Finalists Selected For 2018 Poker Hall Of Fame Class

The World Series of Poker on Monday released the list of 10 finalists for the 2018 Poker Hall of Fame class. Just two will be inducted.

The finalists are: John Hennigan, David Oppenheim, Chris Bjorin, David Chiu, Mori Eskandani, Bruno Fitoussi, Mike Matusow, Chris Moneymaker, Matt Savage and Huck Seed.

All but Hennigan and Oppenheim have been among the final 10 in at least one of the previous years. Last year, Phil Ivey and the late David “Devilfish” Ulliott were inducted. Ivey was a first-ballot Hall of Famer after he turned 40.

If recent results are an indicator of one’s chances of induction, then Hennigan has a solid opportunity to get in on his first try. Through July 3, Hennigan has won $1.3 million at the 2018 WSOP, which includes eight top-20 finishes in bracelet events. He won the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship in mid-June for his fifth career bracelet. Chiu also has five bracelets, but his last came in 2013. Chiu hasn’t cashed at the WSOP since 2016.

Ted Forrest, Thor Hansen and Max Pescatori were on last year’s list of finalists, but they were not nominated this year.

In addition to the 40 years of age requirement, the other criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are that the player must have competed "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 in the industry who aren’t or 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.” So far, 54 people have satisfied those requirements.

The list of 10 was created after the public nomination process and a vetting of the nominations by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council. The process is now in the hands of the 28 living members and some journalists to determine who gets inducted.

The 2018 Poker Hall of Fame class will be inducted as part of the World Series of Poker main event final table festivities in Las Vegas July 13.

Here is a look at all 54 players inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.

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