On Tuesday, the nominees for the 2014 Poker Hall of Fame was announced by the World Series of Poker. Each year, up to two new members can be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame to join the likes of Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, and Doyle Brunson. Last year saw Tom McEvoy and Scotty Nguyen get inducted.
For 2014, the following poker players have been nominated for induction into the prestigious Poker Hall of Fame:
- Daniel Negreanu
- Jennifer Harman
- Humberto Brenes
- Mike Matusow
- Chris Bjorin
- Huck Seed
- Bruno Fitoussi
- Bob Hooks
- Ted Forrest
- Jack McClelland
In total there a ten nominations, five of which were finalists in 2013 and there are five new candidates. The list includes several of the top professional poker players and some of the original “Texas Rounders”. So, it will definitely be interesting to see who will be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame this year.
Everyone of the potential candidates have contributed to poker in their own way. This is a look at each players major accomplishments over the course of their careers:
1. Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu: Currently sits on top of the all time money list. Negreanu has amassed $30 million in lifetime earnings. Add to this six WSOP bracelets, two WPT titles, and numerous EPT final tables, there isn’t much Negreanu hasn’t done in the poker world.
2. Jennifer Harman: A cash game specialist who also has two WSOP bracelets to her name, and earned over $2.5 in career tournament earnings.
3. Humberto Brenes: Nicknamed “The Shark”, Brenes is a veteran on the WSOP circuit, his 82 cashes account for over $2.3 million in lifetime tournament earnings. This includes two WSOP bracelets on his resume. He has played a key role in building the game of poker in Latin America.
4. Mike “The Mouth” Matusow: He is a very accomplished tournament and cash game player with four bracelets to his name and not content with that, and has appeared at five different WPT final tables.
5. Chris Bjorin: The most successful Swedish professional poker player, Bjorin has amassed over $5.5 million in lifetime earnings. His poker resume includes two WSOP bracelets and 68 cashes in WSOP events since 1991.
6. Huck Seed: A high-stakes cash game regular but also proficient in tournaments, Seed won the 1996 World Series of Poker Main Event. He has four bracelets and also won the 2009 NBC Heads-Up championship. His total live tournament earnings total more than $7.6 million.
7. Bruno Fitoussi: Introduced Texas Hold’em to the Aviation Club in France. The Frenchman has over $2.7 million in lifetime earnings, which include winning the 2001 WHUPC.
8. Bob Hooks: The WSOP Main Event runner-up in 1975, Hooks is recognized as being one of the original “Texas Rounders” travelling from poker game to poker game with other veteran poker players like Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson.
9. Ted Forrest: Has amassed over $6 million in lifetime tournament earnings. With six WSOP bracelets to his name there is no denying he is one of the most accomplished poker players in history.
10. Jack McClelland: Although he has played poker and had some success on the felt, McClelland is best known for being a tournament director at the Commerce Casino and the Bellagio.
These players will now be voted on by the current 21 Hall of Famers as well as a panel of 20 poker media experts to see who will become the next Poker Hall of Fame members.
The voting will take place before November because the induction ceremony will be held during the World Series of Poker Main Event final table at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas, when play re-commences on November 9.