Global Poker Index: O’Dwyer on Top, Kaverman Closing; Drinan Makes Top 10
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 February 3, 2016.
GPI Player of the Year
In order to calculate the Global Poker Index Player of the Year, the GPI uses a player’s best 13 results (in terms of GPI POY points earned) from January 1 to December 31. Early rankings for 2016 will be arriving soon — perhaps starting next week — but for now you can click here to read more about the various factors considered by the GPI when calculating scores for the GPI POY.
Meanwhile, we move on to check out how the overall GPI rankings have changed over the last seven days.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve O’Dwyer | 4271.58 | - |
| 2 | Byron Kaverman | 4236.76 | +2 |
| 3 | Jason Mercier | 4138.03 | -1 |
| 4 | Nick Petrangelo | 4030.13 | -1 |
| 5 | Anthony Zinno | 3953.27 | - |
| 6 | Bryn Kenney | 3875.03 | +1 |
| 7 | Fedor Holz | 3872.02 | -1 |
| 8 | David Peters | 3738.01 | - |
| 9 | Stephen Chidwick | 3732.39 | - |
| 10 | Connor Drinan | 3689.09 | +6 |
Steve O’Dwyer remains the top-ranked tournament player in the world according to the GPI for a fourth-straight week after having finished fourth in the 2016 Aussie Millions $25,000 Challenge. O’Dwyer went on to win the $250,000 LK Boutique Challenge in Melbourne last weekend, although earned no GPI points for that event as it drew 16 total entries (or fewer than the requisite 21).
O’Dwyer’s lead has gotten slimmer, however, as Byron Kaverman — from whom O’Dwyer took over the top spot a month ago — has charged up from No. 4 to No. 2 and now sits just one cash away from retaking the lead.
Meanwhile Connor Drinan (pictured above) joined the top 10 for the first time in his career after moving up six spots from No. 16. Like O’Dwyer, Drinan cashed in a couple of super high rollers at the Aussie Millions as well, finishing fourth in the $100,000 Challenge and third in the $250K event won by O’Dwyer.
Welcome to the GPI Top 300
| Rank | Player | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 207 | Fabian Quoss | 1896.07 |
| 227 | Rep Porter | 1832.82 |
| 281 | Ka “KC” Wong | 1707.96 |
| 293 | Vyacheslav Stoyanov | 1660.71 |
| 297 | Pascal Hartmann | 1659.89 |
| 298 | Simeon Naydenov | 1659.63 |
| 300 | Jean-Pascal Savard | 1656.18 |
Speaking of that Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge, the event’s winner, Fabian Quoss, also tops the list as the highest-ranked of the seven newcomers to the GPI top 300 this week. That win helped Quoss jump all of the way from No. 403 to No. 207. His highest previous ranking has been No. 32 in April 2013.
Of the others joining the list this week, Ka “KC” Wong is making his debut inside the GPI top 300, having moved from No. 471 to No. 281 after cashing three times in Melbourne including just missing the final table of the $10,600 Main Event where he finished eighth.
Also joining the top 300 for the first time is Pascal Hartmann who went from No. 350 to No. 297 after picking up a cash in the Aussie Millions Main. Hartmann has been picking up cashes on the European Poker Tour and elsewhere for the last few years, but he’s is also known for his many online scores (not counted in the GPI rankings). He plays as “Päffchen” on PokerStars where he’s won both the Sunday Warm-Up and the Super Tuesday among other successes.
Jean-Pascal Savard likewise debuts on the list, having moved up from No. 449 to No. 300 after running deep in the $25,000 High Roller at the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (finishing 11th) while also cashing in the Aussie Millions Main Event.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | Fabian Quoss | 1896.07 | +196 |
| 281 | Ka “KC” Wong | 1707.96 | +190 |
| 300 | Jean-Pascal Savard | 1656.18 | +149 |
| 165 | Kitty Kuo | 2076.20 | +130 |
| 160 | Alexander Lynskey | 2098.66 | +116 |
Quoss earns the honor as “biggest gainer” this week (among those in the GPI top 300). Kitty Kuo also made a big move up from No. 295 to No. 165 after finishing sixth in the Aussie Millions Main Event.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | Joe Serock | 1788.02 | -58 |
| 295 | David Nicholson | 1663.05 | -55 |
| 283 | Allaksei Boika | 1691.60 | -50 |
| 248 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 1788.44 | -44 |
| 268 | Oleksii Khoroshenin | 1739.26 | -39 |
Among players falling the furthest this week though still remaining within the top 300, Joe Serock dropped the most after going from No. 191 to No. 249.
What to Expect Next Week
Among the tournament action happening all over the world this week, the World Series of Poker Circuit visits the Palm Beach Kennel Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Meanwhile on Friday and Saturday the ARIA Resort & Casino will host two more $25,000 ARIA High Roller events. Then starting next Wednesday, the European Poker Tour Dublin festival begins at the Royal Dublin Society.
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.
