Global Poker Index: Stammen Overtakes McDonald in POY Race; Katchalov Joins Top 10

Global Poker Index

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes into account a player's results over six half-year periods. The GPI also ranks the top performers of the year over two six-month periods as calculated by the USA Today Global Poker Index point system.

For a look at both lists, visit the official GPI website.

2014 GPI Player of the Year

RankPlayerGPI ScoreChange
1Keven Stammen583.203
2Mike McDonald496.14-1
3Jason Mercier489.040
4Dan Heimiller487.65-2
5Dominik Panka482.761
6Ronit Chamani431.819
7James Calderaro408.3877
8Mukul Pahuja403.23-3
9Eugene Katchalov388.0636
10Dan Smith385.81-3

With a 14th-place finish at WPT Rolling Thunder and a runner-up finish in the Queen City Classic Main Event, Keven Stammen is the new GPI Player of the Year leader. Stammen earned 157.31 points over the last week, and leads Mike McDonald by nearly 90 points.

Eugene Katchalov, James Calderaro, and Ronit Chamani all joined the top 10 of the Player of the Year race. Katchalov won the Eureka Poker Tour High Roller, Calderaro finished runner-up in the WPT Jacksonville bestbet Open, and Chamani won a side event at the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star.

Dominik Panka also slides up one spot with an eighth-place finish in a €2,000 side event at EPT Vienna.

Vanessa Selbst, Isaac Baron, and Greg Merson all exited the top 10.

GPI 300 Top 10

RankPlayerScoreChange
1Daniel Negreanu3973.22-
2Ole Schemion3753.03-
3Vanessa Selbst3627.83-
4Marvin Rettenmaier3607.18-
5Jason Mercier3584.26-
6Dan Smith3422.91-
7Mike McDonald3389.61-
8Shannon Shorr3325.701
9Philipp Gruissem3315.04-1
10Sorel Mizzi3306.67-

There is very little movement in the top 10 of the GPI 300. Shannon Shorr leapfrogs Philipp Gruissem, grabbing the No. 8 spot. Daniel Negreanu remains the No. 1 player in the world, and Ole Schemion is still sitting at No. 2.

Welcome to the GPI

RankPlayerTotal ScoreChange
151JC Tran1864.50 
192Mikhail Korotkikh1771.70 
234Tom Marchese1674.02 
240James Calderaro1664.46 
256Frederik Jensen1624.43 
259Michael Dentale1620.33 
260Christopher DeMaci1619.39 
265Kevin Eyster1609.32 
267Robert Suer1600.18 
273Dominik Panka1591.19 
283Santiago Nadal1558.89 
288Aku Joentausta1548.75 
298Ryan D'Angelo1535.03 

Among the 13 new players in the GPI 300 is now two-time WPT champion and 2013 November Niner JC Tran. Tran won WPT Rolling Thunder, earning $302,750, which includes a seat into the WPT World Championship. The Sacramento-based grinder now has over $11 million in career tournament earnings, including $3 million over the past two years.

Ryan D'Angelo, who appeared on the PokerNews Podcast last week, also joins the GPI 300. D'Angelo bubbled the final table of WPT Rolling Thunder, earning $41,410.

Biggest Gains

RankPlayerTotal GPI ScoreChange
88Jordan Cristos2193.5450
148David Tuthill1874.0952
149Daniel Neilson1872.3261
168Sotirios Koutoupas1826.8751
172Mark Darner1823.8250
189Nam Le1786.2855
194Calvin Anderson1769.3669
211Benjamin Zamani1718.8369
228Eli Heath1678.2759
230Joseph Mckeehen1675.8368

Benjamin Zamani and Calvin Anderson both climb 69 spots this week to Nos. 211 and 194 respectively. Zamani finished fifth in WPT Rolling Thunder for $80,130, and Anderson finished 31st in the same event for $9,390.

Joseph Mckeehen also flew up the ranks 68 spots, coming in at No. 230. Mckeehen won the Foxwoods Poker Classic, besting a field of 162 entries to win $61,285.

Biggest Drops

RankPlayerTotal GPI ScoreChange
184Benjamin Hamnett1801.26-39
237Paul Tedeschi1673.14-45
241Gary Benson1663.88-51
247Barry Hutter1645.50-39
300Anaras Alekberovas1533.16-96

No player fell further this week in the ranks than Anaras Alekberovas. Alekberovas is on the brink of exiting top 300, ranking dead last, hasn't cashed in an event since October of 2013, and two of his three largest career scores came in March 2013 or earlier.

To view 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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