Global Poker Index: Volpe Vaults Upward, Negreanu Now Third in Top 300

June 12, 2014

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.

During the 2014 World Series of Poker, the GPI will be releasing new lists twice each week to reflect the increased movement thanks to the many events being played. For a look at all of the lists, visit the official GPI website. Meanwhile, here at PokerNews we’ll continue updating you each week about changes happening both to the 2014 GPI Player of the Year rankings and to the overall GPI Top 300.

2014 GPI Player of the Year

Keven Stammen continues to keep the top spot in the 2014 GPI Player of the Year race, having extended his lead over the last week after adding points from the two cashes he has collected thus far at the WSOP. Meanwhile Jason Mercier jumped back into the top 10 after his third-place showing in the Event #13: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship, and Mustapha Kanit made a similar move after final-tabling Event #19: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em where he finished fifth.

Winning his third career bracelet in Event #15: $3,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em helped Davidi Kitai make a big jump from No. 29 all of the way to No. 7 this week. And while winning the Event #17: $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em Championship didn’t help Dan Heimiller GPI-wise since it was not an open event, he still moved back into the top 10 after cashing in another WSOP event this week.

Those giving up their top 10 spots this week include Vanessa Selbst (who falls from No. 6 to No. 11), Mukul Pahuja (from No. 7 to No. 12), Mike McDonald (from No. 8 to No. 14), and Ami Barer (from No. 10 to No. 16).

Also worth noting is the big move made by Paul Volpe in the GPI POY race from No. 446 to No. 39 following his Event #13: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball Championship victory plus a couple of other WSOP cashes.

GPI 300 Top 10

There was no change among the top two spots in the overall GPI rankings this week, with Ole Schemion and Vanessa Selbst remaining the pace-setters. However, WSOP successes over the past week did cause movement below them, with Paul Volpe making a dramatic jump up into the No. 9 spot after his strong week at the WSOP.

Dan Smith gave up his top 10 spot to Volpe, falling from No. 6 to No. 13. Daniel Negreanu also jumped up from No. 10 to No. 3 thanks in part to having finished runner-up to Volpe in that $10K 2-7 NL event.

Welcome to the GPI

As we saw last week, there was a big influx of new names into the overall rankings this week as 22 players joined the top 300. Event #10: $10,000 Limit Omaha Hi-Low winner Brock Parker jumped the highest of the newcomers, coming from No. 339 all of the way to No. 145 this week.

Biggest Gains

Speaking of players making big moves, Paul Tedeschi moved up nearly 300 spots from No. 486 to No. 196 this week, while Taylor Paur, Dylan Linde, and Noah Bronstein also made WSOP final tables to push them well up the rankings.

Biggest Drops

Finally, players dropping the most this week while still staying inside the GPI Top 300 included Richard Lyndaker who fell from No. 198 to No. 291 as some of his deep finishes from the 2011 WSOP fell out of the two-year period of counting. But Lyndaker has already grabbed one 11th-place finish this summer, and so may well be moving back up the rankings soon.

Fantasy Poker Manager

The Global Poker is having weekly events with its popular Fantasy Poker Manager for the 2014 WSOP, giving FPM managers opportunities to win every week.

Here’s the remaining schedule of weekly events with deadlines for entering:

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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