Global Poker Index: Ivey Falls from GPI 300 for First Time; Volpe Retakes POY Lead

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

After being unseated by Steven Silverman last week, Paul Volpe has returned to the top spot of the player of the year race. Volpe has over $1.6 million in earnings in 2013, winning two side events at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® European Poker Tour Grand Final and reaching two World Poker Tour final tables.

Making a big jump into the top 10 of the POY race is Canadian Griffin Benger. Benger just finished 14th in the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $10 Million Guarantee Championship Event, earning $90,170. In April he took down the EPT Berlin €10,000 High Roller, banking $562,343, and has over $850,000 in earnings in 2013.

Steve O’Dwyer also rejoined the top 10 this week.

Marvin Rettenmaier (17) and Igor Kurganov (13) both fell out of the top 10. Rettenmaier has only cashed once since the WSOP, and Kurganov has only cashed twice since May.

GPI 300 Top 10

While Jason Mercier remains in the top spot for another week, the aforementioned O’Dwyer is moving on up. O’Dwyer jumped six spots to No. 3, and just finished third in the EPT Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller for $475,012. Earlier this year, O’Dwyer captured an EPT title, winning the Grand Final for over $1.6 million.

David “Doc” Sands joins the top 10 this week, moving up seven spots to No. 9. Sands, who peaked at No. 3 one time in the GPI 300, recently finished 15th in the SHRPO $10 Million Championship Event and has two seven-figure scores in 2013, finishing second in the 2013 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $100,000 Super High Roller and winning the WPT World Championship Super High Roller.

Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier fell from the top 10, and currently sits at No. 13.

Welcome to the GPI

New Additions

Mukul Pahuja, Blair Hinkle, and November Niner David Benefield top the long list of new entrants into the GPI 300 this week.

Pahuja finished third in the SHRPO $10 Million Championship Event, which Hinkle won, and Benefield finished fifth in the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller.

Vitaly Lunkin, winner of the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller, is also in the GPI 300, along with Jared Hamby, Hiren “Sunny” Patel, and Tommy Vedes.

Exiting from the GPI 300 this week were Leo Fernandez, Martin Hanowski, Eric Sfez, Andy Frankenberger, Brandon Meyers, Yung Hwang, JP Kelly, David Williams, Ramin Hajiyev, John Racener, Tam Truong, Massimo Mosele, Samad Razavi, and Phil Ivey.

Ivey, who skipped the WPT Alpha8 in Florida and EPT Barcelona, is out of the GPI 300 for the first time ever.

Biggest Gains

Ari Engel showed the biggest improvement this week, moving up 103 spots into No. 190. Engel recently won his fifth career World Series of Poker Circuit then finished third the $5,000 River Poker Series for over $50,000.

Also making big jumps were Adam Levy, Mike Matusow, and November Niner Amir Lehavot. Lehavot finished 16th in the SHRPO $10 Million Guarantee Championship Event for $69,810. Both Levy and Matusow cashed in the tournament as well.

Biggest Drops

Italian Sergio Castelluccio took the biggest tumble this week, falling 64 spots to No. 245. Castelluccio has only cashed four times in 2013, but one of them was a 14th-place finish in the WSOP Main Event for $451,398.

Also taking considerable hits this week were Ty Reiman, Nick Wong, John Juanda, and Nick Wong.

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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