Global Poker Index: Kurganov Enters Top 10 of GPI 300; POY Race Remains Unchanged

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Global Poker Index: Kurganov Enters Top 10 of GPI 300; POY Race Remains Unchanged 0001

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes 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.

2013 GPI Player of the Year

RankPlayerScoreChange
1Paul Volpe767.76--
2Mike Watson753.37--
3David Peters736.55--
4Daniel Negreanu731.18--
5Scott Seiver692.20--
6Steven Silverman670.01--
7Igor Kurganov663.10--
8Chris Klodnicki656.19--
9Ole Schemion651.74--
10Bryn Kenney633.02 

The top 10 of the GPI Player of the Year race remained unchanged this week, with Paul Volpe leading the way by just over 14 points. Outside of the top 10, Ravi Raghavan climbed up seven spots to No. 24. Raghavan has recently been credited with a runner-up finish in a $1,000 no-limit hold��em event during the Binions Poker Classic, where he earned $20,295. In 2012, Raghavan finished runner-up in the in the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic, banking $1,268,571.

GPI 300 Top 10

RankPlayerTotal ScoreRank Change
1Jason Mercier3235.74--
2Philipp Gruissem3194.42--
3Marvin Rettenmaier3144.81--
4Ole Schemion3028.31--
5Joseph Cheong3028.23--
6Daniel Negreanu3017.37--
7Michael Watson2997.41--
8Igor Kurganov2926.72+3
9Bertrand Grospellier2910.22-1
10Steve O'Dwyer2859.99-1

While Jason Mercier still leads the top 300, Igor Kurganov has found his way into the top 10, moving up three spots from last week. Kurganov only cashed in one event at the 2013 World Series of Poker, finishing 11th in Event #52: $25,000 No-Limit Hold��em (Six-Handed) for $71,071, but he has nearly $3 million in earnings this year alone. The Russian-born pro cashed in all three high roller events at the Aussie Millions, winning the $25,000 Challenge and finishing second in the $100,000 Challenge, and finished sixth in the GuangDong Asia Millions Main Event, earning just over $1 million.

Mercier was unable to capture his third bracelet at this year��s WSOP, but he maintained his lead in the GPI 300 with six small cashes in Las Vegas. With both the WPT and European Poker Tour seasons about to kick off, there will certainly be more movement within the top 10, and we will see if the American can retain the top spot.

Welcome to the GPI

New Additions

PlayerTotal GPI ScoreGPI Rank
Andrey Shatilov1479.05171
Kiryl Radzivonau1318.97232
Alan Engel1264.23264
Owen Crowe1232.56282
Anthony Gargano1211.89297
Marco Johnson1211.11298
Ondrej Vinklarek1208.14299
Jesse Yaginuma1208.13300

Andrey Shatilov not only entered the GPI 300 this week, he nearly leapfrogged the entire field. During the 2013 Merit World Cup of Poker, the Russian won the $10,000 high roller, finished eighth in a $1,000 bounty event, and finished third in a $1,380 heads-up event. Shatilov has $642,010 in earnings in 2013, which dwarves his previous record-high of $127,584 in 2012.

Also joining the GPI 300 this week are 2013 WSOP bracelet winner Marco Johnson and Canadian pro Owen Crowe.

Biggest Gains

RankPlayerTotal GPI ScoreChange
98Justin Zaki1797.70+27
132Frank Rusnak1655.08+20
148Jeff Lisandro1585.95+20
179Michel Abecassis1467.86+23
192Ty Reiman1440.75+25
200Tony Cousineau1414.92+34
215Craig McCorkell1379.50+35
233Tobias Peters1316.64+37
236Jacob Schindler1310.98+54
251Jared Jaffee1283.09+40

American Jacob Schindler made the biggest leap this week, moving up 54 spots to No. 236. Schindler cashed seven times at the 2013 WSOP, including two top-13 finishes and a cash in the Main Event. Schindler also finished 11th in the Carnivale of Poker Main Event. Jared Jaffee, Craig McCorkell, and Tony Cousineau also moved up more than 30 spots this week. Cousineau cashed five times at the 2013 WSOP, adding to his record for most cashes without a bracelet. The pro has now cashed in 59 WSOP events (13th all time) without capturing the gold.

Biggest Drops

RankPlayerTotal GPI ScoreChange
182Darryll Fish1465.11-40
256Andrea Dato1277.40-67
262Tam Truong1267.14-56
284Jan Collado1231.43-43
286Adam Levy1228.68-62
291Yung Hwang1224.51-55

Taking the biggest hit this week is Italian Andrea Dato. Dato has only cashed four times since 2012, and one of them is for only $5,555. Adam Levy and Tam Truong also took sizable hits, falling 62 spots and 56 spots respectively.

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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