Global Poker Index: Mercier Remains On Top
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. The top 10 remained the same this week and Jason Mercier's lead remains intact. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of February 20, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 2,993.04 | -- |
| 2 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,851.05 | -- |
| 3 | Erik Seidel | 2,789.21 | -- |
| 4 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,709.37 | -- |
| 5 | Shawn Buchanan | 2,672.49 | -- |
| 6 | Will "The Thrill" Failla | 2,426.38 | -- |
| 7 | Matt Waxman | 2,400.18 | -- |
| 8 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,371.85 | -- |
| 9 | Mike "Timex" McDonald | 2,337.53 | -- |
| 10 | Matt Marafioti | 2,288.92 | -- |
Welcome to the GPI
Six new players are on the GPI this week, including 2010 PCA Main Event winner Harrison Gimbel. He finished in ninth place at the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open last week.
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Wheeler | 1,141.64 | 250th |
| Martin Staszko | 1,140.48 | 252nd |
| Konstantin Streletskiy | 1,095.39 | 279th |
| Harrison Gimbel | 1,079.76 | 293rd |
| Tamas Lendvai | 1,072.44 | 298th |
| Jon Spinks | 1,071.62 | 300th |
The six players who fell from the GPI were Amnon Filippi, Andrew Teng, Eric Haik, Grant Levy, Mads Wissing, and Mike Leah.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged Alex Venovski. Although his last cash was at the PCA in January, an aging score benefited him. He finished in 33rd-place in a $2,000 WPT Regional Event in August and that result aged into Period 2. Venovski now possesses a full slate of four Period 1 and Period 2 scores counted in the GPI.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27th | Christian Harder | 2,050.60 | +14 |
| 73rd | Barry Greenstein | 1,641.66 | +27 |
| 96th | Alessio Isaia | 1,547.34 | +14 |
| 97th | Matt Stout | 1,545.99 | +27 |
| 151st | David "ODB" Baker | 1,3756.89 | +24 |
| 159th | Allen Bari | 1,366.13 | +14 |
| 173rd | David Vamplew | 1,320.37 | +19 |
| 189th | Jake Bazeley | 1,268.38 | +22 |
| 196th | Corey Burbick | 1,260.47 | +34 |
| 237th | Ray Qartomy | 1,162.45 | +17 |
| 243rd | Alex Venovski | 1,150.30 | +48 |
David Benyamine slipped the most this week, dropping 57 places. Two of his cashes at the Full Tilt Cyprus Classic from 2010 fell into Period 4.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88th | Dan Smith | 1,569.72 | -29 |
| 131st | Anton Wigg | 1,442.48 | -25 |
| 156th | David Benyamine | 1,368.21 | -57 |
| 171st | Kimmo Matias Kurko | 1,324.32 | -22 |
| 190th | Andy Frankenberger | 1,267.30 | -38 |
| 213th | Tyler Cornell | 1,218.34 | -25 |
| 218th | Kristijonas Andrulis | 1,204.40 | -37 |
| 236th | Fabian Quoss | 1,162.72 | -24 |
| 274th | Yorane Kerignard | 1,101.06 | -24 |
| 299th | Xuan Liu | 1,071.89 | -32 |
What's In Store?
The LAPT Grand Final Carnival Poker Festival concluded earlier this week and will be reflected in the next week's GPI standings. Daniel Negreanu will rise up the GPI after his sixth-place result.
The EPT Copenhagen Main Event will wrap up this weekend, and as of the writing of this article it will certainly have an effect on the rankings.
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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