Global Poker Index: Steve O’Dwyer Takes Over Top Spot, Ends Kaverman’s Reign
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 January 13, 2016.
GPI Player of the Year
Once more we’re sitting tight here for the first few weeks of the year as players start collecting results to help spark the 2016 Global Poker Index Player of the Year race and see who jumps out in front in the effort to succeed 2015 GPI POY Byron Kaverman.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve O’Dwyer | 4182.78 | +1 |
| 2 | Nick Petrangelo | 4030.13 | +2 |
| 3 | Byron Kaverman | 4022.13 | -2 |
| 4 | Anthony Zinno | 3953.59 | -1 |
| 5 | Jason Mercier | 3895.52 | +1 |
| 6 | Bryn Kenney | 3861.26 | +2 |
| 7 | Fedor Holz | 3840.23 | -2 |
| 8 | David Peters | 3714.78 | +2 |
| 9 | Kevin MacPhee | 3659.44 | -2 |
| 10 | Martin Finger | 3634.50 | -1 |
We knew after a week’s worth of events at the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas — with all of the GPI’s top-ranked players involved — there would be some activity at the top this week.
Interestingly the top 10 players all remain the same from a week ago, although each moved up or down one or two spots. The most notable move comes at the top, of course, with Steve O’Dwyer at long last assuming the title of the world’s top-ranked tournament player for the first time in his career.
An almost-permanent fixture near the top of the GPI rankings since their introduction in 2011, O’Dwyer finally moves up to No. 1 after kicking off 2016 in familiar fashion, winning the $50,000 Single-Day High Roller to start the festival, then adding a cash in the Main Event as well.
Since mid-2011, O’Dwyer has spent over 100 weeks inside the top 10, usually not falling far from the top group during the time he hasn’t been ranked that highly. O’Dwyer becomes the 12th player in the history of the GPI to be ranked No. 1, ending Kaverman’s 14-week reign at the top.
Nick Petrangelo, who also cashed in that same $50K Single-Day High Roller (finishing eighth), also hits a career-high by moving up to No. 2, while $100K Super High Roller winner Bryn Kenney moved up this week from No. 8 to No. 6.
Welcome to the GPI Top 300
| Rank | Player | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 162 | Mike Gorodinsky | 1994.88 |
| 202 | Daniel Weinman | 1850.83 |
| 234 | Timothy Adams | 1779.45 |
| 252 | Leo Fernandez | 1746.38 |
| 260 | Chad Eveslage | 1704.03 |
| 283 | Joe Ebanks | 1653.41 |
| 286 | Charlie Carrel | 1650.95 |
| 288 | Ben Heath | 1648.49 |
| 290 | Simeon Naydenov | 1638.47 |
| 291 | Leon Hsu | 1636.95 |
| 292 | Jason Koon | 1635.98 |
| 298 | David Tuthill | 1617.21 |
| 299 | Ryan Van Sanford | 1612.44 |
Thirteen players have jumped up into the newest GPI top 300 rankings, most of whom did so on the strength of their performances at the PCA over the last week.
Mike Gorodinsky is the highest-ranked of this group. He moved up from No. 324 to No. 162 after final-tabling two side events at the PCA, including winning a $5,300 NLH 8-Handed Turbo. A 21st-place showing by Daniel Weinman in the LAPT Bahamas Main Event won by Georgios Sitoropoulos helped Weinman jump back up into the rankings as well, going from No. 342 to No. 202.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 162 | Mike Gorodinsky | 1994.88 | +162 |
| 291 | Leon Hsu | 1636.95 | +154 |
| 202 | Daniel Weinman | 1850.83 | +140 |
| 252 | Leo Fernandez | 1746.38 | +112 |
| 260 | Chad Eveslage | 1704.03 | +96 |
Gorodinsky and Weinman were among the biggest gainers for the week as well among those in the GPI top 300. Leon Hsu also made a big jump this week from No. 445 to No. 291 after picking up a cash in the 2016 Macau Millions, thereby making his career debut inside the GPI top 300.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256 | Justin Young | 1738.05 | -82 |
| 300 | Andrey Shatilov | 1611.15 | -63 |
| 271 | Arie Ori Miller | 1675.20 | -58 |
| 255 | Dietrich Fast | 1740.68 | -58 |
| 221 | Shyam Srinivasan | 1811.04 | -57 |
Finally, looking at those who fell the furthest yet remained inside the top 300 this week, Justin Young fell the most after going from No. 174 to No. 256, while Andrey Shatilov just barely stayed on the list after falling from No. 237 to No. 300.
What to Expect Next Week
There are still a few results left to be determined in the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, including both the $5,300 Main Event and the $25,000 High Roller. Meanwhile the focus is already starting to turn toward Melbourne as the 2016 Aussie Millions is already underway.
Be sure to follow PokerNews’ live reporting from the PCA here. And the team is on hand at the Aussie Millions, too, for comprehensive coverage of the many events down under.
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.
