GPI 300 Update: Kurganov Returns to Top 20; Stein Gains Most Points of the Week

Igor Kurganov (GPI#17 +6) returns to the Top Twenty in a week that saw little movement at the top. The only other Top Twenty player with a substantial score change was Phil Hellmuth, who falls two spots to GPI#16. Hellmuth’s cash in the 2012 WSOP-E €2,500 NLHE Six-Handed event ages into Period 2 where it is excluded by the five cash cap costing him 125 points and leaving him with only four scores in Period 1. The 125 point loss is slightly offset by a score aging into Period 5 for a net loss of 111 points. Kurganov’s move up is also due to aging scores, his 9^th place finish in the 2012 English Poker Open £2,000 NLHE Main Event ages into Period 2 where he had an open slot for a gain of 113 points. This moves Kurganov back into the Top Twenty and up to his highest rank to date.

The largest score changes of the week were from the The Card Player Poker Tour – Las Vegas NLHE Championship Event. Former Top Ten ranked Sam Stein finished runner-up toRay Dehkharghani in the $5,000 buyin event. Stein earned 307 points, the largest score gain of the week, and moves up 37 spots to GPI#40. Dehkharghani, who has never reached the GPI 300, is now within a stone’s throw at GPI#338 thanks to his win. Tom Marchese finished in 3^rd place. His new score replaces his score for cashing in the Bay 101 Shooting Stars $2,000 NLHE event for a net 183 point gain. 5^th place and 246 points went to Ben Palmer who makes his GPI 300 debut at GPI#197. 7^th place finisherRay Qartomy(GPI#226) returns to the GPI Elite this week after a one week absence. His score for this event replaces his score for his 5^th place finish in the L.A. Poker Classic $1,600 NLHE Bounty Championship giving him a 143 point net gain. Olivier Busquet (GPI#64 +30) earned most of his 201 point gain from his 9^th place finish, the second largest score gain of the week. Sorel Mizzi bubbled the final table but still picks up 194 points for his 11^th place finish and moves up 19 spots to GPI#54.

The Main Events of other festivals moved players up the rankings as well. Former Top Ten ranked Matt Waxman finished 5^th in the Battle at the Beach $3,300 NLHE Main Event in Florida. Waxman has a net gain of 110 points and moves up 16 spots to GPI#76. Dominik Nitsche and Dan Kelly both cashed in the A$2,000 Main Event of the ANZPT Sydney. Nitsche’s (GPI#93 +32) Main Event score for his 3^rd place finish replaces his score for his 14^th place finish in the 2012 Asia Championship of Poker HK$13,800 NLHE event netting him most of his 127 point gain. Kelly earned 171 points for his 8^th place and moves up 82 spot to GPI#195. Finally, Andrey Pateychuk (GPI#212 +46) earned 105 points for his 3^rd place finish in the Joker Tour $1,825 NLHE Main Event.

Next Week: London National and WPT Venice

The WPT London National and WPT Venice results should report next week. As of the writing of this article the field has dwindled to thirty-six in Venice with Ludovic Lacay in the chip lead. A strong finish would be a huge boost to Lacay’s score and move him up in the rankings since he only currently has one Period 1 score. Matt Salsberg is also still in the hunt and would similarly benefit from a deep run thanks to an open slot in Period 1.