Global Poker Index: Erik Seidel Joins Player of Year Top 10; Mercier Leads Overall
Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes into account a player’s results over six half-year periods. For a look at the entire list, visit the official GPI website. Here’s a look at the rankings as of August 12, 2015.
2015 GPI Player of the Year
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Zinno | 4192.90 | - |
| 2 | Connor Drinan | 3771.11 | - |
| 3 | Scott Seiver | 3610.29 | - |
| 4 | Byron Kaverman | 3510.55 | - |
| 5 | Dzmitry Urbanovich | 3380.69 | - |
| 6 | Stephen Chidwick | 3352.70 | - |
| 7 | Dominick Nitsche | 3300.76 | - |
| 8 | Erik Seidel | 3286.10 | +7 |
| 9 | Nicholas Petrangelo | 3277.39 | -1 |
| 10 | Paul Volpe | 3274.50 | +3 |
The top seven spots remained unchanged this week in the 2015 Global Poker Index Player of the Year race, with Anthony Zinno enjoying a sixth-straight week in the top spot.
Meanwhile there was some movement at the lower end of the top 10 as Erik Seidel jumped from No. 15 to No. 8 following a 12th-place finish in the World Poker Tour Choctaw Main Event in Durant, Oklahoma. Victories earlier this year in the ARIA Super High Roller IV (in February) and the European Poker Tour Grand Final Super High Roller in Monte Carlo (in April) have helped bolster Seidel’s POY standing.
Paul Volpe also moved up a few spots to join the top 10 this week after recently final tabling the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship where he took fifth.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Mercier | 4043.95 | - |
| 2 | Byron Kaverman | 3987.89 | - |
| 3 | Scott Seiver | 3963.41 | - |
| 4 | Anthony Zinno | 3953.32 | - |
| 5 | Stephen Chidwick | 3748.14 | - |
| 6 | Dan Smith | 3735.56 | - |
| 7 | Bryn Kenney | 3648.60 | +1 |
| 8 | Dominik Nitsche | 3573.76 | +4 |
| 9 | Paul Volpe | 3547.33 | - |
| 10 | Dario Sammartino | 3520.32 | - |
The top of the overall GPI rankings was likewise quiet this week with no movement among the top spots and Jason Mercier retaining his No. 1 position for a fourth-straight week with Byron Kaverman remaining very close behind.
Dominik Nitsche edged up into the overall top 10 this week, moving up from No. 12 to No. 8. Despite nearly $5 million in tournament earnings, this marks a GPI top 10 debut for Nitsche, currently Germany’s top-ranked tournament player ahead of Martin Finger (GPI No. 31), Ole Schemion (No. 34), and Ismael Bojang (No. 36).
Welcome to the GPI Top 300
| Rank | Player | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 199 | Upeshka Desilva | 1909.64 |
| 260 | Ryan Van Sanford | 1760.94 |
| 265 | Yury Gulyy | 1755.63 |
| 266 | Georges Yazbeck | 1751.57 |
| 267 | Paul Hoefer | 1748.46 |
| 281 | Ryan D’Angelo | 1711.21 |
| 293 | Stefan Schillhabel | 1683.12 |
| 298 | [Removed:172] | 1671.69 |
There are eight new names in the top 300 of the overall GPI rankings this week, and of that group five of those players are making their career top 300 debuts — Upeshka Desilva, Ryan Van Sanford, Paul Hoefer, Stefan Schillhabel, and [Removed:172]. Of those five, Kramer had come closest before, reaching No. 311 back in April 2014.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 260 | Ryan Van Sanford | 1760.94 | +493 |
| 199 | Upeshka Desilva | 1909.64 | +180 |
| 281 | Ryan D’Angelo | 1711.21 | +129 |
| 191 | Manig Loeser | 1938.00 | +81 |
| 201 | Corey Hochman | 1903.92 | +69 |
Two of those making their top 300 debuts also made the biggest gains of the week of those in the list, with Upeshka Desilva moving up from No. 379 to No. 199 this week and Ryan Van Sanford catapulting all of the way from No. 753 to No. 260.
Desilva’s jump came thanks to an 11th-place showing in the WPT Choctaw Main Event, while Van Sanford moved up after winning the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Purple Chip Bounty Event last weekend.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 247 | Tom Dobrilovic | 1785.43 | -58 |
| 286 | Tristan Wade | 1699.73 | -54 |
| 173 | Mike McDonald | 1988.91 | -51 |
| 254 | John Holley | 1767.39 | -42 |
| 285 | Isaac Haxton | 1705.89 | -38 |
Meanwhile among players keeping within the top 300 this week, Tom Dobrilovic fell the furthest, going from No. 189 to No. 247, while Mike McDonald and Isaac Haxton also slipped in the rankings.
What to Expect Next Week
This week the Poker Belgique Festival 10 in Na, Belgium, the Borgata Summer Heater in Atlantic City, and the PPC Poker Tour Daytona Beach Beachside Open in Florida highlight the tournament schedule. Soon, though, all eyes will be turning to Spain for the start of a new season of the European Poker Tour and EPT Barcelona which gets going early next 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.
