The Global Poker Index (GPI) announced in a press release a partnership with Roger Dubuis, a leader in the Swiss “Fine Watchmaking” industry that will see them manufacture a “Player of the Year” award. The player that ends up winning the award from the respected rankings group will receive a La Monégasque timepiece at award events held in Los Angeles, Malta, and Macau starting in early 2015.
Fine Swiss Watchmaker Roger Dubuis
Roger Dubuis is one of the leading brands in watchmaking in the world and pioneered the contemporary skeleton calibers. They will be creating a continental “Player of the Year’ timepiece that will be given to the top player out of hundreds of thousands. Each award will be personalized with the continental champions’ names and be given out at the respective American, European, and Asian poker awards galas that will take place next year.
Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Roger Dubuis, stated in the press release, “The partnership with GPI will enable us to share our common value for mastering timing, our quest for ultimate precision and our aim for top performance with a global audience. We look forward to support GPI and its ambitions to develop Poker as a sport.”
About the Timepiece
The La Monégasque timepiece is described as a contemporary interpretation of watch making codes rooted in tradition and has a distinctive silhouette accentuated by refined and elegant lines inspired by Monte Carlo. The La Monégasque Automatic will be the timepiece awarded, with a player’s name metallized on the sapphire glass at the back of the watch.
The poker pro that wins the award won’t just have bragging rights, as ownership of the timepiece itself represents entry into an elite group of owners. Roger Dubuis is the only watchmaker to have all of its timepieces embossed with the Poinçon de Genève, a guarantee of finest craftsmanship. While there was no mention of the value of the timepiece, it is estimated that a La Monégasque would be worth around $40,000 as a ballpark estimate.
Adds Prestige to the Global Poker Index
While many in the industry have come to respect the Global Poker Index, it’s quickly become one of the most respected ranking authorities in the world of poker. Legitimizing their rankings with an end-of-the-year awards ceremony with an extremely rare and prestigious symbol of excellence takes the GPI to a whole new level.
Alexandre Dreyfus, who is the CEO of the GPI, commented about the new alliance between his company and Roger Dubuis, “It is a privilege to find a partner from the exclusive Fine Watchmaking industry that actually understands the true potential of Poker as a sport and commits in helping us build the legitimacy of our industry by supporting our annual Poker Awards. We aim to Sportify Poker together.”
Currently on the 2014 Player of the Year leaderboards, Daniel Colman is leading the pack for the Americans, Davidi Kitai is ahead in Europe, and Joanne “J.J.” Liu leads in Asia.
Details About the GPI
The Global Poker Index features hundreds of thousands of poker player profiles and tournament results. The GPI acquired The Hendon Mob back in July 2013 to consolidate their records in an effort to become the de facto poker player ranking authority. The GPI also manages a few industry-wide poker activities, including the American Poker Awards, the European Poker Awards, the Global Poker Masters and the Global Poker League.
