Global Poker Index: Vanessa Selbst New Leader of Top 300; Bilokur 1st in POY

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Jun 19, 2014 3 min read

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.

During the 2014 World Series of Poker, the GPI will be releasing new lists twice each week to reflect the increased movement thanks to the many events being played. For a look at all of the lists, visit the official GPI website. Meanwhile, here at PokerNews we’ll continue updating you each week about changes happening both to the 2014 GPI Player of the Year rankings and to the overall GPI Top 300.

2014 GPI Player of the Year

There is a new name atop the 2014 GPI Player of the Year leaderboard this week as Alex Bilokur has surged ahead of Keven Stammen to seize away the top spot after Stammen had held it since late March. A couple of big recent cashes at the WSOP — including a victory in the Event #28: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship — helped catapult the Russian into the top spot.

Meanwhile Scott Seiver and Mike McDonald moved back into the top 10 this week, taking spots previously occupied by Joe Keuther (now #11) and Davidi Kitai (now #13).

Others making moves in the 2014 POY race this week included Matt Stout (moving up to #15 from #28), Nick Schulman (to #18 from #57), and Matt Salsberg (to #33 from #110).

GPI 300 Top 10

The big GPI-related news this week relates to Vanessa Selbst moving into the top spot of the overall GPI rankings, swapping spots with previous frontrunner Ole Schemion to become the eighth player overall and first woman ever to earn the top ranking.

Alex Bilokur and Erik Seidel have also moved up into the top 10 this week, while Mike Watson (who went from #10 to #12) and Jason Mercier (going from #7 to #16) both lost their top 10 spots.

Welcome to the GPI

There were 21 newcomers to the GPI Top 300 this week, and a quick scan of the list shows a lot of familiar names from the coverage of the WSOP here on PokerNews.

For example, Kevin Eyster defeated Pierre Neuville heads-up in Event #24: $5,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em this week, thereby helping both bound into the top 300. And Humberto Brenes keeps collected cashes — he is up to eight at the WSOP now — which earned him a spot inside this week's top 300 as well.

Biggest Gains

Success at the WSOP this week helped some make big moves within the GPI Top 300 this week, with final tables for Pratyush Buddiga, Alex Venovski, Richard Lyndaker, and Joe Tehan (who made two of them) helping each player to improve his standing.

Biggest Drops

Meanwhile Kevin MacPhee and Dan Kelly fell the farthest within the GPI Top 300, Kelly doing so despite collecting his fourth WSOP cash of the summer this week.

Fantasy Poker Manager

The Global Poker is having weekly events with its popular Fantasy Poker Manager for the 2014 WSOP, giving FPM managers opportunities to win every week.

Here’s the remaining schedule of weekly events with deadlines for entering:

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.

• Tags Global Poker Index Vanessa Selbst Alex Bilokur Keven Stammen Ole Schemion Daniel Negreanu
• Related Players Daniel NegreanuVanessa SelbstKeven StammenAlex BilokurOle Schemion