Global Poker Index: Schemion Edges Negreanu in GPI 300; Mike McDonald Plummets

August 14, 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.

2014 GPI Player of the Year

The Top 10 of the Player of the Year remained unchanged this week with Alex Bilokur still manning the pole position. After a post-World Series of Poker break on the tournament schedule around the world, the action picks up later this month with the European Poker Tour Barcelona and Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open.

GPI 300 Top 10

Jacob Schindler returned to the Top 10 this week, replacing Martin Jacobson who slipped three spots to No. 13. Schindler has racked up numerous big scores in 2014; his biggest, of course, came at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure where he won the Main Event for $1,192,624.

Ole Schemion clings to his lead in the GPI 300, barely edging out Daniel Negreanu who shifted past Dan Smith into the No. 2 position. Both Schemion and Negreanu are familiar faces on the EPT and the race will undoubletedly heat up as soon as EPT Barcelona kicks off next week.

Welcome to the GPI

Chance Kornuth leaps back into the GPI 300 after winning the Bellagio Cup in July and following that up with a final table appearance at the Florida State Poker Championships. Kornuth also finished sixth in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown in April for $247,954.

Entering the GPI 300 for the first time ever this week is feared high-stakes cash game player Doug Polk, who won his first WSOP bracelet in June.

Biggest Gains

Coming off his second-place finish in the WSOP Circuit Main Event in West Palm Beach, David Diaz is the week's biggest climber on the GPI 300. Diaz, who earned $66,000 for his runner-up finish to Tristan Wade in Palm Beach, vaulted 54 spots to No. 213 on the GPI.

Justin Zaki (23rd) and Zo Karim (5th) also made deep runs in Palm Beach and were among the biggest movers of the week.

Biggest Drops

Despite winning his 10th bracelet at the WSOP in June, Phil Ivey has dropped for the second consecutive week on the GPI list. Ivey's victory at the 2014 Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge aged into Period 2 of the GPI formula.

Six months ago Mike McDonald was sitting comfortably in the GPI 300 Top 10, but the Canadian pro has dropped all the way to No. 50 this week. McDonald cashed only once at the WSOP in Las Vegas, and this week he had two massive scores from the 2014 Aussie Millions age into Period 2. Those two cashes in the $100,000 Challenge and $250,000 Challenge combined for AU$3.4 million.

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.

Chief Editor

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