Global Poker Index: Mercier Maintains Top Spot for Fourth Straight Week

September 08, 2011

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world. Jason Mercier sits atop the rankings for the fourth straight week; Erik Seidel holds down No. 2. Except for Scott Seiver staying put at No. 9, the rest of the top ten shifted around. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.

The Top 10 as of September 5, 2011

Dropping from the top ten this week was Sam Stein, who slipped to 11th place. Why? Stein's total score dropped because of a Period 2 result that no longer qualifies for that period and has been replaced by a lesser finish. A 35th-place finish at the 2010 River Poker Series Main Event for $10,500 was his third score that counted, but now his Period 2 standings do not produce as good of a score, resulting in his fall from the top ten. Eugene Katchalov, meanwhile, took over the No. 3 spot after his third-place finish in the EPT Barcelona Main Event last week.

Welcome to the GPI

Fourteen players, some for the first time and some returning, appear on the GPI this week. Saar Wilf makes an impressive debut at 130th thanks to his sixth-place finish at the EPT Barcelona Main Event.

New Additions

With 14 new additions, there were also 14 people who fell off the list. Gone from the GPI this week are Alan Sternberg, Brian Hawkins, Eddy Sabat, Florian Langmann, Humberto Brenes, Joao Barbosa, Kenny Hicks, Keven Stammen, Matt Affleck, Tommy Koral, Tim Kahlmeyer, Tyler Smith, Scott Clements, and Valdemar Kwaysser.

Ups and Downs

In addition to Saar Wilf, rising up significantly in the GPI this week thanks to their recent EPT Barcelona Main Event cashes were Marton Czuczor and Guillaume Darcourt. Although he didn't have one of the biggest jumps up the GPI, Will "The Thrill" Failla rose into the top 20, gaining 24 spots to land at No. 19 on the GPI for his win at the WPT Legends of Poker.

Biggest Gains

On the flip side, there were a decent amount of significant drops this week. Andrew Robl plummeted down the GPI 124 spots. Why such a steep drop? His fourth-place finish at the NBC Heads-Up Championship in March now counts for Period 2, leaving no cashes at all in his Period 1 calculation — the most heavily weighted. Michael Tureniec also fell sharply this week — 87 spots. A fifth-place finish at the Nordic Masters of Poker Main Event in March moved from Period 1 to Period 2, not being counted as heavily anymore and leaving only two cashes in his Period 1 results.

Biggest Drops

What's In Store?

Two major tournaments are going on at the time of this article was being written. The WPT Grand Prix de Paris is down to 29 players and sitting in chip lead is Matt Waxman, currently 69th in the GPI. Might he be making a significant move up the ranks in the GPI next week? Also, Fabrice Soulier currently leads the Epic Poker League Event #2 Main Event with 23 remaining. After slipping to No. 7 on the GPI this week, could Soulier be on his way up to Mercier-Seidel territory?

Although we don't expect to see any significant drop-offs next week due to Period 1 or Period 2 scores falling to the next period, some older scores could provide a few changes. In the top ten, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Daniel Negreanu's fourth and fifth-place finishes, respectively, at the 2009 NBC Heads-Up Championship will fall from Period 5 to Period 6. The same goes for Vanessa Rousso, currently 164th on the GPI. She took second in that Heads-Up Championship and is also likely to slip a few spots.

To look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website. While you're at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page.

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