WSOP Announces Finalists For Poker Hall Of Fame

The World Series of Poker on Sunday announced the list of 10 finalists for the 2017 Poker Hall of Fame class, of which only two will get in.

The list was created after a public nomination process beginning in mid-June and a vetting of nominations by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council. It will now be up to the 27 living members of the Poker Hall of Fame and an 18-person panel of media members to determine who actually does join the exclusive club.

The finalists are:

Matt Savage, Max Pescatori, David Ulliott, David Chiu, Mori Eskandani, Ted Forrest, Thor Hansen, Phil Ivey, Mike Matusow and Huck Seed.

Ivey, a 10-time bracelet winner, became eligible in February after turning 40.

Last year, the enshrinement ceremony took place as part of the November Nine main event final table festivities. However, thanks to November Nine being scrapped, meaning that the champion will be crowned this month, the inductees will be honored on July 21.

There are currently 52 members of the Poker Hall of Fame, which was established in 1979. It was acquired, along with the WSOP, by Harrah’s Entertainment in 2004.

In addition to having to be at least 40, 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 weren’t poker pros, they must have “contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.”

Last year, Carlos Mortensen and Todd Brunson were chosen.

Here’s a look at all of the members.

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