Global Poker Index: Fabrice Soulier Returns to the Top 10
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. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of April 2, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 2,984.80 | -- |
| 2 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,845.12 | -- |
| 3 | Shawn Buchanan | 2,751.42 | -- |
| 4 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,577.62 | -- |
| 5 | David "Doc" Sands | 2,533.47 | -- |
| 6 | Erik Seidel | 2,510.57 | -- |
| 7 | Fabrice Soulier | 2,449.52 | +19 |
| 8 | Sorel Mizzi | 2,427.21 | -1 |
| 9 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,368.63 | -- |
| 10 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2,368.49 | -2 |
Fabrice Soulier returned to the top 10 for the first time since mid September after his showing in the EPT Campione Main Event. Soulier finished in third place for €240,000. Meanwhile, Olivier Busqest rose 20 places and now sits in 15th place following his runner-up performance worth €430,000.
Welcome to the GPI
Fourteen players were added to the GPI this week, led by Jose Manuel Nadal. Two cashes at EPT Campione helped give Nadal a full slate of Period 1 scores to go along with his other results. Also making his debut on the GPI is EPT Campione Main Event winner Jannick Wrang.
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Manuel Nadal | 1,257.50 | 201st |
| Stefan Huber | 1,225.26 | 212th |
| Nicolas Chouity | 1,223.90 | 214th |
| Per Linde | 1,204.92 | 218th |
| Liv Boeree | 1,197.57 | 222nd |
| Mihails Morozovs | 1,151.97 | 238th |
| Jannick Wrang | 1,147.77 | 240th |
| Sergio Castelluccio | 1,145.58 | 242nd |
| Balazs Botond | 1,130.51 | 248th |
| Raj Vohra | 1,118.50 | 258th |
| Andrea Benelli | 1,111.91 | 262nd |
| Massimo Mosele | 1,081.37 | 278th |
| Christopher Lastiwka | 1,072.96 | 287th |
| Alex Debus | 1,055.09 | 299th |
Those who fell from the GPI this week were Christophe Benzimra, Dana Kellstrom, Daniel Neilson, David Pham, Humberto Brenes, John Juanda, Justin Schwartz, Kevin Iacofano, Laurence Houghton, Markus Ristola, Steve Brecher, Stuart Fox, Tim Finne, and Tim West.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Koen De Visscher. His fifth-place finish in the EPT Campione Main Event not only boosted his GPI ranking 124 spots, but also gave him a solid payout of €124,000.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58th | Rupert Elder | 1,700.42 | +51 |
| 100th | Koen De Visscher | 1,525,33 | +124 |
| 116th | Ronny Kaiser | 1,477.73 | +61 |
| 141st | Guillaume Darcourt | 1,384.15 | +57 |
| 152nd | Chris McClung | 1,347.89 | +53 |
| 194th | Zimnan Ziyard | 1,270.86 | +63 |
| 209th | Mike Beasley | 1,227.19 | +73 |
| 211th | Mihai Manole | 1,224.35 | +82 |
| 224th | Martin Finger | 1,194.94 | +53 |
| 226th | Davidi Kitai | 1,187.59 | +74 |
On the other end of the spectrum is Benny Spindler. His win at EPT London last October slipped into Period 2 and as a result he fell 97 places.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 111th | Dan Smith | 1,500.40 | -47 |
| 182nd | Bernard Lee | 1,287.08 | -44 |
| 190th | Benny Spindler | 1,274.89 | -97 |
| 199th | Allen Bari | 1,260.70 | -45 |
| 205th | James Mitchell | 1,235.79 | -43 |
| 220th | Juan Manuel Pastor | 1,204.80 | -45 |
| 227th | Dylan Wilkerson | 1,186.24 | -42 |
| 259th | Chad Brown | 1,116.58 | -47 |
| 270th | Kristijonas Andrulis | 1,095.90 | -47 |
| 284th | Andrey Zaichenko | 1,075.10 | -81 |
What's In Store?
With no major live events going on over the next week, expect light changes to the GPI next week from aging scores. The live tournament scene will pick up later in the month.
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.
To stay on top of the GPI and other happenings in the poker world, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
