Global Poker Index: Seidel Leads; Buchanan Set to Make Push Towards the Top

October 20, 2011

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 result over six half-year periods. Erik Seidel remains on top, Jason Mercier slipped to No. 4, and Shawn Buchanan is going to make some serious noise next week. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.

The Top 10 as of October 17, 2011

We knew it was coming. For the last two weeks, we hinted that Jason Mercier was going to fall from the very top because of scores moving into previous periods and falling out of the GPI altogether. With that occurring, Eugene Katchalov has seized the No. 2 spot of the GPI. While both had their first and second place finishes from the 2011 Mohegan Sun NAPT Bounty Shootout fall into Period 2, Katchalov eased the Period 1 loss with his eighth-place finish in the inaugural Epic Poker Leave Main Event taking its place. At the same time, that second-place finish in the bounty shootout improved his Period 2 results.

Welcome to the GPI

Nine new players are on this week's GPI. Michael Tureniec debuts with the highest position thanks to his eighth-place finish at the EPT London High Roller Event earlier this month.

New Additions

Those who slipped from the GPI this week are Andrew Teng, Dragan Galic, Jason Koon, John Monnette, Mark Flowers, Micah Raskin, Ronny Kaiser, Stephane Albertini, and Steve Gross.

Ups and Downs

The aforementioned EPT London High Roller, as well as the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe, are the key reasons for the top ten gains of the week. Philipp Gruissem took down the EPT London High Roller and rather than fall off the GPI (he was No. 299 last week), Gruissem vaulted up the ranks 225 spots to No. 74. Thanks to their respective bracelet wins at the WSOPE, Steve Billirakis and Tristan Wade both jumped into the top 100.

Biggest Gains

Joseph Cheong had the biggest drop this week. Combined with falling 50 spots last week, Cheong slid 162 places the last two weeks. His second place finish in the 2010 EPT London High Roller and his victory in a $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Tournament at the 2010 Festa Al Lago have both recently dropped from his Period 2 to Period 3, leaving his Period 2 with zero GPI results.

Biggest Drops

What's In Store?

As of the writing of this article, the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe is nearing its end. Eight players remain in the Main Event, and while several can make serious waves in next week's GPI, one in particular is going to shake things up at the top. Shawn Buchanan is going to shoot up to the top ten. The question is, where will he land?

Along with his runner-up showing in the $10,000 HORSE Championship this summer at the WSOP, his second-place finish in the €10,400 No-Limit Hold'em (Split Format) and a sixth-place finish in the WSOPE Main Event are going to make Buchanan's Period 1 results very Seidel-esque with three monster results.

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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