Global Poker Index: Stephen Chidwick Leads 2018 POY & Overall Rankings
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 2.
2018 GPI Player of the Year
| Rank | Player | 2018 GPI POY Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Chidwick | 2762.62 |
| 2 | Rainer Kempe | 2744.12 |
| 3 | Sam Greenwood | 2313.43 |
| 4 | Justin Bonomo | 2310.84 |
| 5 | Isaac Haxton | 2094.39 |
| 6 | Dylan Wilkerson | 2067.73 |
| 7 | Joseph Cheong | 2063.75 |
| 8 | Timothy Miles | 1955.07 |
| 9 | Ari Engel | 1919.01 |
| 10 | Nick Pupillo | 1894.89 |
When we last looked in on the 2018 Global Poker Index Player of the Year race at the start of April, Nick Pupillo occupied the top spot in the rankings with Ari Engel in second position. Pupillo and Engel are both still in the top 10, but Stephen Chidwick is the new frontrunner after continuing his hot start to the year.
Rainer Kempe was actually the one who stole the lead from Pupillo during April, but after one week Chidwick moved up into the lead where he's been the last three weeks.
The month was highlighted by two final tables for Chidwick in the partypoker Millions Grand Final Barcelona — a runner-up in the Super High Roller won by Jake Schindler, and a third-place finish in the Main Event won by Pascal Lefrancois. He's added another final table in a €10K event at EPT Monte Carlo as well.
Currently at No. 2 in the POY race, Kempe also started April collecting cashes in the partypoker Barcelona series, including a runner-up in the High Roller won by Andreas Eiler. Then after a WPT Amsterdam High Roller final table Kempe has picked up multiple cashes over the past week in Monaco at EPT Monte Carlo.
Speaking of EPT Monte Carlo, €100K Super High Roller winner Sam Greenwood has also moved up to No. 3 in the POY race, rounding out a fantastic April that began with a €50K Super High Roller win in the partypoker MILLIONS Grand Final Barcelona and another mid-month victory in the WPT Amsterdam High Roller.
Overall GPI Top 10
| Rank | Player | Overall GPI Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Chidwick | 3782.00 |
| 2 | Adrian Mateos | 3715.44 |
| 3 | Alex Foxen | 3418.33 |
| 4 | Justin Bonomo | 3361.36 |
| 5 | David Peters | 3356.47 |
| 6 | Rainer Kempe | 3324.58 |
| 7 | Joe McKeehen | 3260.93 |
| 8 | Ari Engel | 3205.92 |
| 9 | Jan-Eric Schwippert | 3152.76 |
| 10 | Koray Aldemir | 3151.19 |
It was three weeks ago as well that Chidwick moved up into the No. 1 position to become the first player from the United Kingdom to lead the overall GPI rankings.
"Today I became the #1 ranked poker player in the world," said Chidwick over social media after capturing the top spot. "Anyone close to me knows how long this has been a goal of mine and to finally get there is a great feeling. I owe a lot to the family, friends, study partners, investors whose unwavering support and belief pushed me to never give up and keep chasing my dreams."
Chidwick's rise moved Adrian Mateos down a spot to No. 2, ending the Spaniard's 20-week run in first stretching back to November 2017.
The rest of the overall top 10 largely consists of the same players who were there a month ago. Jan-Eric Schwippert is an exception, having just broken through to join the top 10 for the first time in his career a week ago on the strength of a couple of cashes in the partypoker Barcelona series.
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.
Photo: Neil Stoddart / PokerStars Blog.
