Global Poker Index: McDonald Rejoins top 10, Fantasy Poker Manager for WSOP
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
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keven Stammen | 893.30 | - |
| 2 | Ole Schemion | 803.21 | - |
| 3 | Alex Bilokur | 800.07 | - |
| 4 | Scott Seiver | 633.26 | - |
| 5 | Shyam Srinivasan | 626.96 | - |
| 6 | Mike McDonald | 608.20 | - |
| 7 | Byron Kaverman | 600.23 | - |
| 8 | Ami Barer | 594.74 | - |
| 9 | Dan Heimiller | 588.53 | 2 |
| 10 | Alexander Denisov | 581.06 | -1 |
Dan Heimiller rejoins the top 10 of the Player of the Year race, climbing two spots to No. 9. Heimiller finished 61st in the Heartland Poker Tour California State Poker Championship, his 21st cash of 2014.
Jeff Madsen, winner of the California State Poker Championship, is right outside of the top 10 at No. 11. He moved up 13 spots after the victory, and added $160,060 to his pocket.
Keven Stammen remains atop of the POY race with nearly 900 points, while 2013 GPI POY Ole Schemion is 90 points behind him in second place.
GPI 300 Top 10
| Rank | Player | GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ole Schemion | 3971.85 | - |
| 2 | Scott Seiver | 3710.41 | - |
| 3 | Byron Kaverman | 3450.70 | 1 |
| 4 | Vanessa Selbst | 3427.99 | 1 |
| 5 | Marvin Rettenmaier | 3366.52 | 1 |
| 6 | Philipp Gruissem | 3360.90 | -3 |
| 7 | Dan Smith | 3339.95 | - |
| 8 | Stephen Chidwick | 3282.26 | - |
| 9 | Mike McDonald | 3241.52 | 7 |
| 10 | Jason Mercier | 3222.40 | -1 |
Mike McDonald is back in the top 10 of the GPI 300, moving up seven places to No. 9. The man named "Timex" has only cashed twice since the Aussie Millions, but three of his first four cashes were for over a million dollars.
Within the top 10, Philipp Gruissem dropped down three spots to No. 6. The German's score will continue to fall, as his score in the GuangDong Asia Millions falls into Zone 3 in a few weeks. Marvin Rettenmaier, Vanessa Selbst, and Byron Kaverman all benefitted from the slide, moving up one spot each.
Welcome to the GPI
| Rank | Player | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 265 | Jesse Yaginuma | 1644.09 |
| 270 | Mitchell Johnson | 1627.81 |
| 286 | Tom Dobrilovic | 1576.79 |
| 289 | Jake Cody | 1568.32 |
| 300 | Ryan Riess | 1544.03 |
2013 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Ryan Riess rejoins the GPI 300 at the very bottom of the list. Riess plans to play all of the no-limit hold'em events at the WSOP, including perhaps the $1 Million Big One for One Drop.
Team PokerStars Pro Jake Cody recorded a mincash in the UKIPT Nottingham Main Event, finishing 180th for just under $3,000, and also returns to the GPI 300 at No. 289.
Biggest Gains
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | Eddy Sabat | 2191.59 | 28 |
| 177 | Steve Watts | 1858.33 | 43 |
| 218 | Nicolas Cardyn | 1757.71 | 19 |
| 245 | George Lampert | 1693.55 | 25 |
| 275 | Daniel Weinman | 1618.18 | 21 |
Steve Watts makes the biggest jump this week, climbing up 43 spots to No. 177. Watts, like Cody, cashed in UKIPT Nottingham a few weeks after winning WPT National Marbella for $42,791.
Eddy Sabat and George Lampert also moved up more than 20 places. Sabat finished 21st in the California State Poker Championship, and Lampert cashed in the World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's New Orleans Main Event.
Biggest Drops
| Rank | Player | Total GPI Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | Jonathan Roy | 2011.46 | -41 |
| 178 | Chino Rheem | 1855.80 | -51 |
| 204 | Nacho Barbero | 1794.79 | -44 |
| 231 | Rocco Palumbo | 1729.45 | -57 |
| 254 | Richard Lyndaker | 1670.58 | -55 |
| 261 | Miroslav Alilovic | 1647.86 | -37 |
Several big names fell this week, including Rocco Palumbo, Chino Rheem, and Nacho Barbero. Both Palumbo and Rheem went deep in the Season XI WPT World Championship - Rheem won it - and we are now a full year removed from the event, putting the scores in Zone 3.
Fantasy Poker Manager
The Global Poker Index announced changes to the Fantasy Poker Manager for the 2014 WSOP, including weekly events. Like last year, there will also be all-events leagues and Main Event leagues, but FPM managers will now have opportunities to win every week.
Every event counts - except for the Casino Employee's Event, sorry Chad Holloway - and the schedule looks like this:
| League | Events | Lineup Deadline | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Events League | All | Sun., May 25 | 11:59 p.m. PST |
| Week 1 | #2 to #10 | Tue., May 27 | 4:00 p.m. PST |
| Week 2 | #11 to #22 | Mon., June 2 | 12:00 p.m. PST |
| Week 3 | #23 to #34 | Mon., June 9 | 12:00 p.m. PST |
| Week 4 | #35 to #46 | Mon., June 16 | 12:00 p.m. PST |
| Week 5 | #47 to #57 | Mon., June 23 | 12:00 p.m. PST |
| Week 6 | #58 to #65 | Mon., June 30 | 12:00 p.m. PST |
| Main Event League | Main Event | Thur., July 10 | 12:00 p.m. PST |
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.
