GPI300: Schemion stops Smith’s streak; Colman debuts in Top 10

Ole Schemion takes over the top spot in the GPI World Poker Rankings once again…

VIEW FROM THE TOP

After 17 straight weeks at the top of the GPI World Poker Rankings, Dan Smith (GPI#2, -1) will not be spending Christmas Day at the top. Still, 17 weeks matches the longest consecutive weeks at #1 streak that was established by Jason Mercier (GPI#14, -3) between May 13 and September 4, 2013. Smith’s demotion comes at the hands of the man whom he had replaced at #1 on August 27, Ole Schemion (GPI#1, +1). Schemion’s late-season charge (for the second consecutive year) was the deciding factor in seeing him return to #1 in the GPI World Poker Rankings. Schemion also moves by Davidi Kitai (GPI#3, =) in the GPI European Poker Player of the Year race.

Stephen Chidwick (GPI#5 CB, +5) was in need of scoring points at the EPT Prague Festival in order to replenish what he would have lost from last year’s performances in Prague – and that’s exactly what he did. Chidwick’s 3rd place finish in the Prague Super High Roller event sees him move to a career-best #5 in the GPI World Poker Rankings.

Three players entered the GPI Top 10 this week including Bryn Kenny (GPI#6, +10), who re-enters the Top 10 following a pair of Super High Roller cashes – on the same day – this past weekend in Las Vegas. Like Kenny, 2014 WSOP World Champion Martin Jacobson (GPI#9, +10) also makes a return to the Top 10 while 2014 Big One for One Drop Champion Daniel Colman (GPI#10, 8) makes his Top 10 debut this week.

Olivier Busquet (GPI#11, -4), Daniel Negreanu (GPI#15, -10) and Scott Seiver (GPI#18, -12) all take big falls out of the Top 10.

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SWIMMING UPSTREAM

A win in the EPT Prague High Roller event and a Top 100 finish in the Main in Prague sees Andrey Zaichenko (GPI#92 CB, +141) make a huge leap into the Top 100 this week, moving to #92 in the World, a personal best for the Russian pro.

Garrett Greer (GPI#68, +100), Thomas Marchese (GPI#127, +98) and Alpha8 champ Andrew Lichtenberger (GPI#71, +63) all enjoyed success in Las Vegas last week and are three notables responsible for some of the biggest jumps in the rankings this week.

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DOWN THE LADDER

Many results from the 2014 World Series of Poker entered a second aging period this week causing many to lose ground in the standings. Those players include Calvin Anderson (GPI#232, -132), John Hennigan (GPI#286, -117) and Simeon Naydenov (GPI#244, -115).

Naydenov’s bracelet victory in 2013 also came into play this week, moving to a fourth aging period.

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IN-N-OUT

Former GPI Top 10 Igor Kurganov (GPI#212) makes a return to the GPI300 following his victory in the Aria 50K Super High Roller tournament. Another former GPI Top 10, Tobias Reinkemeier (GPI#237), also makes a return to the 300 following his final table performance at the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

2012 WSOP World Champion Greg Merson (GPI#302) was unable to remain inside the 300 this week. Sitting in 300th last week, Merson drops out of the Top 300 for the first time since March. Merson’s last cash this season came at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open in August.

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ON THE BUBBLE

2013 EPT Vienna Champion Oleksii Khoroshenin (GPI#301) makes a big jump un the rankings this week but his move up stops on the bubble. The Ukrainian finished 10th in the High Roller event at EPT Prague in order to make a move up the ranks. He was last ranked inside the GPI300 in September.