2009 Poker Hall of Fame
Introduction
Published this week is the list of candidates to be added to the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009. Based at the famous Horseshoe Casino, in Las Vegas, the Poker Hall of Fame is in its thirtieth year, not bad going for something devised by the casino’s owner, Benny Binion, as a way of attracting yet more punters to his casino. Despite the fact that it’s been going for 30 years, gaining entry to the Poker Hall of Fame is no push-over with only 37 poker luminaries inducted into it, unlike say the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
The 2009 short-list
Mike Sexton in poker commentating mode.
Nominations for induction in 2009 closed last Friday and include top poker players like Daniel Negreanu, runner up at last weeks WSOPE Main Event, Scotty Nguyen and Phil Ivey. The person eventually honored with induction will be decided by a panel of 30 experts made up of journalists and past inductees like Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Branson. Top tip to win this years’ nominations is Mike Sexton, who is probably better known for being one of the voices of poker as an announcer on the World Poker Tour, has actually accrued $3.8 million in career winnings along with the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions and a bracelet. Not bad for a former professional ballroom dancer – I wonder if he fancies his chances on ‘Dancing with the stars’ too? Mike is 4:1 with Barry Stein his nearest rival at 8:1. Perhaps quite surprisingly Daniel Negreanu is out at 25:1, although there has been much discussion as to whether he is actually past his best now?
James Bond in the Poker Hall of Fame
It may seem strange but ex-Bond actor Roger Moore was inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame in 1997. Not a bad accolade for someone whose career earnings are below $500,000. He did, however, win a bracelet in a $5000 WSOP Limit 7 card stud in 1994, not to mention helping to portray poker in his usual suave manner on-screen. Not being a top poker player is therefore no bar to entry to the Hall of Fame. Another unusual addition was the 2008 inductee, Henry Orenstein. Although not an unsuccessful player he was no professional. He did however make an enduring contribution to broadening the appeal of poker and expanding TV poker audiences through his invention of the ‘hole cam‘; allowing the hole cards to be seen in play.