Global Poker Index: Mike McDonald Leads POY Race, Daniel Negreanu Atop GPI 300

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Feb 12, 2014 3 min read

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes into account a player's results over six half-year periods. The GPI also ranks the top performers of the year over two six-month periods as calculated by the USA Today Global Poker Index point system.

For a look at both lists, visit the official GPI website.

2014 GPI Player of the Year

With a second-place finish in the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge and a third-place finish in the LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge, Mike McDonald ascends to the top of the GPI Player of the Year race. The Canadian also finished runner-up in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, and already has three seven-figure scores and $4.3 million in earnings in 2014.

With 496.14 points, McDonald has already accrued 42.66% of Ole Schemion’s POY-winning 2013 total of 1,163.14.

Jason Mercier, Liv Boeree, Fabian Quoss, and Ami Barer all join the top 10 this week thanks to results at the Aussie Millions. Barer made the biggest splash, winning the Main Event for AU$1.6 million and rocketing up 308 spots.

GPI 300 Top 10

Like fellow Canadian Mike McDonald, Daniel Negreanu reached the final table of both the $100,000 Challenge and the $250,000 Challenge at the Aussie Millions. In turn, Negreanu crossed the $20 million threshold in career earnings and pips Ole Schemion for the top spot in the GPI 300.

Schemion failed to cash Down Under.

With two deep runs at Crown Casino, Mercier returns to the top five of the GPI 300. The Team PokerStars Pro chopped the $25,000 Challenge for around a quarter of a million dollars and finished 18th in the Main Event for $48,116.

Welcome to the GPI

Thirteen players join the GPI 300 this week, headlined by Team PokerStars Online member Isaac Haxton. Haxton finished runner-up to Phil Ivey in the Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge for just over $2.5 million after firing six bullets in the $100,000 Challenge and two in the $250,000 Challenge.

2012 Octo-Niner Jake Balsiger, Craig McCorkell, Daniel Neilson, and Tam Truong also join the GPI thanks to deep runs in the Aussie Millions Main Event. Balsiger made the final table, finishing third when his pocket kings were cracked by Ami Barer’s Ax10x.

Jeff Lisandro had success in the side events at Crown, finishing eighth in a $2,500 PLO tournament and first in a $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event.

Biggest Gains

With a fourth-place finish in the Aussie Millions Main Event, Darren Rabinowitz makes the largest leap in the GPI 300. The American moves up 134 spots to No. 134 ironically, while the winner, Ami Barer, climbs 129 places to No. 115.

Liv Boeree and John Juanda also propelled up more than 100 spots thanks to reaching the penultimate day of the Aussie Millions Main Event.

Biggest Drops

Vojtech Ruzicka drops the furthest this week, falling 79 spots to No. 297. The Czech player only has nine cashes since October of 2012 and his victory in the 2013 EPR Deaville High Roller dropped into Period 3 of the GPI formula.

Two-time World Series of Poker $50,000 Poker Players Championship champion Michael Mizrachi also takes a big hit, dropping 57 places to No. 193. The Grinder only has two cashes since the 2013 WSOP, and his win at last year's World Series of Poker Circuit event in South Africa dropped into Period 3.

To view at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website. While you're at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page.

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• Tags Aussie Millions Dan Smith Daniel Negreanu Davidi Kitai Erik Seidel Global Poker Index Isaac Haxton Jacob Balsiger Jason Mercier John Juanda Liv Boeree Marvin Rettenmaier Michael McDonald Michael Mizrachi Phil Ivey Philipp Gruissem PokerStars PokerStars Ca
• Related Tournaments Aussie Millions
• Related Players Daniel NegreanuPhil IveyJohn JuandaErik SeidelMichael MizrachiLiv Boeree