Global Poker Index: Seiver, Schemion Still On Top; Esfandiari Rejoins Rankings

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Feb 12, 2015 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.

2015 GPI Player of the Year

Scott Seiver keeps the top spot in the GPI Player of the Year race for a second week, although as has been the case for these first weeks of 2015 there were many dramatic moves made just below him thanks to a few players’ recently-posted results.

The Argentinian Ivan Luca cashed in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller in January, then grabbed multiple cashes in France last week, including in the €5,300 EPT Deauville Main Event and in the €10,300 EPT Deauville High Roller, finishing fifth in the latter. Those scores helped Luca jump all of the way from No. 29 to No. 2 in the POY race this week.

Meanwhile the Bulgarian Ognyan Dimov's big win in the EPT Deauville Main Event catapulted him from No. 36 to No. 3, and the Russian Vladimir Troyanovskiy’s three cashes in Deauville — including a win in the FPS High Roller — helped him move way up from No. 193 to No. 8.

GPI 300 Top 10

Turning our attention to the overall GPI rankings, the 10 players occupying the top spots remained the same for a third week running, with a few trading spots and no one making any major moves.

Ole Schemion remains the world’s top-ranked tourament player for an eighth-straight week. Byron Kaverman sits just outside the top 10 this week at No. 11 after finishing fourth in the Aria $25,000 High Roller II and second in the Aria $25,000 High Roller III.

Welcome to the GPI Top 300

This week saw 13 players climb into the GPI Top 300, including both 2012 WSOP $1,000,000 2012 Big One for One Drop winner Antonio Esfandiari who went from No. 425 to No. 253 and 2013 WSOP $111,111 One Drop High Roller champion Anthony Gregg who went from No. 399 to No. 240. Esfandiari finished third in the $25K Aria High Roller II to aid in his ascension, while Gregg took third the next day in the $25K Aria High Roller III to help him move up. Esfandiari’s highest previous GPI ranking has been No. 14, while Gregg’s previous peak was No. 85.

Incidentally, Tom Marchese won both of those $25K Aria High Rollers (on consecutive days), and those scores helped him move from No. 135 up to No. 42 in the overall rankings this week — a big gain, but there were several who made bigger ones.

Biggest Gains

Roman Korenev earned honors as this week’s biggest gainer among those in the top 300, going from No. 501 to No. 256 after cashing in the EPT Deauville High Roller. Thomas Butzhammer surged in the rankings as well, moving from No. 369 to No. 183 after making the money in both the High Roller and Main Event in Deauville.

Biggest Drops

Finally among those falling the furthest yet remaining in the top 300, David Diaz dropped the most, going from No. 194 to No. 257. Last week we were noting how Phil Ivey had returned to the top 300. This week he sits at No. 210, having slipped somewhat from his No. 163 position last week.

To view both the 2015 Player of the Year and GPI overall rankings in their entirety, visit the official GPI website. While you’re at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page.

• Tags Global Poker Index Scott Seiver Ivan Luca Ognyan Dimov Ole Schemion Antonio Esfandiari Anthony Gregg Robin Ylitalo Phil Ivey David Diaz European Poker Tour EPT Deauville Aria
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