GPI Update: Steve O’Dwyer Completes 4 Weeks At No. 1; GPL All Set To Revive The Poker Industry

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  • PG News February 12, 2016
  • 3 Minutes Read

Ever since Steve O’Dwyer took over the No. 1 spot on the GPI 300 rankings four weeks ago, he seems to have further consolidated his position. On February 1, O’Dwyer won the LK Boutique $250K Challenge event at the Aussie Millions adding AU$1,051,959 to his kitty. Byron Kaverman continues to stay at No. 2.

In fact all the others in the Top 10 have maintained their places for at least the past two weeks. In the Top 300 too, there is little traction, with most at the same rankings. Mukul Pahuja has just made a 24th place finish in the 2016 WPT Borgata Event 17 for $16,868 and alone shows a rise in ranks.

The ambitious project – Global Poker League, by Alex Dreyfus, CEO GPI is drawing nearer, with the excitement growing. The initiative is set to revive and dramatically alter the poker industry that had seen a setback after Black Friday.

GPI RankGPI ScoreChangePlayerCountryLive Best Cash $All Time Money $
14,271.23=Stevo O'DwyerUSA$l,872,580$11,233,509
24,236.76=Byron KavermanUSA$727,860$6,757,855
34,121.90=Jason MercierUSA$1,622,181$15,892,325
44,030.13=Nicholes PetrangeloUSA$669,512$2,821,769
53,968.10=Anthony ZinnoUSA$1,122,196$5,329,161
63,887.44=Bryn KenneyUSA$873,880$6,701,899
73,849.42=Fedor HolzGermany$3,463,500$7,549.491
83,738.01=David PetersUSA$2,309,000$10,828,854
93,732.39=Stephen ChidwickUK$517,992$4,483,481
103,689.09=Conor DrinanUSA$3,225,000$8,680,548

 

Indian Origin Top 300

Mukul Pahuja is up nine spots to No. 29.

Nipun Java is down by two ranks to No. 90.

Vinny Pahuja is also down, but by a whopping 32 places to No. 248.

 

Poker Gets Shot In The Arm With GPL

According to an article on Forbes.com by Darren Heitner, Legal Expert, poker is not only set to regain its former iconic status, but is also going to get a shot in the arm from Dreyfus’ extravaganza – the Global Poker League (GPL) and his vision to “sportify” poker.

The article states that Dreyfus is a visionary and his concept of the GPL is an innovative one that will dramatically alter the landscape of poker, making it a household name. Ever since April 15, 2011, or what has come to be popularly known as Black Friday, the poker industry saw a huge setback. At that time, the U.S. Justice Department found PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker guilty of wire and banking frauds.

The global poker scene had taken off after Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2003, making $2.5 Million! This had led to lakhs of other players taking up the game, with a surge in online activity and deposits, before the big setback in 2011.

Statistics show that poker has seen a downturn since then. In 2015, the World Series of Poker finale had just 1.15 viewers, which was 1% lesser than 2014 and 7% down from 2013. It was further reported that 81% of existing poker fans watch live poker and that 24% of the US population are already confirmed poker followers. This means that there is a huge scope for the game. The GPL seeks to capture this existing fan base and attract more gaming aficionados, through its new and exciting format. Though the GPL is poker-based, it will function differently from existing poker tournaments. Through the two categories – GPL Americas and GPL Eurasia, with six teams each, matches would fight down to two teams in each. These would then fight in live matches that would take place at top locations such as Madison Square Garden, New York.

The GPL will not play for money chips and there would be a stop watch giving each player 50 minutes in total during a match, making the action swifter and more thrilling.

Dreyfus’ goal is activating the 100 million fan base, by making poker a spectator and immersive game. Reports claim that there is a huge potential for such an initiative from fans, who want a part of the action, but not by getting a buy in and sitting themselves at a table to play. With the GPL, fans will be able to get exactly that. Certainly, the GPL will be revolutionary in terms of the way the game is played at tournaments now, but by generating a huge mass of interest, that day may not be far, when GPL would be as popular as baseball, soccer or cricket tournaments are across the world.

Interestingly, one of the first Team Managers on board is Chris Moneymaker himself, leading the Las Vegas Moneymakers, besides other pros such as Faraz Jaka and Liv Boeree. The GPL will also feature the “Cube” a unique portable venue, where players will be ensconced and viewers will be able to see their “hole cards”, as well as experience what emotions the player go through during their moves by listening to their conversations. Players will be unable to watch or listen to anyone outside the cube.

Phil Helmuth has stated that the GPL and ‘The Cube’ will “change the face of poker.”

Before the matches begin, the first event on the GPL calendar is the draft, which is on February 25. Dreyfus has claimed that the draft would be a “NHL style Draft Day experience for Poker.” Each team manager would be allowed a choice of three players from the GPI Top 1,000 list.

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