WSOP Unveils Finalists For Poker Hall Of Fame

The World Series of Poker has announced the list of 10 finalists for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame this fall. The 10 names were selected by a public voting period that ended last month.

They are, in no particular order: Max Pescatori, Matt Savage, David Ulliott, Chris Bjorin, Bruno Fitoussi, Jennifer Harman, David Chiu, John Juanda, Carlos Mortensen and Terry Rogers.

Rogers and Savage are the only individuals on the industry side of things nominated this year. Rogers, considered Ireland’s “Godfather of Poker,” was the founder of the decades-old Irish Open, and Savage is a longtime tournament director and current Executive TD of the WPT.

Only two of the finalists are not alive today. Rogers died in 1999 and Ulliott died earlier this year after a battle with cancer. Family and friends have since been campaigning online for Ulliott.

Last year, Daniel Negreanu and tournament director Jack McClelland were inducted.

Harman, who has been among the 10 finalists for several years in a row, spoke to Card Player last month about her chances this year. “I think getting into the Hall of Fame means that your peers respect what you have done with your life and career,” she said. “That’s really important.”

Like the cash game legend, Bjorin is looking to finally get in after a handful of years of close calls. He is Sweden’s all-time tournament money earner.

The list of names will be submitted to the 23 living Poker Hall of Fame members and a 16-person media panel later this month for voting. Only these 39 individuals cast votes for induction.

The 2015 Class will be inducted as part of the WSOP main event final table festivities in Las Vegas during a special dinner and induction to be held at Binion’s Gambling Hall. The actual date and time of the event are to be determined but will fall between Nov. 7-10, 2015.

The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah’s Entertainment along with the World Series of Poker in 2004. It traditionally elects one or two members annually.

One must be at least 40 years old to be inducted. The other main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are that the player must have “played poker against acknowledged top competition” and “for high stakes,” while playing “consistently well” and “gaining the respect of peers.” The player must have lasted in the poker world too, as another standard is that they “stood the test of time.” For those who didn’t play full-time, they must have “contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.”

Here’s a look at all of the members.

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