GPI 300 Update: Marvin Rettenmaier Returns to Number One

 ‘Mad Marvin’ Rettenmaierhas reached the top of the Global Poker Index for the second time. Rettenmaier earned a net 178 points for his 5^th place finish in the WPT Baden €3,500 NLHE Main Event and takes the top spot fromDan Smith (GPI#3 -2). The new result replaced his score for cashing in the 2012 WSOP-E €1,000 NLHE Day 1A. Jason Mercier also moves ahead of Smith due to aging results. Mercier’s score remained the same while Smith’s score lowered by 156 points. Smith’s 4^th place finish in the 2012 EPT/Estrellas Poker Tour-Barcelona €10,000 NLHE Heads-Up event ages into Period 2. It is replaced in Period 1 by his score for cashing in the 2012 WSOP-E €1,500 PLO 6-Handed event for a net loss in Period 1 of 90 points. Additionally, his 2^nd place finish in the 2011 Parx Open Classic $2,000 NLHE Main Event ages into Period 4 leaving an open slot in Period 3. This costs Smith a net 66 points making up the remainder of the 156 point drop.

The other two large drops from last week’s Top Twenty were Justin Bonomo (GPI#22 -5) and Jonathan Duhamel (GPI#30 -10). Like Smith they each had scores from the 2012 EPT/Estrellas Poker Tour-Barcelona festival age into Period 2. Bonomo finished 4^th behind Smith in the Heads-Up event and the aging of that result causes his score to drop a net 146 points. Duhamel cashed in the €10,000 NLHE High Roller. The combination of that score aging along with his score for his 2^nd place finish in the 2012 LA Poker Classic $5,100 NLHE event lowers his score 233 points.

Bonomo and Duhamel’s exit from the Top Twenty allows two players to join. Igor Kurganov (GPI#21+2) reaches the Top Twenty for the first time and Eugene Katchalov (GPI#22 +2) returns after a two week absence.

Galen Hall Shoots Up the Rankings

Results from the LA Poker Classic $5,100 NLHE event and the WPT Baden Main Event provide the largest rank jumps this week. At the WPT Baden Paul Berende outlasted Rettenmaier to finish 2^nd in the Main Event. He moves up 38 spots to his highest rank to date at GPI#58. Ismael Bojang (GPI#100 +75) also cashed in the Main Event. This was Bojang’s second cash of the week, earlier he finished in-the-money at the European Poker Festival –GPY VI, Rozvadov $2,600 NLHE Main Event. Bojang earned 166 points for his WPT finish and 146 points for his European Poker Festival finish and has the second largest jump in rank.

The largest jump in rank of the week goes to Galen Hall. Hall was the runner-up in the LA Poker Classic $5,100 NLHE event earning 249 points. Hall moves up 110 spots to GPI#185. 3^rd place went to Ana Marquez (GPI#102 +49) and 4^th place to Christian Harder(GPI#49 -10). Hall and Marquez also cashed in the Main Event which may move them up again next week. Matt Giannettifinished 9^th earning 149 points and a nice boost in the rankings. Giannetti moves up 66 spots to GPI#208.

Next Week: Volpe and Lewis Will Move Up; Jesse Yaginuma Could Join GPI Elite

Next week the results of the WPT LA Poker Classic NLHE Main Event should be reporting. The final table includes two of the GPI Elite. Paul Volpe had the chip lead at the end of Day 5 and looks to improve his ranking. Volpe sits at GPI#166 this week which is his highest rank on the Index. However, that will likely no longer be the case next week as it is a near certainty that he will move into the Top One Hundred. Toby Lewis (GPI#38) is the short stack but simply making the final table may have been enough for Lewis to also reach a personal best. Lewis’ highest rank to date is GPI#26 but even a 6^th place finish would give him a solid shot at a place among the Top Twenty.

Jesse Yaginuma also made the final table and has a chance at making his first appearance among the GPI Elite next week. Yaginuma has a chance no matter where he places but a strong finish would guarantee him a spot.