GPI300: Buddiga, others make good use of PCA performances

Ole Schemion retains the top spot while the rest of the Top 10 moves around a bit…

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Make it four straight weeks at the top of the GPI World Poker Rankings for German star Ole Schemion (GPI#1, =). Despite cashing in the Main Event at the PCA, Schemion did lose about 50 points in the rankings this week as his three results from last year’s PCA entered a third aging period. However, even with a push from a few others inside the Top 10, Schemion still holds a 505 point lead at the top.

A 7th place finish in the PCA Main Event sees Pratyush Buddiga (GPI#2 CB, +6) move past Davidi Kitai (GPI#3, -1) to a career-high #2 rank.

Online poker legends turned live tournament circuit stars Ami Barer (GPI#7, -4) and Daniel Colman (GPI#9, -5) each drop inside the Top 10 this week while Daniel Negreanu (GPI#8, +39) and Olivier Busquet (GPI#10, +24) each make a return to the lead group this week. Each player scored points in the Bahamas this past week.

Two new entries means that two players are on their way out of the Top 10 this week: Jake Schindler (GPI#14, -7) and Joseph Cheong (GPI#17, -7) are the unfortunate duo this week.

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SWIMMING UPSTREAM

Thanks to a side event victory at the PCA, Justin Bonomo (GPI#86, +113) makes a return to the Top 100 for the first time since early December. The former World #12 had not played in a single tournament since the WSOP this summer prior to making his way to the Bahamas. Bonomo also final tabled a 5K No-Limit Hold’em event at the PCA.

Former World Top 10 Igor Kurganov (GPI#98, +120), Simeon Naydenov (GPI#105, +105), 2014 PCA finalist Shyam Srinivasan (GPI#127, +102) and Dylan Linde (GPI#53 CB, +79) are a few other notables to makes waves inside the GPI300 this week.

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DOWN THE LADDER

2014 PCA Champion Dominik Panka (GPI#267, -96) takes the biggest fall inside the 300 this week as those points entered a new aging period. Panka’s struggles could very well continue later this month as his High Roller victory at EPT Deauville will also fall into aging period #3.

Former World #1 Vanessa Selbst (GPI#103, -74) also drops down this week. Just like Panka, PCA successes from 2014 were not matched this year causing her to fall to her lowest ranking of her career on the live tournament circuit.

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IN-N-OUT

Australian star Jonathan Karamalikis (GPI#107) makes a big push back into the GPI300, moving up over 400 spots following a strong performance at the PCA. After a pair of Top 15 finishes, including a 13th place finish in the LAPT Main Event, Karamalikis then finished 4th in the 5K NLH 8-Handed event, ensuring a strong start to 2015.

2012 Main Event winner Greg Merson (GPI#358) once again exits the 300 this week. Paul Berende (GPI#303), Randal Flowers (GPI#304) and Georgios Sotiropoulos (GPI#313) are three of the other 13 players to make their exit from the GPI300 this week.

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ON THE BUBBLE

Belgian pro Guy Goossens (GPI#301) finds himself on the bubble this week. The former World #162 is slowly making his way back into the GPI300. He was last ranked inside the 300 on November 5, 2014.