Global Poker Index: O’Dwyer On Top Again; WPT Seminole Cashers Move Up
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 April 20, 2016.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve O’Dwyer | 4324.24 | - |
| 2 | Byron Kaverman | 4244.32 | - |
| 3 | Bryn Kenney | 4162.78 | - |
| 4 | Jason Mercier | 4032.33 | - |
| 5 | Dominik Nitsche | 3997.38 | +1 |
| 6 | Connor Drinan | 3975.62 | -1 |
| 7 | Nick Petrangelo | 3887.33 | +1 |
| 8 | Fedor Holz | 3878.63 | -1 |
| 9 | Tom Marchese | 3787.49 | - |
| 10 | Anthony Zinno | 3756.48 | - |
All of the players in last week’s top 10 of the Global Poker Index overall rankings remained on the list this week as well, with Steve O’Dwyer still the leader and Byron Kaverman in second position. This marks 15 straight weeks at the top for O’Dwyer — nearly all of 2016, actually, as he first took over the top spot from Kaverman on January 13.
There was just small shuffling among a few of those in the top 10, with No. 5 Dominik Nitsche switching places with No. 6 Connor Drinan and No. 7 Nick Petrangelo exchanging positions with No. 8 Fedor Holz.
Looking just outside the top 10, Mustapha Kanit moved up from No. 16 to No. 13 while Erik Seidel slipped from No. 12 to No. 18.
Welcome to the GPI Top 300
| Rank | Player | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 223 | Michael Laake | 1820.73 |
| 237 | Samuel Taylor | 1797.53 |
| 256 | Darren Rabinowitz | 1745.15 |
| 261 | Matthew Stout | 1738.85 |
| 267 | Frederik Jensen | 1733.20 |
| 270 | Vasili Firsau | 1728.79 |
| 277 | David Paredes | 1722.29 |
| 289 | Steve Karp | 1712.58 |
| 293 | Riley Fuller | 1697.73 |
Nine players pushed their way into the GPI Top 300 this week, with Michael Laake the highest-ranked of the bunch after jumping from No. 309 to No. 223. Laake won a preliminary event during the World Poker Tour Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown series earlier in the month to boost his GPI point total, then cashed as well in the Championship won last night by Justin Young. The ranking of No. 223 is close to Laake’s previous career high of No. 220 in the GPI achieved earlier this year.
Among the other eight joining the list, Samuel Taylor of New York is the only one making his GPI top 300 debut, a cash in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship having helped him move up as well.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 293 | Riley Fuller | 1697.73 | +183 |
| 267 | Frederik Jensen | 1733.20 | +136 |
| 277 | David Paredes | 1722.29 | +136 |
| 169 | Phillip Hui | 2008.80 | +86 |
| 223 | Michael Laake | 1820.73 | +86 |
Riley Fuller gets the nod as this week’s biggest upward mover among those in the GPI top 300, having ascended from No. 476 to No. 293 after cashing three times at the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown including a 16th-place showing in the Championship.
Phillip Hui took 14th in that same event which helped him go from No. 255 to No. 169. Cashes by David Paredes (who finished 32nd) and Frederik Jensen (who finished 62nd) also gave them GPI boosts.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 291 | Jens Lakemeier | 1701.07 | -76 |
| 251 | Mario Lopez | 1754.42 | -53 |
| 233 | Felix Bleiker | 1803.54 | -51 |
| 284 | Thiago Nishijima | 1715.47 | -50 |
| 286 | Brian Hastings | 1714.08 | -45 |
Finally, among the top 300 players Jens Lakemeier took the biggest tumble from last week after slipping from No. 215 to No. 291.
What to Expect Next Week
The WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown series finishes up this weekend with the much anticipated WPT Tournament of Champions running April 22-24. Also ongoing is the World Series of Poker Circuit stop at Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina where the Main Event begins tomorrow.
The Borgata Spring Poker Open continues as well, as does the Gioco Digitale WPT National Sanremo in Italy. There is also the Seneca Niagara Falls Western New York Poker Challenge continuing at the Niagara Falls Poker Room, where the 2016 Western New York Poker Challenge $1,000 Main Event gets underway tomorrow. PokerNews will be on hand for that one with live updates from start to finish.
Then next week comes the European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo that winds up EPT Season 12, a series sure to occupy our attention for the next couple of weeks and likely introduce some movement at the top of the GPI rankings. PokerNews' live reporting team will be in Monaco, too, so stick close to follow all of the action from the high rollers and Main Event.
To view the 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.
