GPI300: Nitsche enters World Top 10; Kitai exits

A German star finally breaks through while a Belgian legend drops for the first time in a long, long time …

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Jason Mercier (GPI#1, =) is spending his fourth consecutive week at the top of the GPI World Poker Rankings. With over $1.6M in winnings already this season, Mercier has crossed the $1M mark in winnings in a season for the 7th time in his eight-year career on the live tournament circuit.

There is one new entry into the Top 10 this week – and it’s a very significant one. Having been one of the most consistent players on tour for the past few years, Dominik Nitsche (GPI#8 CB, +4) had, surprisingly, never entered the world elite group … until now!

2015 has, once again, been a solid year on the circuit for Nitsche, who despite not winning on tour this year, has six Top 10 finishes so far, including a trio of runner-up results (most recently at the Bellagio Cup XI) and six total results at the 2015 World Series of Poker.

A new player coming into the Top 10 means that someone must drop … after spending a remarkable 50 consecutive weeks inside the Top 10, Belgian superstar Davidi Kitai (GPI#17, -10) takes a tumble this week, two weeks shy of his one-year anniversary ranked inside the elite group.

After an incredible 2014 campaign, which saw him add a third WSOP bracelet to his trophy case, Kitai would move to #2 on the World Poker Rankings, but, was unable to reach his ultimate goal of being ranked #1 in the World … a few results to end 2015 and Kitai will be right back on track.

Congratulations go out to Upeshka Desilva (GPI#199), Ryan Van Sanford (GPI#260) and the German trio of Paul Hoefer (GPI#267), Stefan Schillhabel (GPI#293) and Kilian Kramer (GPI#298), who all make their debut inside the GPI World Poker Rankings Top 300 this week.

GPI WORLD TOP 10

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WHO’S IN? / WHO’S OUT?