SELBST IS BIGGEST MOVER ON GPI
Vanessa Selbst
Rankings are a great way to measure the success of one player against another. Some lists keep it simple – who has won the most money, for instance – while others, such as the Global Poker Index (GPI), use a combination of results, buy-ins and various other things to formulate a unique ranking.
The IFP will be introducing its own ranking system in the coming months but the GPI is perhaps the most effective ranking to date, producing a list of the top 300 players around the world, from what are tens of millions.
The changes in its top ten are often as eagerly awaited as teenagers might look forward to the weekly pop charts. That said, there’s rarely that much change on the GPI index except in the aftermath of a major tournament. The recent WSOP Main Event has shaken things up.
Topping the charts, or Index, is American Jason Mercier, who continues to excel and remains some way ahead of Bertrand Grospellier in second place. No surprise there. But it’s the third place player Vanessa Selbst who is the main headline.
Selbst moves up five places and into third place after results throughout the summer. Not only did she earn her second career bracelet, but she added ranking points with her 73rd place finish in the Main Event.
Steve O’Dwyer remains in fourth place while Marvin Rettenmaier drops two places to fifth place, ahead of Eugene Katchalov, Erik Seidel, Andrew Lichtenberger (up one place) and former Main Event winner Jonathan Duhamel (down four places). Mike McDonald moves up two places to complete the top ten.
The main event also thrust several others into higher positions, notably Greg Merson, one of the “Octo-Nine”, who made the greatest improvement, moving up to 114th place. His summer has been arguably the best of any in the top 300, including a bracelet win, four cashes and an appointment back in Las Vegas in October.
That’s how they stand this week, and the full list can be found on the GPI website. That said it’s all likely to change in the coming weeks when the major tournament calendar picks up in earnest.
