The Global Poker Index Newsmakers: January 27, 2014 The Global Poker Index Newsmakers: January 27, 2014
Neil Stoddart - Global Poker Index
Key Takeaways
  • A summary of the recent accomplishments of players ranked on the Global Poker Index.

KICKOFF AT BORGATA…

Lazaro Hernandez holds the chip lead following the end of Day 1A at the WPT Borgata Winter Open. According to Allen Kessler, Hernandez was down to his last chips at one point during Day 1A play only to end the day on top.

Monday’s Day 1B survivors will join Hernandez and company on Tuesday with the WPT Final Table taking place on Friday.

AND IN DEAUVILLE, FRANCE

While some were freezing their buns in Atlantic City, others chose to spend some time is cool, but picturesque, Deauville as the EPT Deauville Main Event also started up on Sunday.

Chris Day (GPI#568) was the overnight chip leader as Day 1B continues on Monday. The field will combine on Tuesday and play down to a winner on Saturday.

NOVEMBER NINER TRAN FINAL TABLES HPT CALIFORNIA

Star poker pro J.C. Tran (GPI#308) has final tabled the Heartland Poker Tour’s California tour stop at the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln.

The November Niner enters final table play third in chips, the final nine players will battle it out later today – you can catch the action over at HPTpoker.com.

LIV RETURNS TO THE GPI300

A second place finish at UKIPT Edinburgh has allowed popular poker pro Liv Boeree (GPI#268) to re-enter the GPI300 for the first time since October 2013. Boeree, who was a constant on the 300 before then, also ran deep in the PCA Main Event to start 2014.

BONOMO, BOLD SCORE AT MACAU POKER CUP

Justin Bonomo (GPI#24) earned a fourth place finish in the Macau Poker Cup High Roller event as 63 players all put up 50K HKD to enter the tournament. Israel’s Yaron Malki (GPI#245) would win the HR event.

In the Red Dragon Main Event, Mongolia’s Buyanjargal Bold was victorious, topping 995 players to finish first, earning his very first Hendon line.

PATEYCHUK DOUBLES UP IN CYPRUS

Former EPT and WPT Champion Andrey Pateychuk (GPI#463) returned to the winners’ circle at the Merit Poker Winterfest in Cyprus. Pateychuk would first win a turbo deepstack event to start the series and would wrap things up with a Main Event victory just a few days later, earning over 155K USD for his efforts.

“Big Roger” Hairabedian (GPI#19) was amongst the other event winners during Winterfest.

AFFLECK DEFEATS BRIKIS IN BORGATA PRELIMS

A pair of star US pros met heads-up for a title in the Six-Max NLH Re-Entry prelim event at the Borgata Winter Open as Matt Affleck (GPI#834) got the best of Josh Brikis (GPI#2206) in the 200K Guarantee event.

Affleck collected over 88K USD for the win; the final table also included Byron Kaverman and defending WPT Borgata Winter Open Champ Andy Hwang.

VAN LEEUWEN WINS FPS FINALE

Dutch player Niels Van Leeuwen took down the France Poker Series Finale on Sunday, defeating Jean-Paul Vasseur heads-up for the title.

Rising French star Erwann Pecheux (GPI#96) finished sixth in the event.

MIKOVIC WINS IPT NOVA GORICA

Marko Mikovic (GPI#4033) of Serbia survived the Italian charge to win IPT Nova Gorica and the € 110,000 first prize. Star pro Salvatore Bonavena (GPI#137) was one of seven Italians at the final table.

GPI EUROPEAN POKER AWARDS

The 13th edition of the GPI European Poker Awards will take place this Wednesday in Deauville, France, as part of the EPT Deauville Festival.

Amongst the awards being presented that night is the award for Best Tournament Performance. Barny Boatman, Philipp Gruissem, Roger Hairabedian, Marvin Rettenmaier and Ole Schemion are all up for the award.