GPI300: Schemion extends lead; Ivey returns to 300

The German sensation adds to his points total after successful trip to Austrlia…

VIEW FROM THE TOP

For the second year in a row, Ole Schemion (GPI#1, =) enters February as the #1 player in the GPI World Poker Rankings. Schemion was able to add to his points total at the top following his runner-up finish in the 100K Challenge at the Aussie Millions this past weekend in Melbourne. The 2013 GPI Player of the Year reaches the highest point mark of his career this week: 4,244.03.

A 3rd place finish in the 100K Challenge sees Scott Seiver (GPI#2, +6) move past Pratyush Buddiga (GPI#3, -1) and Bryn Kenney (GPI#4, -1) into second place overall. Meanwhile, Jason Mercier (GPI#5, =) and Jonathan Duhamel (GPI#10, =) join Schemion as the only three players to stay put in the Top 10.

Back to the movers, Ami Barer (GPI#7, +2) made another deep run at the Aussie Millions. After winning the event in 2014, Barer would earn an 11th place finish in this year’s Main Event, salvaging some of the points lost from his 2014 win entering a third aging period this week.

Former World #1 Dan Smith (GPI#9, -3) falls three spots to #9 this week. Although there was plenty of movement within the Top 10, all members managed to remain in the lead group this week.

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SWIMMING UPSTREAM

A pair of scores at the Aussie Millions, including a 17th finish in the Main Event, allowed for Austrian pro Gerald Karlic (GPI#176 CB, +99) to move close to 100 spots up to a career-best #176 this week. He is the week’s top riser.

Former World #1 Erik Seidel (GPI#40, +55) is another notable to move up the ranks. Seidel, who last reigned atop the World Poker Rankings three years ago this week (February 6, 2012), re-enters the Top 50 for the very first time in 2015.

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DOWN THE LADDER

The past few months have been a roller coaster ride inside the GPI300 for Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree (GPI#255, -65). Boeree, who returned to the GPI300 in December has seen her ranking go up and down on weekly since then … she was ranked as high as #176 in the World just four short weeks ago, now, she’s once again the 300 danger zone.

Three-time GPI National Ireland Player of the Year Dermot Blain (GPI#271, -32) is another notable to fall inside the 300 this week. The 2009 APPT Macau winner hasn’t cashed on the live tournament circuit since September 2014.

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IN-N-OUT

Another year, another The LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge victory at the Aussie Millions for poker superstar Phil Ivey (GPI#163), who leaves Melbourne a wealthy man, yet again. Ivey, who also made a deep run in the Aussie Millions Main Event, makes his long-awaited return to the Top 300 this week. Ivey was last a member of the GPI300 in late August.

The news is not as good for Polish star Dominik Panka (GPI#403). Just a few weeks after his 2014 PCA victory entered a third scoring period, his High Roller win at EPT Deauville suffers the same fate this week causing him to drop out of the GPI300 for the first time since the summer.

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ON THE BUBBLE

2013 WPT Jacksonville bestbet Fall Poker Scramble final table participant Corrie Wunstel sits on the bubble this week. Wunstel had spent the past two weeks ranked inside the 300 following a solid start to the 2015 poker season, earning a trio of scores at the Million Dollar Heater in Biloxi, Mississippi.