GPI Update: Steve O’Dwyer Retains Top Spot, Mukul Pahuja Climbs; GPL Announces Addition of Sixth Player to Each Franchise

Steve O’Dwyer retains his place on top of the Global Poker Index (GPI) Top 10 list for the sixth straight week, and what little movement occurs, is in the lower rungs. The two entries that cause the shake-up are Dominik Nitsche and Mustapaha Kanit, both with wins at the European Poker Tour (EPT) 12 and UKIPT stops in Dublin respectively.

Among the Indian-origin players in the Top 300, Mukul Pahuja shows an impressive rise on the back of his splendid victory in the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Palm Beach Main Event.

The Global Poker League (GPL) extravaganza continues, as the draft lottery is held and a sixth player is allowed in each franchise.

Climbers

Dominik Nitsche jumps 10 spots to No. 6, courtesy two impressive cashes at the EPT 12 Dublin. He won the UKIPT High Roller for €156,160 and placed runner-up in the EPT High Roller for €139,450.

Mustapha Kanit also climbs by 10 places to No. 9. Kanit recently won his third EPT High Roller title for €501,640.

Dippers

Bryn Kenney and Fedor Holz slip by a place to take No. 7 and No. 8 place respectively.

Stephen Chidwick moves down one position and is now hanging on at No. 10.

By far the biggest dipper is David Peters, who slips three places, right off the Top 10 list to land at No. 11.

Indian Origin Top 300

Mukul Pahuja improves seven ranks to No. 22, fresh off his win at the WSOPC Palm Beach Kennel Club Main Event for $193,095.

Ankush Mandavia is up by six places at No. 44.

Pratyush Buddiga falls by two spots to No. 128.

Kuljinder Sindhu also falls by two spots and is now at No. 184.

Vinny Pahuja recovers by nine places to rest at No. 239.

Shyam Srinivasan however is down by 11 places at No. 245.

GPL 2016: Draft Lottery & Addition of Sixth Player To Each Franchise

The GPL is marching on non-stop towards its goal and the latest reports state that a lottery was held to determine the team’s priority order for player selection. In a dramatic televised moment, Alex Dreyfus, CEO, GPI held a bowl with yellow colored balls and after 10 minutes it was announced that the Rome Emperors and Manager Max Pescatori would lead the draft selection on February 12.

At the same event, the GPL announced that a sixth player would be added to each team. The original plan had the 12 franchises with five players. The draft rounds have now been increased to four, with managers having the option of choosing a fourth player or passing to get an additional wild card entry. Managers will be allowed to choose the wild card entries either from the 203 players from the top 1000 of the GPI, who had applied or any other player of their choice.

The draft would roll in a snake format, starting from team 1 to 12 and then reversing from team 12 to 1, until all the drafts are over.