GPI Player of the Year: Dan Smith Still Leads; Phil Hellmuth Making a Run

Mickey Doft
Live Reporter
7 min read
Dan Smith

Each week, the Global Poker Index publishes the standings of the top 1,000 players in its Player of the Year race. Once a month, PokerNews will take an in-depth look at the top 10 players' results and the recent tournaments that have caused a splash in the standings.

A player's score is comprised of up to 11 tournament results that begin during the calendar year. Of those 11 results, up to six will come from Jan. 1 through June 30 and up to five will be from tournaments starting from July 1 through Dec. 31. Like the Global Poker Index Rankings, all tournaments must have a buy-in of at least $1,500 and contain at least 21 entrants to be eligible in comprising a player's score.

Dan Smith still holds a sizable lead on the field, and with only four scores out of five potential counting ones in the second half of the year, he still can pad his lead.

GPI Player of the Year Top 10

PlacePlayerTotal ScoreChange in Rank
1Dan Smith1,044.71--
2Marvin Rettenmaier891.34+1
3Andrew Lichtenberger819.75-1
4Kyle Julius796.94--
5David "ODB" Baker790.71--
6Jonathan Duhamel741.24--
7Mohsin Charania718.52+1
8Phil Ivey713.44-1
9Daniel Negreanu707.00--
10Jason Mercier699.80+2

1. Dan Smith

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
Aussie MillionsAUD$100,000 No-Limit Hold'em1 of 22AUD$1,012,000
EPT Berlin€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event90 of 745€7,500
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max Turbo1 of 101€152,980
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em1 of 175€250,500
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max1 of 98€118,000
World Series of Poker$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #50)3 of 1,001$368,943
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
EPT Barcelona€50,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller1 of 55€962,925
EPT Barcelona€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up4 of 31€38,000
Partouche Poker Tour Grand Final€8,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event7 of 489€178,496
World Series of Poker Europe€1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #6)17 of 206€3,752

2. Marvin Rettenmaier

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
WPT Vienna€9,700 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller5 of 26€25,670
EPT Berlin€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max Re-Entry3 of 66€85,800
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€2,000 No-Limit Hold'em1 of 214€118,300
WPT World Championship$25,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship1 of 152$1,196,858
World Series of Poker$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max (Event #6)5 of 409$68,151
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #43)42 of 2,770$12,415
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #57)31 of 474$24,951
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event648 of 6,958$19,227
WPT Merit Cyprus Classic$4,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event1 of 329$287,784
World Series of Poker Europe€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max (Event #5)6 of 96€42,094

3. Andrew Lichtenberger

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
PCA$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event 8-Max105 of 1,072$20,000
Wynn Classic$5,000 No'Limit Hold'em Championship Event4 of 190$78,328
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up (Event #12)32 of 152$10,966
World Series of Poker$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #23)8 of 924$49,214
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball (Event #30)3 of 285$41,445
World Series of Poker$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #50)23 of 1,001$28,793
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #57)6 of 474$140,351
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event221 of 6,958$44,655
EPT Barcelona€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller10 of 101€27,190
Partouche Poker Tour Grand Final€8,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event40 of 489€19,997
WPT Grand Prix de Paris€7,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event23 of 228€15,065

4. Kyle Julius

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
PCA$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event 8-Max2 of 1,072$1,500,000
World Series of Poker$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max (Event #6)41 of 409$9,503
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #16)29 of 1,604$10,827
World Series of Poker$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #23)67 of 924$5,927
World Series of Poker$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event #36)41 of 587$9,086
World Series of Poker$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #50)2 of 1,001$589,687
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #57)26 of 474$29,406
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event411 of 6,958$28,530
Partouche Poker Tour Grand Final€8,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event31 of 489€29,990
WPT Grand Prix de Paris€7,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event18 of 228€19,240

5. David "ODB" Baker

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
WPT L.A. Poker Classic$10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship32 of 549$28,990
California State Poker Championship$2,080 No-Limit Hold'em Championship33 of 316$3,980
World Series of Poker$2,500 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (Event #22)3 of 228$59,925
World Series of Poker$2,500 Mixed Hold'em (Event #35)33 of 393$5,195
World Series of Poker$2,500 8 Game (Event #37)1 of 477$271,312
World Series of Poker$50,000 Poker Players Championship (Event #45)10 of 108$142,197
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha H/L (Event $58)4 of 526$100,820
World Series of Poker$10,000 No Limit Hold'em National Championship6 of 157$79,002
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event56 of 6,958$128,384
Heartland Poker Tour - Colorado$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event6 of 739$47,130
World Series of Poker Europe€2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed (Event #1)14 of 227€6,548

6. Jonathan Duhamel

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
PCA$100,000 No-Limit Holdem Super High Roller4 of 30$313,600
PCA$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max1 of 158$239,830
PCA$25,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max High Roller2 of 141$634,550
EPT Deauville€2,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max8 of 289€13,900
L.A. Poker Classic$5,100 No-Limit Hold'em2 of 98$121,115
WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star$9,500 No-Limit Hold'em13 of 364$25,620
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #57)38 of 474$21,832
EPT Barcelona€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller10 of 101€27,190

