Global Poker Index: Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier Continues Reign on Top
Earlier this month, Federated Sports & Gaming (FS+G) introduced the poker world to the Global Poker Index (GPI), a revolutionary ranking system that sought to answer the question: “Who are the best live tournament poker players in the world today?” Each week the GPI releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world, so we here at PokerNews are going to see who and what stands out each time the rankings are released.
Here's a look at this week's GPI top ten. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.
The Top 10 as of July 26, 2011
| Rank | Player | Total Score | Change in Rank From Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier | 2,450.09 | - |
| 2 | Jason Mercier | 2,434.30 | - |
| 3 | Erik Seidel | 2,415.23 | 1 |
| 4 | Eugene Katchalov | 2,248.83 | -1 |
| 5 | Samuel Stein | 2,168.85 | - |
| 6 | Fabrice Soulier | 2,133.87 | 1 |
| 7 | Sorel Mizzi | 2,118.97 | -1 |
| 8 | Tom Marchese | 2,035.66 | 3 |
| 9 | David Baker | 2,027.32 | -1 |
| 10 | John Juanda | 2,013.63 | -1 |
There was not much of a change in the top 10 this week. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier is still holding down the top spot thanks to a terrific summer that included a bracelet and a third-place finish. The only new name in the top 10 this week is Tom Marchese. Thanks to his showing at Bellagio Cup VII he earned enough points to leapfrog David "Bakes" Baker, John Juanda, and Vanessa Selbst (who now sits in 11th place).
WSOP Main Event Cashers
Last week, only four new players made the GPI. This week, there are 20 new names on the list. The reason? Their cashing in the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event, combined with previous results, did the trick. Of the 20 who are making their debuts on the GPI, 16 cashed in the Main Event and are listed below.
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank | Main Event Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stefan Huber | 1,188.81 | 197 | 51st |
| Bolivar Palacios | 1,182.50 | 202 | 88th |
| Lars Bonding | 1,168 | 213 | 22nd |
| Tyler Bonkowski | 1,164.91 | 218 | 60th |
| Sergei Altbregin | 1,160.64 | 222 | 342nd |
| Steve Brecher | 1,160.13 | 223 | 31st |
| Ruben Visser | 1,133.38 | 240 | 44th |
| David Bach | 1,133.27 | 241 | 45th |
| James Calderaro | 1,128.14 | 246 | 260th |
| Darren Woods | 1,112.04 | 252 | 442nd |
| Stephen O'Dwyer | 1,094.35 | 261 | 626th |
| Sebastian Ruthenberg | 1,086.01 | 269 | 55th |
| Guillaume Darcourt | 1,072.57 | 275 | 35th |
| Steven van Zadelhoff | 1,059.48 | 287 | 658th |
| Thomas Koral | 1,046.90 | 298 | 47th |
| Vladimir Geshkenbein | 1,036.79 | 300 | 106th |
In addition, four others that were already in the GPI made massive jumps and vaulted more than 100 spots. Not coincidentally, they each made a deep run in the Main Event, as well. Joseph Cheong (gained 107 spots), Erick Lindgren (gained 132 spots), Frank Calo (gained 147 spots), and Max Heinzelmann (gained 123 spots) were the biggest movers of the week.
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank | Main Event Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Cheong | 1,442.73 | 93 | 114th |
| Erick Lindgren | 1,373.01 | 114 | 43rd |
| Frank Calo | 1,314.71 | 139 | 90th |
| Max Heinzelmann | 1,249.24 | 169 | 151st |
Bellagio Cup VII
As for the other four new additions to the GPI this week, final-table finishes at Bellagio Cup VII played a key role for them. We already mentioned Stephen O'Dwyer for his WSOP Main Event cash. He also topped a field of 156 to win the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em tournament for $259,452. Joe Elpayaa finished ninth in that event to make the GPI as well. The other three newcomers are Ted Forrest, Daniel Colman, and Brandon Cantu. They each final-tabled the $10,000 Main Event and took fifth, seventh, and ninth places respectively. Here is how they shape up on the GPI.
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Elpayaa | 1,063.92 | 283 |
| Daniel Colman | 1,058.61 | 288 |
| Brandon Cantu | 1,057.84 | 290 |
| Ted Forrest | 1,054.16 | 292 |
Also making splashes at Bellagio Cup VII, as well as in the GPI, were Hafiz Khan (gained 93 spots), William Thorson (gained 30 spots), and Bryn Kenney (gained 37 spots). Each final-tabled the $10,000 Main Event, as well, finishing runner-up, third, and sixth, respectively.
| Player | Total GPI Score | GPI Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Bryn Kenney | 1,663.62 | 43 |
| William Thorson | 1,588.89 | 55 |
| Hafiz Khan | 1,326.52 | 133 |
Ups and Downs
Ben Lamb (gained 41 spots)
Thanks to what will be at worst a ninth-place finish in the WSOP Main Event, Lamb has replaced one six-figure WSOP finish with another and is now up to #50 on the GPI. Remember, the GPI only takes into account a player's top three finishes during six six-month periods. Lamb's amazing WSOP won't be fully reflected until the middle of December, when his first 2011 WSOP cash will fall into the second six-month period, allowing for more of his summer's successes to be weighted.
Antony Lellouche (dropped 44 spots)
Despite a solid summer that included five WSOP cashes, Lellouche had the biggest individual drop this week. Why? Call it bad luck. His biggest score in the last three years came in January 2010 at EPT Deauville. He took second place in a €20,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller Event, but that score now factors in less because it now falls under the previous six-month period and is not weighted as heavily, dropping Lellouche to #259 on the GPI.
Hoyt Corkins (dropped 42 spots)
The "Alabama Cowboy" tumbled on the GPI this week for pretty much the same reason Lellouche did. Corkins' largest score of the last three years came in late January of 2010. He won the WPT Southern Poker Championship for $713,986, but that score now falls under a previous six-month term and as a result, Corkins is now #88 on the GPI.
As a reminder, for a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website. Also, be sure to check out Michael Craig’s write-up on the GPI rankings. While you're at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page.
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