Global Poker Index: Phil Hellmuth Cracks the Top Five

Phil Hellmuth

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes a player's results over six half-year periods. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.

The Top 10 as of December 3, 2012

RankPlayerTotal ScoreRank Change
1Dan Smith3,041.92--
2Jason Mercier2,891.05--
3Marvin Rettenmaier2,708.79--
4Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier2,667.52--
5Phil Hellmuth2,570.34+4
6Vanessa Selbst2,531.59+5
7Philipp Gruissem2,515.25-2
8Michael Mizrachi2,441.10+4
9Mike Watson2,423.49-2
10Steve O'Dwyer2,423.32-2

Phil Hellmuth and Vanessa Selbst both saw their GPI score rise due to aging WSOP scores. In Hellmuth's case, it was two minor cashes (61st place in Event 2: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em for $7,204 and 52nd place in Event 8: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split 8-or-Better for $4,817). Neither result was counting for Hellmuth's Period 1, but both immediately count for his Period 2 as he only had two results comprising his Period 2 score previously. Thanks to his terrific showing in the 2012 WSOP Europe, Hellmuth's Period 2 will receive even bigger boosts when his better WSOP scores age. A rise to No. 2 or No. 3 is possible.

As for Selbst, she came in fourth place in Event 2 for $161,345. Her Period 2 received a big jolt from that result, more than making up for the lesser result taking its place in Period 1.

Welcome To the GPI

Eleven players are new to this week's GPI, led by Giacomo Fundaro at No. 230 following his win at WPT Mazagan.

New Additions

PlayerTotal GPI ScoreGPI Rank
Giacomo Fundaro1,172.35230th
Paul Tedeschi1,165.55234th
Dan Murariu1,159.31236th
Amanda Musumeci1,132.99258th
Joseph Couden1,106.52267th
Bruno Fitoussi1,094.45271st
Nam Le1,090.16273rd
Lee Childs1,063.94285th
Bryan Devonshire1,057.65291st
Terrence Chan1,055.04292nd
Fred Goldberg1,040.61299th

Falling from the GPI this week were Carla Solinas, Charles Keith Lehr, David Inselberg, David Paredes, Jan Peter Jachtmann, Jason Somerville, Kunimaro Kojo, Mike Gorodinsky, Mike Wattel, Ravi Raghavan and Simeon Naydenov.

Ups and Downs

The biggest rise of the week belonged to Jeff Gross following his third-place finish at WPT Montreal for $319,238, giving his Period 1 slate a significant boost.

Biggest Gains

RankPlayerTotal ScoreChange in Rank From Last Week
63rdGavin Smith1,765.52+57
71stDavidi Kitai1,737.04+44
119thJeff Gross1,503.30+115
121stBrian Rast1,500.07+72
155thMatt Stout1,377.17+51
181stGuillaume Darcourt1,280.60+45
185thPaul Berende1,269.72+94
197thChris Bjorin1,241.44+54
198thJon Aguiar1,232.73+58
209thJeff Madsen1,215.21+62

On the other end of the spectrum is Jake Cody. He plummeted 99 places due to two aging scores. His runner-up showing in the 2011 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour Main Event aged into Period 3, while his win in the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship from the 2011 WSOP aged into Period 4.

Biggest Drops

RankPlayerTotal ScoreChange in Rank From Last Week
157thYevgeniy Timoshenko1,370.62-35
168thAndrew Bacecker1,319.83-55
206thMartins Adeniya1,219.78-72
213thJosh Brikis1,211.33-35
226thAdam Geyer1,184.38-60
248thNicolas Levi1,141.61-72
250thAlessio Isaia1,138.77-36
265thAndrey Pateychuk1,113.45-77
290thJake Cody1,058.89-99
297thFabian Quoss1,045.40-59
300thLuke Nettles1,039.38-46

What's In Store?

The WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic has plenty of big names remaining and is set to finish on Sunday, meaning it will make the cut for next week's GPI rankings. Going into Thursday, 166 players remain from the starting field of 503 entries. Among them are Selbst, Michael Mizrachi, Noah Schwartz, Sorel Mizzi and Will Failla (each in the GPI top 50). Also, WSOP scores will continue to age into Period 2.

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.

To stay on top of the GPI and other happenings in the poker world, follow PokerNews on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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