Global Poker Index: Phil Hellmuth Cracks the Top Five
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 December 3, 2012
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Rank Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Smith | 3,041.92 | -- |
| 2 | Jason Mercier | 2,891.05 | -- |
| 3 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 2,708.79 | -- |
| 4 | Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier | 2,667.52 | -- |
| 5 | Phil Hellmuth | 2,570.34 | +4 |
| 6 | Vanessa Selbst | 2,531.59 | +5 |
| 7 | Philipp Gruissem | 2,515.25 | -2 |
| 8 | Michael Mizrachi | 2,441.10 | +4 |
| 9 | Mike Watson | 2,423.49 | -2 |
| 10 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2,423.32 | -2 |
Phil Hellmuth and Vanessa Selbst both saw their GPI score rise due to aging WSOP scores. In Hellmuth's case, it was two minor cashes (61st place in Event 2: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em for $7,204 and 52nd place in Event 8: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better for $4,817). Neither result was counting for Hellmuth's Period 1, but both immediately count for his Period 2 as he only had two results comprising his Period 2 score previously. Thanks to his terrific showing in the 2012 WSOP Europe, Hellmuth's Period 2 will receive even bigger boosts when his better WSOP scores age. A rise to No. 2 or No. 3 is possible.
As for Selbst, she came in fourth place in Event 2 for $161,345. Her Period 2 received a big jolt from that result, more than making up for the lesser result taking its place in Period 1.
Welcome To the GPI
Eleven players are new to this week's GPI, led by Giacomo Fundaro at No. 230 following his win at WPT Mazagan.
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Giacomo Fundaro | 1,172.35 | 230th |
| Paul Tedeschi | 1,165.55 | 234th |
| Dan Murariu | 1,159.31 | 236th |
| Amanda Musumeci | 1,132.99 | 258th |
| Joseph Couden | 1,106.52 | 267th |
| Bruno Fitoussi | 1,094.45 | 271st |
| Nam Le | 1,090.16 | 273rd |
| Lee Childs | 1,063.94 | 285th |
| Bryan Devonshire | 1,057.65 | 291st |
| Terrence Chan | 1,055.04 | 292nd |
| Fred Goldberg | 1,040.61 | 299th |
Falling from the GPI this week were Carla Solinas, Charles Keith Lehr, David Inselberg, David Paredes, Jan Peter Jachtmann, Jason Somerville, Kunimaro Kojo, Mike Gorodinsky, Mike Wattel, Ravi Raghavan and Simeon Naydenov.
Ups and Downs
The biggest rise of the week belonged to Jeff Gross following his third-place finish at WPT Montreal for $319,238, giving his Period 1 slate a significant boost.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63rd | Gavin Smith | 1,765.52 | +57 |
| 71st | Davidi Kitai | 1,737.04 | +44 |
| 119th | Jeff Gross | 1,503.30 | +115 |
| 121st | Brian Rast | 1,500.07 | +72 |
| 155th | Matt Stout | 1,377.17 | +51 |
| 181st | Guillaume Darcourt | 1,280.60 | +45 |
| 185th | Paul Berende | 1,269.72 | +94 |
| 197th | Chris Bjorin | 1,241.44 | +54 |
| 198th | Jon Aguiar | 1,232.73 | +58 |
| 209th | Jeff Madsen | 1,215.21 | +62 |
On the other end of the spectrum is Jake Cody. He plummeted 99 places due to two aging scores. His runner-up showing in the 2011 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour Main Event aged into Period 3, while his win in the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship from the 2011 WSOP aged into Period 4.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 157th | Yevgeniy Timoshenko | 1,370.62 | -35 |
| 168th | Andrew Bacecker | 1,319.83 | -55 |
| 206th | Martins Adeniya | 1,219.78 | -72 |
| 213th | Josh Brikis | 1,211.33 | -35 |
| 226th | Adam Geyer | 1,184.38 | -60 |
| 248th | Nicolas Levi | 1,141.61 | -72 |
| 250th | Alessio Isaia | 1,138.77 | -36 |
| 265th | Andrey Pateychuk | 1,113.45 | -77 |
| 290th | Jake Cody | 1,058.89 | -99 |
| 297th | Fabian Quoss | 1,045.40 | -59 |
| 300th | Luke Nettles | 1,039.38 | -46 |
What's In Store?
The WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic has plenty of big names remaining and is set to finish on Sunday, meaning it will make the cut for next week's GPI rankings. Going into Thursday, 166 players remain from the starting field of 503 entries. Among them are Selbst, Michael Mizrachi, Noah Schwartz, Sorel Mizzi and Will Failla (each in the GPI top 50). Also, WSOP scores will continue to age into Period 2.
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 PokerNews on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
