October 15 2012, Rich Ryan

On Monday, Full Tilt Poker announced that Tom “durrrr” Dwan and Viktor “Isildur1” Blom have joined Gus Hansen as members of the new team of Full Tilt Poker ambassadors known collectively as ”The Professionals.” The press release cites that Dwan and Blom will “reignite a fierce competition at the highest stakes tables on the Full Tilt Poker site.”

Sarne Lightman, Head of Marketing for Full Tilt Poker, adds, “Tom is one of the most feared and respected players in the world today. His exploits at the Full Tilt Poker tables generated a huge following in the poker community and we are thrilled to bring that action back for our players.”

On rejoining Full Tilt Poker, Dwan said, “I’m very excited that Full Tilt Poker is relaunching. I think it is great for poker and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Blom, who split with PokerStars in August, also commented: “I always loved playing on the Full Tilt Poker software, it is where I made my name and enjoyed some of my greatest victories. When they approached me about joining the team I knew this was the right fit for me.”

Dwan and Blom are both staples within the online high stakes poker community. In 2009, when Isildur1 first emerged, he and Dwan battled numerous times at some of the largest tables Full Tilt Poker had to offer. HighStakesdb.com estimates that Dwan is up $2,402,039 lifetime on Full Tilt Poker, while Blom is down $2,630,230.

Now, the rivalry is born again, and Full Tilt’s representatives couldn’t be happier.

“The game of poker is always evolving,” Lightman continues. ”Through our continual innovations, Full Tilt Poker is proud to have been at the forefront of that evolution. In choosing our Pros we approached the three poker players whose unique and innovative styles have had the most impact on how modern poker is played.”

Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

Follow Rich Ryan on

No comments yet. Be the first to post one!

October 11 2012, Mickey Doft

Each week, the Global Poker Index releases a list of the top 300 tournament poker players in the world using a formula that takes a player’s results over six half-year periods. Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier’s latest run atop the GPI lasted four weeks, but he’s looking up at a familiar foe once again. For a look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website.

The Top 10 as of October 8, 2012

Jason Mercier is back atop the GPI after his eighth-place finish (for “84,672/$110,467) in the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event. That marks Mercier’s first live six-figure score (US dollars) of 2012.

Phil Hellmuth makes his debut in the top 10 this week following his World Series of Poker Europe Main Event win for “1,022,376. Mike Watson also enjoying seven-figure success in Cannes. He took down the “50,000 Majestic High Roller for “1,000,000 and though he came up just short of the top 10, he vaulted 29 places to the No. 15 position.

Welcome to the GPI

Seven players are new to this week’s GPI, led by Nicolas Cardyn. He returns to the GPI in the No. 171 spot following his 11th-place showing in the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event, worth “52,416.

New Additions

Bernard Lee, Eddy Sabat, Fabian Quoss, Khiem Nguyen, Matthias De Meulder, Simeon Naydenov, and Ty Reiman all fell from the GPI this week.

Ups and Downs

The biggest rise of the week belonged to Marc-Andre Ladouceur. He took down a “5,000 No-Limit Hold’em side event at EPT San Remo for “132,400.

Biggest Gains

Kevin Vandersmissen fell the furthest this week. His win in the Irish Open Main Event (worth “420,000) aged into Period 2.

Biggest Drops

What’s In Store?

EPT San Remo wraps up on Thursday and has the potential to have a lasting effect on the top 10 of the GPI.

High-Roller specialist Philipp Gruissem (No. 6 on the GPI), is at yet another high-roller final table. With four six-figure scores comprising his Period 1, he has a chance to add a fifth with either a win or a runner-up showing. The fourth score came this week with his fourth-place finish in the “50,000 Majestic High Roller for “275,000.

Why didn’t his No. 6 standing from last week improve? It would have, however his win in the £20,000 High-Roller event at last year’s EPT London (worth £450,200/$703,657) aged into Period 3. He surely would have dipped from the top 10, but instead is set to become a fixture there for quite a while.

Gruissem is setting himself up quite nicely for when his oldest Period 1 scores age into Period 2 and it won’t be long before he challenges Mercier and Grospellier at the top.

To look at the entire list of 300, visit the official GPI website. While you’re at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page.

To stay on top of the GPI and other happenings in the poker world, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Follow Mickey Doft on

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to post one!