Global Poker Index: Greg Merson Joins GPI 300 and Top 10 of Player of the Year Race

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Mar 12, 2014 3 min read

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

Canadian Mike McDonald remains the leader in the GPI Player of the Year race, and he is joined in the top 10 by newcomers Dan Heimiller and Greg Merson. Heimiller finished 36th in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic, earning $31,270, and he reached the final table of the Heartland Poker Tour California Main Event.

Merson, who finished runner-up in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller, also cashed in the LAPC Main Event, finishing 31st for $31,270. The 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event champion and Player of the Year plans to take a break from tournament poker for a few weeks, tweeting:

GPI 300 Top 10

The same 10 players appear at the top of the GPI 300 this week, but there was a little moving and shaking toward the bottom. Daniel Negreanu, Ole Schemion, and Marvin Rettenmaier are still the top three players, but American Jason Mercier slides back up to No. 4. Mercier already has six cashes in 2014 for a total of $534,019, although WPT Alpha8 Johannesburg doesn't count for the GPI because the event was too small.

Dan Smith also climbed up in the ranks, as did Vanessa Selbst, Paul Volpe, and Shannon Shorr. McDonald ticked down one spot, while Philipp Gruissem tumbled down six places.

Welcome to the GPI

Festivals as large as the LAPC always shake up the GPI, and this week over a dozen new faces emerge. The WPT's own Mike Sexton cashed in the LAPC Main Event, finishing 51st for $22,560, while WSOP bracelet winner Adam Friedman reached the final table. Unfortunately for Friedman he was the first to bust, finishing sixth for $200,440.

Zo Karim's big jump is thanks to a runner-up finish in a $2,100 buy-in six-handed event at the LAPC. Karim earned $41,330 - his second five-figure score of the year.

Biggest Gains

Chris Moorman rockets up the ranks after winning the LAPC Main Event, earning just over $1 million. For the Brit it was his first major victory, and he talked about the final table of this week's PokerNews Podcast:

Canadian Matt Marafioti also makes a big jump with a runner-up finish in the LAPC High Roller, earning $237,160 for his efforts. It was his first cash of 2014.

Biggest Drops

Robert Haigh cashed in two events at EPT Deauville, but he falls the furthest this week, plummeting 79 places to No. 260. In April, we will be a full year removed from his runner-up finish in the Season 9 EPT Berlin Main Event, so his GPI score should fall even more.

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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• Tags Chris Moorman Dan Heimiller Dan Smith Daniel Negreanu David Benefield Global Poker Index Greg Merson Heartland Poker Tour Jason Mercier LAPC Marvin Rettenmaier Mike Sexton Philipp Gruissem Player of the Year Shannon Shorr PokerStars Caribbean Adventure WS
• Related Tournaments Heartland Poker TourPokerStars Caribbean Adventure
• Related Players Daniel NegreanuShannon ShorrChris MoormanJason MercierMike SextonDan Heimiller