Global Poker Index: Vanessa Selbst Cracks Top Five
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. Jason Mercier still leads, but there was other activity in the top 10 this week. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of February 27, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 2,993.04 | -- |
| 2 | Erik Seidel | 2,863.83 | +1 |
| 3 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,857.76 | -1 |
| 4 | Shawn Buchanan | 2,711.02 | +1 |
| 5 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,515.36 | +3 |
| 6 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,463.12 | -2 |
| 7 | Matt Waxman | 2,400.18 | -- |
| 8 | Will "The Thrill Failla | 2,362.00 | -2 |
| 9 | Mike "Timex" McDonald | 2,315.73 | -- |
| 10 | Jonathan Duhamel | 2,279.95 | +6 |
Vanessa Selbst jumped into the top five after a win at the L.A. Poker Classic last week, besting a field of 98 in the $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em event. Jonathan Duhamel finished runner-up and moved up six places in the GPI to enter the top 10.
Consider this: In early January, before the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure started, Duhamel was holding down the No. 82 spot on the GPI. Since then, he has four six-figure cashes and has risen 72 places.
Welcome to the GPI
Dan Shak has a knack for finishing runner-up in high-roller events this year. He took second to Viktor Blom in the PCA Super High Roller and last week took second in the $25,000 High Roller at the LAPC. As a result, he's back on the GPI.
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Shak | 1,323.64 | 167th |
| Stephen Chidwick | 1,277.10 | 185th |
| Mickey Petersen | 1,202.36 | 215th |
| Andrew Teng | 1,182.52 | 219th |
| Randal Flowers | 1,090.27 | 274th |
| Dan Fleyshman | 1,085.87 | 279th |
| Dan Murariu | 1,082.07 | 282nd |
| Owen Crowe | 1,080.22 | 284th |
| Yuliyan Nikolaev Kolev | 1,070.48 | 295th |
| Mick Graydon | 1,068.40 | 296th |
| Mike Leah | 1,063.77 | 297th |
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Josh Brikis. Selbst and Duhamel claimed the top two spots in the $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em event at the LAPC, and Brikis took third place. After having fallen off the GPI in late December, Brikis is back on the list following this latest showing and a third-place result at the Borgata Winter Open in January.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35th | Pierre Neuville | 1,960.25 | +26 |
| 51st | Faraz Jaka | 1,767.61 | +38 |
| 84th | Andras Kovacs | 1,586.52 | +26 |
| 104th | Rupert Elder | 1,506.92 | +54 |
| 116th | Erich Kollman | 1,461.63 | +26 |
| 127th | Nick Yunis | 1,440.61 | +35 |
| 159th | Andy Frankenberger | 1,346.98 | +31 |
| 161st | Josh Brikis | 1,340.20 | +108 |
| 175th | Mohsin Charania | 1,296.59 | +53 |
| 222nd | Eddy Sabat | 1,172.10 | +68 |
On the other end of the spectrum, Dan Heimiller took the biggest tumble this week. A combination of two aging scores dropped Heimiller's GPI standing. First, his 20th-place result at the 2011 WPT Legends of Poker Main Event dropped into Period 2, leaving him with only one period 1 cash. In addition, Heimiller's 20th-place finish at the 2011 LAPC Main Event slipped into Period 3.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 126th | Dmitry Gromov | 1,441.69 | -61 |
| 149th | Amir Lehavot | 1,369.65 | -64 |
| 171st | David "Bakes" Baker | 1,316.51 | -62 |
| 172nd | Michael Tureniec | 1,314.29 | -58 |
| 184th | Marton Czuczor | 1,281.84 | -61 |
| 224th | Massimiliano Martinez | 1,171.30 | -63 |
| 248th | Zach Clark | 1,133.59 | -57 |
| 291st | Evgeny Zaytsev | 1,074.06 | -77 |
| 298th | Dan Heimiller | 1,059.73 | -86 |
| 300th | Randy Dorfman | 1,058.35 | -75 |
What's In Store?
The Main Event of the LAPC wrapped up on Wednesday and several players will see nice boosts up the GPI come next week. David "Doc" Sands (28th) and Noah Schwartz (27th) finished second and fourth, respectively. Both will no doubt be in the top 20 next week. Sorel Mizzi finished in 10th place and should also make a return trip to the top 10.
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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