Global Poker Index: Matt Marafioti Cracks the Top 10

December 19 2011, Mickey Doft

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. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier still holds down the fort at No. 1, but Erik Seidel, Jason Mercier, and Eugene Katchalov are all within striking distance. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.

The Top 10 as of December 12, 2011

The new face in the top 10 this week is Matt Marafioti. After a runner-up showing in a $5,000 preliminary event at the 2011 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Marafioti finished 15th in the Main Event of the WPT Five Diamond. Sorel Mizzi returned to the top 10 after one of his aging Period 1 results from the 2011 WSOP gave his Period 2 results (which only had one result counting) a much-needed boost.

Welcome to the GPI

There were 17 new additions to the GPI this week. Topping the list in the No. 173 spot is James "Flushy" Dempsey. Dempsey is certainly ending 2011 in style as two final tables, including a win, have vaulted the Brit into the GPI. First, he finished third in a $5,000 preliminary event at the 2011 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Then came the Main Event, which he won.

New Additions

The 17 who fell from the GPI this week were Amnon Filippi, Chris Bjorin, James Calderaro, John Duthie, Michael Chow, Mihails Morozovs, Mike Sexton, Nicolas Chouity, Richard Lyndaker, Robert Suer, Seth Fischer, Steve Landfish, Tyler Kenney, Tyler Smith, Vadim Kursevich, Ville Haavisto, and Youcef Benzerfa.

Ups and Downs

The biggest rise of the week belonged to Andrew Lichtenberger. With his fourth-place finish in the 2011 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event over the weekend, Lichtenberger rocketed 152 places up the GPI.

Biggest Gains

Jesse Martin and Ali Eslami took the biggest tumbles down the GPI this week. Two of their 2011 WSOP cashes fell out of their Period 1 results, leaving just one cash to be counted in each of their Period 1s.

Biggest Drops

What's In Store?

In addition to more 2011 WSOP scores aging, the Epic Poker League Main Event #3 kicked off on Wednesday and will be sure to have an effect on next week's GPI.

To look 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.

To stay on top of the GPI and other happenings in the poker world, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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