Global Poker Index: Kenney, Petrangelo Lead; McDonald, Salsberg, Kassouf 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 May 24.
2017 GPI Player of the Year
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryn Kenney | 2840.97 | - |
| 2 | Ari Engel | 2478.79 | - |
| 3 | Sergio Aido | 2463.57 | - |
| 4 | Daniel Dvoress | 2430.71 | - |
| 5 | Nick Petrangelo | 2392.76 | - |
| 6 | Manig Loeser | 2262.69 | - |
| 7 | Koray Aldemir | 2176.14 | - |
| 8 | Mustapha Kanit | 2109.57 | - |
| 9 | Byron Kaverman | 2108.44 | - |
| 10 | Steve O'Dwyer | 1938.12 | - |
Looking at the latest update of the 2017 Global Poker Player of the Year leaderboard, it's tempting to fall into the cliché trap and talk about the "calm before the storm." But things are pretty calm right now, POY-wise, and the storm's a-coming — the 2017 World Series of Poker, that is, the first events of which get going in less than a week.
The POY top 10 remains identical from a week ago, with Bryn Kenney — leader for 16 weeks running now — carrying the advantage into the start of the WSOP.
Looking down the list a bit, Nadya Magnus made an upward move from No. 60 to No. 19 this week after picking up a couple of cashes at the recent WSOP Circuit Harrah's New Orleans stop.
All-time WSOP Circuit ring leader Maurice Hawkins also made the High Roller final table in New Orleans and moved from No. 37 to No. 22. And Aaron Massey jumped from No. 90 to No. 31 after finishing runner-up to Michael Shanahan in the Mid-States Poker Tour Firekeepers Casino Michigan Main Event.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Petrangelo | 3525.80 | - |
| 2 | Fedor Holz | 3450.27 | - |
| 3 | David Peters | 3431.69 | - |
| 4 | Bryn Kenney | 3367.59 | - |
| 5 | Justin Bonomo | 3314.73 | - |
| 6 | Ari Engel | 3242.29 | - |
| 7 | Jason Mercier | 3218.68 | - |
| 8 | Adrian Mateos | 3152.68 | - |
| 9 | Steve O'Dwyer | 3116.71 | - |
| 10 | Jason Koon | 3090.34 | - |
The quiet week also meant no movement among the top 10 in the overall GPI rankings where Nick Petrangelo remains the No. 1-ranked player in the world for an eighth-straight week.
Looking down the list a bit, Charlie Carrel moved up from No. 41 to No. 24 this week. Though not related to his GPI ranking, Carrel also earned a cool $1.2 million this week for winning the Spring Championship of Online Poker Main Event ("High") where he topped a 693 entry-field.
Welcome to the GPI Top 300
| Rank | Player | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 192 | Caufman Talley | 1896.61 |
| 224 | Mike McDonald | 1831.07 |
| 225 | Michael Lech | 1827.13 |
| 229 | Marshall White | 1816.08 |
| 234 | Matt Salsberg | 1811.00 |
| 236 | Eddy Sabat | 1805.90 |
| 237 | William Kassouf | 1804.45 |
| 272 | Ray Qartomy | 1766.90 |
| 284 | Ivan Deyra | 1749.60 |
| 298 | Ragi Raghavan | 1728.91 |
There are 10 new names among the GPI Top 300 this week, including a number of familiar ones. Caufman Talley comes in as the highest-ranked of the group of newcomers. Talley went from No. 357 to No. 192 after finishing third in the WSOP-C Harrah's New Orleans Main Event won by Jason Baldridge.
Mike McDonald rejoins the list, moving up from No. 433 to No. 224 not long after winning the partypoker MILLION North America High Roller.
Matt Salsberg recently won the 2017 California State Poker Championship, and he's returned to the list as well after going from No. 420 to No. 234.
And William Kassouf is among the Top 300 again this week, too, after elevating from No. 301 to No. 237 following his 11th-place finish in the 888Live Barcelona Main Event won by Luigi Shehadeh.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | Mike McDonald | 1831.07 | +209 |
| 236 | Eddy Sabat | 1805.90 | +196 |
| 234 | Matt Salsberg | 1811.00 | +186 |
| 225 | Michael Lech | 1827.13 | +173 |
| 272 | Ray Qartomy | 1766.90 | +173 |
McDonald made the biggest upward move this week among players in the GPI Top 300. Eddy Sabat moved up nearly as many spots as McDonald did, going from No. 432 to No. 236 after a fifth-place finish in that aforementioned 2017 California State Poker Championship won by Salsberg.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 287 | Martin Kozlov | 1744.67 | -103 |
| 162 | Joseph Cheong | 1978.53 | -87 |
| 158 | Tom Marchese | 1997.48 | -64 |
| 231 | Mark Herm | 1813.99 | -64 |
| 294 | Michael Telker | 1731.79 | -64 |
Finally, only considering players still ranked in the GPI Top 300, Martin Kozlov fell the furthest since the last update after going from No. 184 to No. 287.
What to Expect Next Week
As noted, the start of the 2017 WSOP next Wednesday currently occupies most of the live tournament poker world's attention at the moment, with the PokerNews live reporting team currently gearing up for its coverage of all 74 events.
Speaking of the live reporting team, they are currently reporting from four other locations:
- the PokerStars Championship Sochi series in Russia
- the PokerStars Festival Chile in Viña del Mar
- the Poker King Cup Macau series, and
- the Unibet Open Copenhagen Main Event in Denmark.
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.
