Global Poker Index: Failla Cracks Top 10; Seidel's Reign May Soon End
Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes a player's results over six half-year periods. There was very little change at the top this week, but that won't be the case next week. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of November 14, 2011
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erik Seidel | 2,586.96 | 0 |
| 2 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,493.71 | 0 |
| 3 | Jason Mercier | 2,398.58 | 0 |
| 4 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,382.22 | 0 |
| 5 | Shawn Buchanan | 2,331.45 | 0 |
| 6 | Sorel Mizzi | 2,180.96 | 0 |
| 7 | Sam Stein | 2,178.26 | 0 |
| 8 | Fabrice Soulier | 2,018.48 | 0 |
| 9 | Matt Waxman | 2,003.46 | 0 |
| 10 | Will "The Thrill" Failla | 1,975.60 | +7 |
The top nine remained the same, but Will "The Thrill" Failla replaced Scott Seiver in the No. 10 spot. Seiver's win at the WPT Championship in May fell from Period 1 to Period 2, resulting in a drop of 18 spots. Failla's 15th-place finish in the WPT Championship fell into Period 2, as well, however, not only did that result improve his Period 2 calculations, but Failla's Period 1 was hardly affected because he had several similar scores to replace it.
Welcome to the GPI
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Nico Fierro | 1,168.72 | 211th |
| Ronny Kaiser | 1,145.22 | 231st |
| Tom McCormick | 1,133.99 | 235th |
| Anton Wigg | 1,071.36 | 265th |
| Paul Berende | 1,069.74 | 269th |
| Ruben Visser | 1,046.70 | 284th |
| Nick Yunis | 1,045.39 | 285th |
| Jean-Philippe Rohr | 1,032.22 | 293rd |
| Markus Ristola | 1,029.39 | 294th |
| Mihails Morozovs | 1,026.89 | 296th |
The ten who fell from the GPI this week areChance Kornuth, Heinz Kamutzki, Jan Bendik, Justin Smith, Kyle Bowker, Kyle Loman, Mark Radoja, Maurizio Sepede, Ray Henson, and Stephane Benadiba.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Scott Baumstein. On the heels of his fourth-place finish at the WPT Amneville Main Event, he took first place in a €10,000 No-Limit Holdem High Roller tournament at the Master Classics of Poker 2011 to vault 175 spots up the GPI. Adrien Allain, winner of the WPT Amneville Main Event, also had a big increase in his score as he ascended 173 spots on the GPI.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63rd | Hafiz Khan | 1,577.69 | +50 |
| 71st | Adrien Allain | 1,532.26 | +173 |
| 83rd | Scott Baumstein | 1,510.33 | +175 |
| 85th | Govert Metaal | 1,507.30 | +59 |
| 93rd | Arnaud Mattern | 1,473.79 | +74 |
| 128th | Ty Reiman | 1,342.95 | +38 |
| 177th | Andrew Chen | 1,226.30 | +46 |
| 179th | Marc Inizan | 1,219.42 | +102 |
| 180th | Jonathan Jaffe | 1,218.75 | +54 |
| 240th | Micah Raskin | 1,123.61 | +40 |
| 255th | Josh Bergman | 1,084.37 | +38 |
Ville Haavisto plummeted 142 spots down the list. A combination of two aging scores resulted in his drop. First, a fourth-place finish in a PLO event at the EPT Grand Final in May fell into Period 2. Also, his lone career six-figure score (a runner-up performance at the Master Classics of Poker 2010) dropped from Period 2 to Period 3.
Both Farzad Bonyadi and Galen Hall slid more than 100 spots each, as well. Their respective second and third place finishes the WPT Championship fell from Period 1 to Period 2.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111th | Rob Akery | 1,412.91 | -56 |
| 173rd | Galen Hall | 1,244.04 | -104 |
| 188th | George Lind | 1,205.54 | -61 |
| 200th | Eric Haik | 1,187.15 | -80 |
| 206th | Phil Laak | 1,173.77 | -64 |
| 210th | Steven Kelly | 1,168.86 | -65 |
| 220th | Nichlas Mattsson | 1,157.60 | -114 |
| 268th | Tyler Kenney | 1,070.97 | -79 |
| 291st | Farzad Bonyadi | 1,034.60 | -113 |
| 297th | Ville Haavisto | 1,026.85 | -142 |
What's In Store?
A change at the top of the GPI is a possibility as Erik Seidel's score is going to dip next week. His victory in the $100,000 Super High Roller Event at the Five Star World Poker Classic is going to drop into Period 2 next week. As a result, his Period 1 tally is going to take a substantial hit and shockingly, he does not have a seven-figure (or even a six-figure) score to take its place. Perhaps he is human after all.
To look 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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