Rania Nasreddine on breaking through to 2025

February 3, 2025

Rania Nasreddine on breaking through to 2025

After gaining fame as a dangerous opponent at two European Poker Tour (EPT) final tables this past year, Rania Nasreddine (pictured) is on the shortlist for the Global Poker Awards 2025 on the Breakout Player of the Year nomination. Many expect her to take the trophy from Boris Angelov, Mark Egbert, and Noel Rodriguez in Las Vegas on 22 February.

In an interview with Pokerstake, the rising star talked about her journey to becoming a leader in the world of poker, as well as her attitude towards her opponents and the benefits of motherhood.

Rania’s success at the EPT tables

After winning $1 million at two EPT final tables, Rania Nasreddine has established herself as a dangerous opponent. She was active in PokerStars events in 2024 and had a great result at WSOP Paradise in December. Participating in various events motivates her to keep winning and meeting new people.

Balancing work and motherhood, Rania tries to attend as many PokerStars EPTs as possible. This year, she hopes to attend the EPTs in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and the BSOP Brazilian Series of Poker. She hopes to finish 2025 at the WSOP Paradise.

Growing up in a poor immigrant family, Rania was inclined to master the art of debating rather than poker. However, as she grew in the game, she met and played with her heroes. She is most attracted to Stephen Song and David Coleman, as well as Maria Konnikova, Lexi Gavin, and Nick Shulman. In addition, Rococo and Lococo’s playing styles make her think about how to play differently.

Poker is a sport for anyone willing to learn

Over the course of 2024, Rania experienced an incredible rise in the world of poker, competing in two ERT finals. The American first won money in poker in 2008 in Tulsa in the $150 Women’s event, and 16 years later, she crossed the million-dollar threshold. Rania believes that the key to her success is the inclusiveness of poker.

Rania is of the opinion that anyone can succeed in poker: ‘Poker is literally the only sport where anyone with the desire to learn can compete at any level.’ she said. Unlike golf, which must be played from childhood, and basketball, where you need to be over six feet tall, anyone can play and push the boundaries of success in poker.

Rania considers life experience to be her strength. Being a mum and a lawyer, she knows how to build relationships at the gambling table harmoniously. She believes poker is a place to make friends and develop relationships. ‘When I sit down at the table, I want to learn about the people I’m hopefully going to sit with for ten hours or so. I have made some of my dearest friends at the poker table,’ says Rania on how to enjoy the game.

Breakout Player of the Year 2025

Rania’s Breakout Player of the Year rivals at the 6th annual Global Poker Awards will be Boris Angelov, Mark Egbert, and Noel Rodriguez. And she’s confident she won’t win: ‘All those guys are killers, and with my volume of play I can’t get that status. I’m rooting for me as an outsider, but I would also be very happy for Boris to win. He’s become a poker friend of mine since we battled in Monte Carlo, and I like his personality and style of play.’

Talking about things that are more important than poker, Rania singles out motherhood. Pregnancy has given her a resilience that is extremely useful in poker: ‘Recently at a PokerGO tournament, I was just incredibly happy to have a break from poker. I’m sure other players were worried about PGT Points and other poker worries, but I just sat there and smiled because I was happy that I could just play!’.

Rania Nasreddine, a rising star, has much more ahead of her and is hungry for fame. If she manages to make friends along the way, it will bring her even more fun. The 2024 Global Poker Awards ceremony will occur on 22 February at the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas. Most of the awards are voted for by a panel of industry judges, but some nominations are also available to the general poker public.

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