| RANK | LAST POLL | PLAYER | PEAK | YEARS ON CHART | SKINNY |
| 1 | 1 | Ned Freeman | 1 | 18 | Cemented #1 spot after strong showing against top dogs |
| 2 | 2 | Jamal Lansford | 1 | 13 | The game's best talent-- needs to brush up in order to regain #1 |
| 3 | 4 | Eric Berghoff | 1 | 28 | Has logged more than a decade at #1 |
| [4] | 11 | Bryan Emmert | 4 | 9 | Elite on country; rapidly adding depth |
| 5 | 3 | Tom Avvakumovits | 2 | 21 | Epic 2-game set with the elder Berghoff briefly moved him into top 3 |
| 6 | 5 | Joel Berghoff | 2 | 16 | Had jumped up two spots after huge tourney win over Morse |
| 7 | 6 | Wes Morse | 4 | 13 | Disappointing tourney performance dropped him from Top 5 |
| 8 | 8 | Rick Barsotti | 4 | 23 | Has played 2 games in the last 10 years; should be well-rested |
| 9 | 7 | Hilary Keasling | 7 | 8 | Hot AC machine; out-of-practice in other genres |
| 10 | 9 | Andy Walczak | 8 | 8 | Has been unable to climb much after failing to show for tourney |
| 11 | 10 | Steve Raab | 1 | 22 | Ex-champ has little interest in the game at this point |
| [12] | 13 | Rachel Greenblat | 12 | 4 | Newcomer showing great promise on Hot AC |
| 13 | 12 | Melissa Freeman | 8 | 12 | Still solid on pop; has no interest in adding depth |
| 14 | 14 | Dan Dibley | 7 | 19 | Only 2001 tourney win against hapless Nelson |
| 15 | -- | Clarke Nelson | 4 | 24 | Re-enters despite being two decades out of practice |