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It's time once again for poker's cognoscenti to cast their votes and determine who will be immortalized in the Poker Hall of Fame.
While running Horseshoe Gaming, Jack started the World Poker Open which has become one of the major feeder tournaments for the World Series of Poker. Jack was named to the Poker Hall of Fame in 2005. In July 2006, Jack became chairman of Wynn International. His responsibilities included opening the Wynn Macau. He has since resigned the position. 1000 Islands – Alexandria Bay Hall of Fame Poker Run; Rock The Bay – North East, MD; 1000 Islands – Kingston Poker Run; 1000 islands – Gananoque Poker Run; 2020 Poker Run Calendar; News; Reviews. Boat Tests; Catamaran; Center Console; Engine Reviews; Tech Reviews; Vee Bottom Test; Profiles; Videos; Gallery; Subscribe. Barbara is also the first woman to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, and the Senior Poker Hall of Fame, making her the only poker player to be in all three poker halls of fame. WSOP Ladies Championship Events In 1977, the first Ladies only event was introduced in the form of $100 buy-in Stud Poker. While running Horseshoe Gaming, Binion started the World Poker Open which at one time was a major feeder tournament for the World Series of Poker. Binion was inducted into the American Gaming Association's Gaming Hall of Fame on June 11, 2004. The following year on July 6, 2005 the World Series of Poker, inducted him into the Poker Hall of Fame.
The PHoF nominee class of 2019 has been revealed in a press release from the World Series of Poker. Nine of the 10 nominees are returnees to the ballot, with Antonio Esfandiari the lone new candidate. Esfandiari turned 40 in December to meet the age requirement.
Last year, John Hennigan and Mori Eskandani were inducted.
The 30 living PHoF members and 21 selected industry experts make up the final voting panel, with ballots due July 8. The elected candidate or candidates — up to two can be enshrined per year — will be revealed a week later as part of the WSOP Main Event final table spectacle.
The 10 Finalists
Here's a look at the 10 players eligible for election in 2019:
Hall Of Fame Wikipedia
- Chris Bjorin
- David Chiu
- Eli Elezra
- Antonio Esfandiari
- Chris Ferguson
- Ted Forrest
- Mike Matusow
- Chris Moneymaker
- David Oppenheim
- Huck Seed
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And a refresher on the criteria:
- Played against acknowledged top competition
- At least 40 years old
- Played for high stakes
- Played consistently well, gaining respect of peers
- Stood the test of time
- For non-players, contributed to the growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results
Nfl Hall Of Fame Wiki
The criteria and application thereof has been the subject of much debate over recent years, particularly in regard to the candidacy of players like Chris Moneymaker, who played major roles as poker ambassadors but may not have the elite poker resumes to match up with certain others on the ballot.
Undoubtedly, the name that will engender the most visceral reactions from many is that of Chris Ferguson, returning after several years left off of the ballot. Ferguson, of course, reappeared at the WSOP in 2016 to a less-than-enthusiastic reception from many of his fellow players following a perceived role in the Full Tilt Poker disaster. With six bracelets and a WSOP Main Event title, Ferguson has always held a strong case for induction.
While he only seemingly added to that case with a 2017 WSOP Player of the Year run, his near-total silence on the FTP situation has left many reluctant to accept him back into the community with open arms.
While some players like Chris Bjorin and Mike Matusow have graced the nominee list for the past several years, Esfandiari will have his first shot at induction. 'The Magician' gained fame in the poker world with his combination of playing ability and made-for-TV charisma.
At the tournament felt, Esfandiari accrued over $27 million in cashes to date, most famously winning the first $1 Million Big One for One Drop in 2012 for $18,346,673. He also appeared on numerous televised cash games, where he competed for nosebleed stakes.
Two Hall of Famers Name Chiu as a Top Candidate
With the WSOP in full swing, PokerNews had the opportunity to speak with a couple of the Hall of Famers, who will be among the voters expected to turn in ballots during the next few weeks.
Linda Johnson, a 2011 inductee, said she's curious about the nomination process for 2019. She called the list 'very strange' and 'a little bit disappointing.'
'Initially, I think that there are some big omissions this year,' she said. 'Specifically, Matt Savage and Jack Effel as industry leaders. I mean, there's obviously some people on there very deserving but some people are equally or more deserving and not on the list.'
Savage was a candidate last year for his long-time role as a top tournament director and founder of the Tournament Directors Association.
Asked for her selections, Johnson named Moneymaker and David Chiu as her top choices at the moment.
