Global Poker Index: Steve O'Dwyer On The Rise
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 9, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 2,990.94 | -- |
| 2 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,794.27 | -- |
| 3 | Shawn Buchanan | 2,751.42 | -- |
| 4 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,577.62 | -- |
| 5 | David "Doc" Sands | 2,533.47 | -- |
| 6 | Erik Seidel | 2,476.58 | -- |
| 7 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2,424.36 | +3 |
| 8 | Sorel Mizzi | 2,360.06 | -- |
| 9 | Noah Schwartz | 2,322.72 | +3 |
| 10 | Mike McDonald | 2,305.99 | +3 |
Steve O'Dwyer continued his steady trend up the GPI. While no immediate result was responsible for this week's ascension, aging scores worked in his favor. His eighth-place finish in the 2011 NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event dipped into Period 3. Not only did that improve his Period 3 results, but his Period 2 total wasn't affected because four other results make up that score.
Welcome to the GPI
Mike Leah returned to the GPI this week after an 11th place finish in the 2012 Foxwoods Poker Classic Main Event. Here's a full look at the new faces:
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Leah | 1,132.54 | 242nd |
| Robert Cezarescu | 1,064.16 | 286th |
| Yorane Kerignard | 1,044.66 | 294th |
| Markus Ristola | 1,043.34 | 295th |
| Brandon Cantu | 1,042.54 | 296th |
| Allen Cunningham | 1,042.10 | 297th |
| David Pham | 1,039.43 | 298th |
| Brent Hanks | 1,039.34 | 299th |
| Connor Drinan | 1,038.97 | 300th |
The nine who fell from the GPI this week were Andreas Wiese, Fabrizio Gonzalez, Giuseppe Pantaleo, Nacho Barbero, Kristijonas Andrulis, Lee Markholt, Mark Radoja, Mike Graydon, and Tyler Kenney.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Casey Kastle. His ninth place showing in the €2,500 6-Max No-Limit Hold'em at the 2011 WSOPE dropped into Period 2, thereby giving his Period 2 score a big boost by adding a second result. His still has a full slate of results in Period 1 .
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83rd | Stephen Chidwick | 1,574.07 | +23 |
| 108th | Tristan Clemencon | 1,494.95 | +21 |
| 126th | Anton Wigg | 1,445.56 | +46 |
| 133rd | Casey Kastle | 1,406.63 | +51 |
| 164th | Benny Spindler | 1,310.95 | +26 |
| 211th | Raj Vohra | 1,203.47 | +47 |
| 214th | Thorsten Schafer | 1,192.82 | +32 |
| 215th | Mihails Morozovs | 1,189.86 | +26 |
| 225th | Jon Spinks | 1,167.33 | +29 |
| 266th | Mayu Roca | 1,090.42 | +26 |
Marton Czuczor took the biggest hit of the week. His sixth-place finish in the €2,500 6-Max No-Limit Hold'em at the 2011 WSOPE dropped into Period 2. Phil Hellmuth fell in the same boat — he took seventh place in that tournament and also saw his GPI stock suffer this week.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92nd | Phil Hellmuth | 1,543.63 | -39 |
| 166th | Dan Smith | 1,304.60 | -55 |
| 191st | Joseph Cheong | 1,247.91 | -36 |
| 208th | Dan Kelly | 1,205.64 | -37 |
| 212th | Dan Shak | 1,201.79 | -48 |
| 223rd | Jake Bazeley | 1,171.00 | -34 |
| 229th | Khiem Nguyen | 1,154.53 | --36 |
| 256th | Liv Boeree | 1,111.56 | -34 |
| 262nd | Peter Jetten | 1,098.57 | -37 |
| 282nd | Per Linde | 1,070.94 | -64 |
| 288th | Marton Czuczor | 1,060.63 | -78 |
What's In Store?
The live tournament scene is a bit on the light side until the action kicks back up later this month. However, the 2012 WPT Vienna is under way and a few notable GPIers survived Day 1. Faraz Jaka, Chris Moorman, David Peters, and Steve O'Dwyer are among them.
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.
