Zoe has covered major poker series across Asia, including APT and the Players Series. With solid experience as a live reporter, she now joins SoMuchPoker to deliver in-depth coverage and share her insights from the tables.

Updated: 2025.12.20

Thomas Pohnke is a German professional poker player who has become a prominent figure in the international circuit, particularly known for his recent dominance in specialty and mixed game formats across Asia and Europe.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to The Hendon Mob, Thomas Pohnke has accumulated over $300,000 in total live tournament earnings. His career-best live cash of $43,552 underscores his capability in high-stakes environments. He currently holds a respectable position on the Germany All Time Money List, ranking 225th overall.

The 2024 and 2025 seasons have been exceptionally productive for Pohnke, marked by a series of deep runs at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and multiple titles in Asia. In July 2024, he recorded a significant 21st-place finish in the $3,000 Pot Limit Omaha – 6-Handed (Bracelet Event #97) at the 55th WSOP for $16,454. He followed this momentum into 2025, claiming his maiden Asian Poker Tour (APT) title in October by winning the Turbo – Atomic Pineapple event in Jeju for $4,086.

Thomas Pohnke has enjoyed a stellar run at the APT Championship Taipei 2025 , securing a major victory and multiple final table appearances in a single week. On November 16, 2025, he triumphed in the NTD 8,000 Pot Limit Courchevel High – 5 Card Turbo (Event #29), navigating a field of 75 entries to take home $4,287. His consistency in Taipei continued with a 3rd-place finish in the NTD 10,000 PLO 5 Card – Win the Button Hyper Turbo for $2,987 and a 4th-place finish in the NT$ 8,000 PLO – Lazy Rivers event.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from Rostock, Germany, Thomas Pohnke currently resides in his home city but travels extensively as a “nomad” of the global poker circuit. While he is a versatile competitor in No Limit Hold’em, he has distinguished himself as a specialist in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) and unique variants like Atomic Pineapple and Courchevel High. His career trajectory has seen him move from the European circuit in places like Austria and the Czech Republic to becoming a feared regular in the booming Asian market.

Play Style & Strategy

Thomas Pohnke is known for a technical and aggressive play style, particularly in short-handed and turbo formats where he can leverage his deep understanding of equity in mixed games. His ability to navigate complex “split-pot” and specialty structures, as evidenced by his multiple 2025 trophies, demonstrates high-level ICM awareness and tactical adaptability. He often goes by the online moniker “Pohnkemon,” a name that has become synonymous with high-variance, high-reward plays in the PLO community.

Recent Attendances