Global Poker Index: Marvin Rettenmaier Making a Run at No. 1
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 August 6, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 2,847.86 | -- |
| 2 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,759.54 | -- |
| 3 | Dan Smith | 2,656.62 | -- |
| 4 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2,607.66 | +1 |
| 5 | Erik Seidel | 2,596.53 | +1 |
| 6 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,594.33 | +1 |
| 7 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 2,585.70 | -3 |
| 8 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,506.21 | -- |
| 9 | Andrew Lichtenberger | 2,416.49 | +1 |
| 10 | Mike McDonald | 2,409.86 | +1 |
The only real change toward the top of the GPI this week was Marvin Rettenmaier's falling slightly. His sixth-place finish in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event at the 2011 Merit Cyprus Classic aged into Period 3. Coincidentally (within the past few hours), Rettenmaier won the 2012 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic.
Welcome to the GPI
Six players, led by Nam Le at No. 246, were new to this week's GPI. Le recently took down a HKD$95,000 ($12,258) No-Limit Hold'em High-Roller Event at the APT — Asian Series Macau for HKD$841,000 ($108,409).
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Nam Le | 1,168.91 | 246th |
| Fred Goldberg | 1,113.40 | 272nd |
| Andrey Gulyy | 1,073.85 | 297th |
| Viktor Blom | 1,073.74 | 298th |
| Mike Sexton | 1,073.60 | 299th |
| Eric Baldwin | 1,070.64 | 300th |
Falling from the GPI this week were Marc Inizan, Marko Neumann, Matthias De Meulder, Ondrej Vinklarek, Yorane Kerignard, and Ruben Visser.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Hans Winzeler. He took third place in the $5,300 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event in the Florida State Poker Championship.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40th | Toby Lewis | 1,944.09 | +25 |
| 41st | Ilan Boujenah | 1,942.96 | +22 |
| 77th | Davidi Kitai | 1,744.05 | +18 |
| 108th | Guillaume Darcourt | 1,583.90 | +26 |
| 111th | Sergio Castelluccio | 1,576.42 | +18 |
| 113th | Micah Raskin | 1,570.45 | +45 |
| 141st | Mihai Manole | 1,455.14 | +22 |
| 147th | Hans Winzeler | 1,438.19 | +105 |
| 183rd | Sean Getzwiller | 1,310.28 | +19 |
| 228th | Yury Gulyy | 1,209.07 | +53 |
| 237th | Craig McCorkell | 1,189.95 | +34 |
Paul Berende took the biggest hit of the week. Two Period 1 scores aged into Period 2, both coming at EPT Deauville earlier this year.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56th | Juha Helppi | 1,879.38 | -27 |
| 87th | Vadzim Kursevich | 1,709.76 | -33 |
| 125th | Vojtech Ruzicka | 1,525.99 | -24 |
| 154th | Kevin Vandersmissen | 1,424.05 | -23 |
| 167th | Ronny Kaiser | 1,354.65 | -37 |
| 208th | Ben Vinson | 1,251.23 | -21 |
| 211th | Arten Litvinov | 1,247.99 | -29 |
| 213th | Joe Ebanks | 1,245.97 | -35 |
| 222nd | David Vamplew | 1,225.21 | -42 |
| 240th | Ludovic Lacay | 1,180.88 | -21 |
| 243rd | Paul Berende | 1,172.40 | -62 |
What's In Store?
Marvin Rettenmaier will rise toward the top of the GPI next week after his win in the 2012 WPT Merit Cyprus Classic. However, because his Period 1 slate is already very stacked, he won't gain enough points to pass either Jason Mercier or Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier. What is working in Rettenmaier's favor, though, is that Mercier is set to drop a few points as his third-place finish in the inaugural Epic Poker League event will age into Period 3 next week. The race will tighten up, and it is safe to say (for now) that it is no longer a two-horse race at the top.
Others players who cashed in Cyprus include Erik Cajelais in seventh place (No. 86 on the GPI), Chino Rheem in 22nd place (No. 195), and Aubin Cazals in 31st place (No. 191). Each should see a minor rise up the GPI come next week.
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.
