the world absolutely needs more of.
He can make a confused player look like a stone-cold assassin, and a tense moment look cinematic. His UK voiceovers? Smooth enough to shuffle chips to.
He doesn’t just report the game.
He elevates it.
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Liam Jehu
Liam started as an NLH crusher, then wandered into mixed games the way someone accidentally bumps into a gym — but then decides to bench-press the building.
He recently finished deep in the 10.5K USD 8-Game in the Bahamas (must be nice), and he’s climbing fast. He is the next generation of genuine mixed-game problem.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jarryd Godena
If trophies could file for restraining orders, they would.
At last count Jarryd had secured FIFTEEN pieces of hardware already in 2025 across mixed games and PLO — locally and internationally. His consistency is frightening, his skill undeniable.
This year wasn’t a run. It was a rampage.
HOW TO VOTE
Voting opens: Thursday 19 December
Platform: APS Fans Choice Awards
You’ll be able to vote using this link:
👉 Click here
How voting works:
- Click the link
- Select each category
- Choose your nominees (the suggested bunch above!)
- Submit your form
- Bask in the glow of supporting the future of mixed games
Every vote helps.
Every click pushes mixed games forward.
And every nominee above represents the very best of our community.
A Final Word
These nominations aren’t isolated achievements.
They’re a sign of something bigger:
Mixed games are rising.
MGA is leading.
And the poker world is finally noticing.
Vote for the people who represent depth, integrity, creativity and the rotation we love.
🖤💛 MGA. The revolution rotates.
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