7. Mohsin Charania

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
EPT Deauville€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event46 of 889€15,000
Deep Stack Extravaganza I$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event20 of 254$6,404
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event1 of 665€1,350,000
World Series of Poker$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Four Max (Event #28)11 of 750$19,741
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #31)166 of 2,811$3,719
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #38)226 of 2,534$2,771
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
EPT Barcelona€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event123 of 1,082€8,400
Partouche Poker Tour Grand Final€8,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event57 of 489€17,499
WPT Grand Prix de Paris€7,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event5 of 228€94,615
World Series of Poker Europe€3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event #4)13 of 141€5,428

8. Phil Ivey

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
Aussie MillionsAUD$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event12 of 659AUD$100,000
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€25,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max High Roller9 of 133€72,300
World Series of Poker$5,000 Stud H/L (Event #15)7 of 212$34,595
World Series of Poker$10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em (Event #17)2 of 179$275,599
World Series of Poker$5,000 Omaha H/L (Event #24)3 of 256$136,046
World Series of Poker$10,000 HORSE (Event #32)5 of 178$99,739
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
Macau High Stake Challenge$258,00 No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller8 of 73$822,941

9. Daniel Negreanu

Tournament Series (Jan. 1 - June 30)EventPlacePrize
PCA$100,000 No-Limit Holdem Super High Roller5 of 30$250,900
LAPT Grand FinalR$3,700 ($1,829) No-Limit Hold'em6 of 367$28,177
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€100,000 Super High Roller6 of 38€310,000
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€25,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max High Roller2 of 133€598,600
World Series of Poker$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em5 of 639$41,683
World Series of Poker$1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #5)45 of 967$5,639
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball (Event #60)13 of 101$19,272
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event160 of 6,958$52,718
EPT Barcelona€5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event118 of 1,082€9,950
World Series of Poker Europe€3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event #4)16 of 141€5,428
World Series of Poker Europe€1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #6)19 of 206€2,774

10. Jason Mercier

Tournament SeriesEventPlacePrize
PCA$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max3 of 158$80,460
WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star$9,500 No-Limit Hold'em27 of 364$19,200
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #2)181 of 2,101$2,893
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Re-Entry (Event #9)260 of 3,404$3,216
World Series of Poker$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #23)101 of 924$5,019
World Series of Poker$10,000 Pot-Limt Omaha (Event #39)8 of 293$72,132
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #57)14 of 474$44,110
World Series of Poker$10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball (Event #60)12 of 101$19,272
WPT Grand Prix de Paris€7,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event27 of 228€13,305
World Series of Poker Europe€5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #3)9 of 97€12,245
World Series of Poker Europe€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max (Event #5)14 of 96€20,443

As a bonus this week, here is a breakdown of Nos. 11 and 12 in the rankings, held by GPI leader Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and current World Series of Poker Europe Main Event final table leader, Phil Hellmuth. With three cashes in Cannes, Hellmuth rose 17 places in the rankings (without his Main Event finish). Even with a win, though, it's a long shot for Hellmuth to make a run at dethroning Smith. Still, it will close the gap and make the No. 2 race quite closer.

11. Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier

Tournament SeriesEventPlacePrize
L.A. Poker Classic$25,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller4 of 23$72,550
EPT Berlin€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max Re-Entry1 of 66€231,000
PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final€100,000 Super High Roller3 of 38€621,000
World Series of Poker$10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em (Event #17)18 of 179$23,876
World Series of Poker$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Six Handed (Event #23)6 of 924$68,738
World Series of Poker$10,000 HORSE (Event #32)16 of 178$19,542
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
EPT Barcelona€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller7 of 101€43,510
World Series of Poker Europe€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max (Event #5)13 of 96€20,443

12. Phil Hellmuth

Tournament SeriesEventPlacePrize
L.A. Poker Classic$2,080 8-Game Mix1 of 49$22,630
Irish Open€3,200 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event33 of 502€9,400
World Series of Poker$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event #2)61 of 2,101$7,204
World Series of Poker$5,000 Stud H/L (Event #15)15 of 212$11,637
World Series of Poker$2,500 Razz (Event #18)1 of 309$182,793
World Series of Poker$10,000 HORSE (Event #32)4 of 178$134,056
Tournament Series (July 1 - Dec. 31)EventPlacePrize
World Series of Poker$1,000,000 Big One for One Drop (Event #55)4 of 48$2,645,333
World Series of Poker Europe€2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed (Event #1)24 of 227€4,887
World Series of Poker Europe€3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event #4)12 of 141€5,428
World Series of Poker Europe€10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Mixed Max (Event #5)12 of 96€20,443

For the full GPI Player of the Year standings, head on over to globalpokerindex.com.

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Mickey Doft
Live Reporter

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