Global Poker Index: Sean Winter Leads POY Race, Foxen Still No. 1 Overall
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. Below we look at the 2019 Player of the Year race and overall GPI rankings as of March 6.
2019 GPI Player of the Year
| Rank | Player | 2019 GPI POY Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Winter | 1919.38 |
| 2 | Rainer Kempe | 1610.25 |
| 3 | Bryn Kenney | 1515.26 |
| 4 | Jack Salter | 1463.21 |
| 5 | Stephen Chidwick | 1461.56 |
| 6 | Toby Lewis | 1435.53 |
| 7 | David Rheem | 1351.81 |
| 8 | Sam Greenwood | 1302.08 |
| 9 | David Peters | 1281.05 |
| 10 | Danny Tang | 1266.64 |
A month ago Rainer Kempe had elevated to the top spot in the Global Poker Index Player of the Year race and Jack Salter was in second position. Those two remain in the top four currently, but there's a new leader two months into the new year as Sean Winter has vaulted ahead of everyone to be the current No. 1.
A month ago Winter was at No. 25 in the GPI POY race, but he's been in front for three weeks now after collecting five final-table cashes at the recently completed 2019 U.S. Poker Open, including winning the USPO $10,000 Short Deck Poker event.
As Winter passed Kempe, Bryn Kenney jumped up to No. 3 after likewise enjoying success at the U.S. Poker Open where he won the USPO $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em event.
And while Salter currently sits at No. 4, Stephen Chidwick is charging up the list again as well, having moved to No. 5 after four USPO cashes and two victories — one in the opening USPO $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, and a second in the USPO $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event.
It's no surprise to see Chidwick high on the POY list once again — after all, he was second in 2018 and third in 2017.
Also joining the GPI POY Top 10 is David Peters who emerged from the USPO as both the winner of the USPO $100,000 Main Event and overall series champion. After being No. 70 in the POY rankings a month ago, Peters is now at No. 9.
Listen to David Peters discuss how he continues to work to improve his game (including his use solvers) and a host of other topics on the latest episode of The Bernard Lee Poker Show.
Overall GPI Top 10
| Rank | Player | Overall GPI Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Foxen | 3919.98 |
| 2 | Stephen Chidwick | 3754.95 |
| 3 | David Peters | 3676.48 |
| 4 | Rainer Kempe | 3644.85 |
| 5 | Justin Bonomo | 3557.69 |
| 6 | Steve O'Dwyer | 3464.72 |
| 7 | Jake Schindler | 3359.10 |
| 8 | Bryn Kenney | 3341.45 |
| 9 | Sam Greenwood | 3308.90 |
| 10 | Ryan Riess | 3285.01 |
Make it 22 weeks in a row for Alex Foxen as the No. 1 ranked player in the GPI global rankings. February saw Foxen final table a PLO event at the end of the Aussie Millions series, then cash two more times during the U.S. Poker Open (a ninth and a fourth).
Both Chidwick and Peters are former overall GPI leaders, and thanks to their USPO performances they have moved up to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Kempe is holding steady at No. 4, and Justin Bonomo has bounded back onto the list at No. 5 after recently winning the HKD 250,000 NLH Short Deck Ante-Only Event in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju 2019.
Two other former overall GPI leaders remain in the Top 10 — Steve O'Dwyer at No. 6 and Bryn Kenney has moved back up to No. 8. Sam Greenwood has also rejoined the list at No. 9, having moved up 12 spots from a week ago after finishing second in the HKD 500K NLH Six-Max Event at Triton won by Michael Soyza.
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.