Todd Brunson, elected in 2016, concurred when it came to Chiu and also singled out David Oppenheim, Eli Elezra and Huck Seed.
'I think David Chiu is obviously a great tournament player,' he said. 'His track record is incredible. He doesn’t even play that many tournaments, and he’s a great cash game player who plays all of the games well.'
Chiu has banked over $8 million in cashes, though he hasn't added to that total since 2016. He won the WPT World Championship in 2008 for almost $3.4 million and has collected five bracelets at the WSOP, most recently winning $2,500 Seven-Card Stud in 2013.
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“May all your cards be live and all your pots be monsters!”
Mike Sexton has uttered this, his famous catch phrase, for the last time on the World Poker Tour. Sexton has been the face and voice of the WPT since its inception 15 years ago, but on Monday, May 22, he announced that he will be accepting a position as Chairman of partypoker, an online poker site that he helped found in 2001. Sexton’s seat in the commentary booth will now be filled by Tony Dunst, who has been with the WPT since 2010 and has filled in for Sexton as an analyst before.
The 69-year-old member of the Poker Hall of Fame is not only known as one of the games best-known ambassadors but also as a great player in his own right with a WPT title of his own, a World Series of Poker bracelet and the Tournament of Champions title.
Sexton took to Twitter to make the announcement.
Thx to WPT</a> for GREAT 15 yrs! I wish them nothing but the best. This position w/<a href='https://twitter.com/partypoker'>partypoker is an opportunity & challenge I couldn't pass up
— Mike Sexton (@Mike_partypoker) May 22, 2017
In a press release from partypoker, more details about Sexton’s new role with partypoker were detailed. As Chairman Sexton will act as an ambassador, but he will also have several other areas of the business to oversee. The release includes several goals for Sexton as Chairman, including investing in software development, improving customer service and loyalty programs, creating a friendly environment for amateur players by adding value to smaller events and combating third-party software, invest marketing budgets in the community, oversee the growth of the partypoker Live tour, and more.
“This is a huge and well-deserved honor for Mike,” said Card Player Publisher Barry Shulman. “It is also an equally huge development for the poker community at large, who will benefit because there is somebody at the top who truly ‘gets it.’”
World Poker Hall Of Fame
Sexton included a statement in the press release.
“This is an emotional time for me because I have decided to leave the World Poker Tour to focus on this new role. I was at partypoker from the start, before there was even a name or a single virtual card was dealt. I experienced the crazy times of the poker boom when we became the number one site in the world, I remember people sleeping on the office floor when we were all working 24-7 get the software launched and I remember the first partypoker Million on a cruise ship which overlaid $500K. It was devastating for me to see the decline of partypoker when we were forced to pull out of the US and then watch from the side lines as our competitors remained and benefited from our customer base. I am really looking forward to working with people that love the game like I do. We are not aiming for second place. We are all in. Shuffle up and deal!”
Sexton had further thoughts to share in a press release from the WPT.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with the World Poker Tour since its inception in 2002. When the World Poker Tour launched, it was a dream come true, and to be there from the beginning and see how the WPT changed the poker world forever by essentially turning poker into a televised sport has been amazing. And to do it all this time with my co-commentator from day one, Vince Van Patten, has made it even more special. Fifteen years later, another dream of mine came true when I won my first WPT title, and I now have the opportunity to play in the exclusive WPT Tournament of Champions for years to come. It’s been quite a ride over these 15 seasons, and one that I’ve been extremely blessed to take. I’d like to thank Steve Lipscomb for his vision to create the World Poker Tour, Adam Pliska for bringing the WPT to incredible heights, and the entire WPT family for all they do and have given me. I’d like to mention everyone, but there’s simply too many to name. They know who they are, and without them, the WPT wouldn’t have become what it is today.”
With Sexton moving on, Tony Dunst will join Vince Van Patten as a full-time commentator. Of course, Dunst had nothing but positive things to say about the man he is stepping in for.
“Mike Sexton set the standard for what it means to be an ambassador, and the positive impact he had on my career and the broader poker community cannot be overstated,' said Dunst. 'I’m honored to be taking his seat in the booth next to the legendary Vince Van Patten; and while I intend to bring my own style to the position, Mike will be a lasting inspiration for how I carry myself and treat people within poker. The success and popularity of the World Poker Tour are the result of the culture he created here.”
Like Sexton Dunst is also a WSOP bracelet winner and a WPT champion. His new role will officially start with the broadcast of the latest WPT Choctaw main event in August of this year. There has not yet been a replacement announced for Dunst’s role as the host of the ‘Raw Deal’ segment of WPT broadcasts.