Global Poker Index: Jason Mercier Dethrones Grospellier; Hellmuth Cracks 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. Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier's latest run atop the GPI lasted four weeks, but he's looking up at a familiar foe once again. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of October 8, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank from Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 2,956.35 | +1 |
| 2 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,780.55 | -1 |
| 3 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 2,567.86 | +1 |
| 4 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2,561.56 | +4 |
| 5 | Andrew Lichtenberger | 2,550.38 | -- |
| 6 | Philipp Gruissem | 2,532.38 | -- |
| 7 | Michael Mizrachi | 2,443.11 | +2 |
| 8 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,419.96 | -1 |
| 9 | Phil Hellmuth | 2,409.32 | +20 |
| 10 | Dan Smith | 2,393.94 | -7 |
Jason Mercier is back atop the GPI after his eighth-place finish (for €84,672/$110,467) in the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. That marks Mercier's first live six-figure score (U.S. dollars) of 2012.
Phil Hellmuth makes his debut in the top 10 this week following his World Series of Poker Europe Main Event win for €1,022,376. Mike Watson also enjoying seven-figure success in Cannes. He took down the €50,000 Majestic High Roller for €1,000,000 and though he came up just short of the top 10, he vaulted 29 places to the No. 15 position.
Welcome to the GPI
Seven players are new to this week's GPI, led by Nicolas Cardyn. He returns to the GPI in the No. 171 spot after his 11th-place showing worth €52,416 in the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Cardyn | 1,368.71 | 171st |
| Leo Fernandez | 1,228.05 | 218th |
| Adam Levy | 1,193.00 | 237th |
| Roman Romanovskyi | 1,150.51 | 255th |
| Stephane Albertini | 1,127.25 | 270th |
| Eric Sfez | 1,122.09 | 272nd |
| Kevin Saul | 1,094.43 | 292nd |
Bernard Lee, Eddy Sabat, Fabian Quoss, Khiem Nguyen, Matthias De Meulder, Simeon Naydenov, and Ty Reiman all fell from the GPI this week.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Marc-Andre Ladouceur. He took down a €5,000 No-Limit Hold'em side event at EPT San Remo for €132,400.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69th | Keven Stammen | 1,757.09 | +91 |
| 73rd | Chris Brammer | 1,736.99 | +98 |
| 74th | Elio Fox | 1,736.18 | +54 |
| 116th | Vadzim Kursevich | 1,556.93 | +45 |
| 152nd | Marc-Andre Ladouceur | 1,444.36 | +117 |
| 157th | Max Silver | 1,426.29 | +101 |
| 163rd | Liv Boeree | 1,412.18 | +88 |
| 220th | Joe Kuether | 1,222.97 | +72 |
| 233rd | Kent Lundmark | 1,195.83 | +34 |
Kevin Vandersmissen fell the furthest this week. His win in the Irish Open Main Event (worth €420,000) aged into Period 2.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109th | Olivier Busquet | 1,589.01 | -32 |
| 110th | Sam Trickett | 1,580.78 | -35 |
| 122nd | Igor Kurganov | 1,538.39 | -39 |
| 133rd | Matt Waxman | 1,499.67 | -35 |
| 190th | James Dempsey | 1,316.27 | -52 |
| 199th | Fabrizio Gonzalez | 1,272.31 | -34 |
| 229th | Koen De Visscher | 1,207.75 | -67 |
| 250th | Chino Rheem | 1,163.35 | -32 |
| 267th | Kevin Vandersmissen | 1,137.45 | -72 |
| 281st | Jake Bazeley | 1,109.44 | -50 |
What's In Store?
EPT San Remo wraps up on Thursday and has the potential to have a lasting effect on the top 10 of the GPI.
High-Roller specialist Philipp Gruissem (No. 6 on the GPI), is at yet another high-roller final table. With four six-figure scores comprising his Period 1, he has a chance to add a fifth with either a win or a runner-up showing. The fourth score came this week with his fourth-place finish in the €50,000 Majestic High Roller for €275,000.
Why didn't his No. 6 standing from last week improve? It would have, however his win in the £20,000 High-Roller event at last year's EPT London (worth £450,200/$703,657) aged into Period 3. He surely would have dipped from the top 10 but instead is set to become a fixture there for quite a while.
Gruissem is setting himself up quite nicely for when his oldest Period 1 scores age into Period 2 and it won't be long before he challenges Mercier and Grospellier at the top.
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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