Global Poker Index: Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier Back 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. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of September 10, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,811.06 | +1 |
| 2 | Jason Mercier | 2,708.51 | -1 |
| 3 | Dan Smith | 2,644.59 | -- |
| 4 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 2,635.92 | -- |
| 5 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2,595.21 | -- |
| 6 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,508.90 | -- |
| 7 | Andrew Lichtenberger | 2,423.38 | +2 |
| 8 | Mike "Timex" McDonald | 2,413.37 | -1 |
| 9 | David "Doc" Sands | 2,381.18 | +3 |
| 10 | Shawn Buchanan | 2,356.31 | +1 |
Jason Mercier's latest reign atop the GPI has come to an end after two months. Although it wasn't a massive score, Mercier's 27th-place showing in the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Stars Championship event aged into Period 2 where it wasn't picked up because he already has four better scores accounting for his Period 2 results. His Period 1 took a hit, paving the way for Bertand "ElkY" Grospeller to reclaim the top spot.
Welcome to the GPI
Nine players are new to this week's GPI, led by Jacob Bazeley following a fifth-place finish for $25,460 in a $5,000 no-limit hold'em side event at the 2012 WinStar River Poker Series.
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Jacob Bazeley | 1,300.86 | 190th |
| Kunal Patel | 1,130.83 | 258th |
| Carla Solinas | 1,098.62 | 284th |
| Viktor Blom | 1,073.74 | 295th |
| Mike Sexton | 1,073.60 | 296th |
| Rob Akery | 1,072.64 | 297th |
| Maxi Lehmanski | 1,070.89 | 298th |
| Eric Baldwin | 1,070.64 | 299th |
| Moreten Mortensen | 1,069.24 | 300th |
Falling from the GPI this week were Hugo Lemaire, James Mitchell, Joe Cassidy, Mike Leah, Nam Le, Ryan Eriquezzo, Stephane Benadiba, Taylor von Kriegenbergh, and Vinny Pahuja.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Ismael Bojang. His Period 2 had only one score before his eighth-place finish in a $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2012 Merit Spring Open aged into Period 2. In addition to gaining that second score in his Period 2, it wasn't previously counting as part of his Period 1 slate, so he lost no points there.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35th | Scott Baumstein | 1,987.44 | +22 |
| 117th | Sergio Castelluccio | 1,557.88 | +34 |
| 152nd | Roland Israelashvili | 1,434.87 | +15 |
| 167th | Aubin Cazals | 1,375.79 | +25 |
| 202nd | Rupert Elder | 1,263.43 | +40 |
| 204th | Ismael Bojang | 1,252.25 | +41 |
| 216th | Massimo Mosele | 1,232.28 | +15 |
| 246th | Paul Volpe | 1,144.20 | +16 |
| 251st | Max Silver | 1,140.50 | +34 |
| 279th | Bryce Yockey | 1,104.99 | +17 |
Slipping the most this week were Tim West and Matt Waxman. For West, it was his 11th-place finish in the second Epic Poker League event (worth $46,020) that aged into Period 3. Waxman's win in the 2011 WPT Grand Prix de Paris Main Event worth €500,000 also aged into Period 3.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62nd | Fabrice Soulier | 1,850.14 | -32 |
| 68th | Martin Jacobson | 1,796.27 | -26 |
| 89th | Matt Waxman | 1,684.51 | -40 |
| 94th | Isaac Baron | 1,625.42 | 25- |
| 153rd | Alex Kravchenko | 1,429.19 | -38 |
| 154th | Guillaume Darcourt | 1,425.38 | -22 |
| 217th | Mario Puccini | 1,231.49 | -29 |
| 242nd | John Andress | 1,153.63 | -32 |
| 260th | Allen Cunningham | 1,128.32 | -27 |
| 280th | Tim West | 1,102.42 | -67 |
What's In Store?
The 2012 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event results will be reflected in next week's standings, helping out fourth-place finisher Dan O'Brien (currently No. 231) and Dan Smith. Even though Smith's seventh-place score for €178,496 most likely won't crack his current top-four Period 1 scores, it will pay huge dividends when his scores begin to age into Period 2 next month. Smith is on the fast track to No. 1 on the GPI.
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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