Global Poker Index: Steven Silverman Passes Paul Volpe for Player of the Year
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. The GPI also ranks the top performers of the year over two six-month periods as calculated by the USA Today Global Poker Index point system.
For a look at both lists, visit the official GPI website.
2013 GPI Player of the Year
| Rank | Player | Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steven Silverman | 786.10 | +5 |
| 2 | Paul Volpe | 767.76 | -1 |
| 3 | Mike Watson | 753.37 | -1 |
| 4 | David Peters | 736.55 | -1 |
| 5 | Daniel Negreanu | 731.18 | -1 |
| 6 | Scott Seiver | 692.20 | -1 |
| 7 | Igor Kurganov | 663.10 | -- |
| 8 | Chris Klodnicki | 656.19 | -- |
| 9 | Ole Schemion | 651.74 | -- |
| 10 | Marvin Rettermaier | 644.40 | +1 |
After spending 19 straight weeks atop the GPI Player of the Year standings, Paul Volpe's reign is finally over. Steven Silverman jumped five spots and into the top position this week after he won the inaugural World Poker Tour Alpha8 $100,000 buy-in event at Seminole Hard Rock in Florida. Silverman beat a field of only 21 entrants, but it was enough to scoop a top prize worth $891,660, bringing his yearly tournament winnings to more than $2.2 million.
The high roller victory was the second for Silverman this year. In May, he won the €25,000 High Roller at the 2013 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino European Poker Tour Grand Final for €775,400. Mostly known as a high-stakes cash game player, Silverman is creating a presence in high-stakes tournaments and has positioned himself for a chance at the Player of the Year honor.
The only other change in the top 10 was Marvin Rettenmaier's return to the Top 10. Rettenmaier recently won the High Roller event at the World Poker Tour event in Cyprus for $182,000. As a result, he jumped 25 spots to No. 11 in the GPI POY standings last week, and he crept up one more spot this week.
Others climbing the standings this week were Manig Loeser (up 19 spots to No. 18), Matt Glantz (up 28 spots to No. 43), Alexej Lakhov (up 185 spots to No. 58), and J.C. Tran (up 80 spots to No. 74). Tran, who is the chip leader of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table, finished runner-up to Silverman in the Alpha8 high roller event.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Rank Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 3223.76 | -- |
| 2 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 3211.12 | -- |
| 3 | Joseph Cheong | 3004.70 | -- |
| 4 | Michael Watson | 2960.98 | -- |
| 5 | Philipp Gruissem | 2937.08 | +1 |
| 6 | Daniel Negreanu | 2929.41 | +1 |
| 7 | Ole Schemion | 2909.17 | -2 |
| 8 | Igor Kurganov | 2906.89 | +2 |
| 9 | Steve O'Dwyer | 2853.59 | -1 |
| 10 | Bertrand Grospellier | 2850.02 | -1 |
Jason Mercier's stranglehold on the GPI 300 top spot may soon slip out of his hands. Former No. 1 Marvin Rettenmaier now trails by just 11 points, and he'll attempt to take the lead during the European Poker Tour Barcelona series in the coming week. Both players are expected to compete in the Main Event, the Higher Roller and the Super High Roller.
While Silverman still sits outside the Top 10, he made up major ground by climbing 15 positions to No. 13 this week. Silverman arrived in Barcelona on Thursday morning and will look to add another major title to his résumé.
Welcome to the GPI
New Additions
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Alexej Lakhov | 1736.48 | 104 |
| Albert Daher | 1349.72 | 209 |
| Sergey Rybachenko | 1271.54 | 247 |
| Tobias Peters | 1261.32 | 256 |
| John Dolan | 1227.19 | 284 |
| Andy Frankenberger | 1206.46 | 297 |
Alexej Lakhov was the biggest mover of the week in both GPI formats. The Russian player made three final tables in the span of a week, the biggest coming at the bwin World Poker Tour Cypus Main Event, where he finished ninth for $23,125.
Albert Daher also made the final table of the Main Event in Cyprus, taking second for $160,200.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Taylor Paur | 1845.34 | 46 |
| 94 | Hui Chen-Kuo | 1798.37 | 25 |
| 148 | Jeff Gross | 1564.05 | 68 |
| 149 | Nicholas Verkaik | 1561.33 | 22 |
| 165 | J.C Tran | 1486.25 | 63 |
| 169 | Paul Tedeschi | 1477.88 | 52 |
| 218 | Jared Jaffee | 1328.65 | 49 |
| 242 | Christopher Frank | 1280.51 | 43 |
Jeff Gross and J.C. Tran used their Alpha8 success to move up the rankings this week. We already discussed Tran's runner-up finish to Silverman, and Gross finished third in that event for $364,770.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | Paul Berende | 1687.67 | -25 |
| 129 | Tobias Reinkemeier | 1651.40 | -31 |
| 135 | Jesse Martin | 1617.59 | -35 |
| 160 | Jeff Madsen | 1510.76 | -27 |
| 172 | Max Steinberg | 1452.09 | -33 |
| 236 | David Tuthill | 1292.24 | -45 |
| 240 | Samad Razavi | 1282.18 | -62 |
| 253 | Barry Greenstein | 1263.78 | -53 |
| 254 | Jonathan Karamalikis | 1260.86 | -54 |
| 269 | Ramin Hajiyev | 1254.30 | -66 |
| 286 | Justin Conley | 1226.86 | -52 |
| 295 | Stephane Benadiba | 1213.01 | -42 |
Taking this biggest tumble this week was Ramin Hajiyev, whose two final tables at last year's EPT Barcelona series aged into Period 3 for the GPI formula. Barry Greenstein also had a pair of cashes at that series, inclusing a final table, and dropped 53 places on the GPI to No. 200.
To view 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.
