Global Poker Index: Dominik Panka Leaps Past Vanessa Selbst for Player of the Year

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Feb 06, 2014 3 min read Last updated Feb 12, 2014

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes into account 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.

2014 GPI Player of the Year

Dominik Panka stormed to the top of the Player of the Year standings this week after claiming his second major victory of the year. Panka won the European Poker Tour High Roller on Feb. 1, just two weeks after winning the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event. The Polish pro has more than $1.8 million in earnings already in 2014 and is the early man to catch for POY.

Dan Smith climbed to No. 2 in the standings, jumping past Vanessa Selbst after finishing runner-up at the Aussie Millions $25,000 Challenge. Smith, the 2012 GPI Player of the Year, has four cashes this year for more than $370,000.

Joining the top 10 this week were Mustapha Kanit, Marvin Rettenmaier, Marcin Wydrowski and Isaac Baron. Kanit, who was one of the biggest movers on the POY leader board, won the opening event at the Aussie Millions late last month for $196,000.

GPI 300 Top 10

There were no new players among the top 10 of the GPI 300 this week, and the only change was Dan Smith moving up one spot to No. 4, switching positions with Philipp Gruissem. Nearly everyone in the top 10 is in Melbourne for the Aussie Millions, so there may be some movement following the conclusion of the Main Event, the $100,000 Challenge, and the $250,000 Challenge.

Welcome to the GPI

Alex Kravchenko returned to the GPI 300 this week. The Team PokerStars Pro landed at No. 219 after finishing 10th at the EPT Deauville High Roller for €22,800. With that score, he eclipsed $4 million in live tournament earnings for his career.

Among those who dropped out of the GPI 300 this week was Jake Cody, who recently announced that he would be taking a break from poker to take care of his newborn. We're sure the talented tournament pro will eventually return to the top 300.

Biggest Gains

Ondrej Vinklarek was the biggest mover this week. The Czech Republic's No. 1 player had four cashes at EPT Deauville, including a fourth-place finish in the High Roller for €101,000.

German High Roller extraordinaire Tobias Reinkemeier also made a big leap following his eighth-place finish in the Aussie Millions $25,000 Challenge.

Biggest Drops

Walid Bou Habib dropped the furthest this week after his runner-up finish at last year's EPT Deauville Main Event dropped into Period 3 of the GPI formula. Also dropping this week was Blair Hinkle, whose seventh-place finish at the CardPlayer Poker Tour Main Event in Choctaw dropped into Period 2. Hinkle will likely drop out of the GPI 300 this month when his first-place result at the 2013 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open also slips into Period 2.

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.

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• Tags Alex Kravchenko Aussie Millions Blair Hinkle Dan Smith EPT Global Poker Index Jake Cody Poker Top 10 PokerStars PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Tobias Reinkemeier Tournament Results Vanessa Selbst
• Related Tournaments Aussie MillionsEuropean Poker TourPokerStars Caribbean Adventure
• Related Players Blair HinkleVanessa SelbstAlex KravchenkoTobias ReinkemeierJake CodyDan Smith