Which Poker Players Were Nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame?
The World Series of Poker announced their 10 finalists nominees for the Poker Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame only inducts 1-2 players per year according to the strict guidelines for admittance. This year's nominees include some shocking and controversial names as well as some shoe-ins. The poker player or players chosen for the Class of 2019 will be announced July 15th during the WSOP Main Event Final Table broadcast. The 10 nominees are:
1. CHRIS BJORIN
2. DAVID CHIU
Chiu is a FIVE-time WSOP gold bracelet winner. Chiu’s most recent bracelet victory came in 2013 in the $2,500 Stud event. That event had an impressive final table where Chiu defeated Michael Mizrachi, Frank Kassela and Scott Seiver.
3. ELI ELEZRA
Elezra is originally from Israel. Elezra now calls Las Vegas home and is a regular at high stakes cash games around the city. Eleztra picked up his 4th World Series of Poker bracelet this year in the $1500 seven card stud event. He ALSO has a World Poker Tour title. He won the $10,000 no limit hold'em event at the 2004 Mirage Poker Showdown for just over $1 million.
4. ANTONIO ESFANDIARI
Esfandiari is the only NEW finalist added to this year’s list. Esfandiari’s biggest and possibly most famous win came from the WSOP Big One for One drop $1 million buy in event.where he won $18,346,673
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5. CHRIS FERGUSON
This was a surprising one given the controversy around Ferguson and his involvement with the now defunct Full Tilt Poker. “Jesus” Ferguson has been playing poker since 1993. He won the WSOP Main Event back in 2000 for $1.5 million and came back to become WSOP Player of the Year 17 years later.
6. TED FORREST
Ted Forrest has over SIX WSOP bracelets. His most recent bracelet came after he defeated Phil Hellmuth in the Seven Card Razz event back in 2014. Forrest splashed into the poker world back in 1993 when he won three bracelets in three consecutive events He won the $5K Limit Seven Card Stud event then won the $1500 Limit Razz the next day and then won the $1500 Omaha Hi-Lo event the day after that. 3 bracelets in 3 days in THREE DIFFERENT POKER VARIANTS! On top of that Forrest also won the World Poker Tour Bay 101 shooting stars event back in 2007.
7. MIKE MATUSOW
Mike “The Mouth” Matusow would certainly be the first to tell you about all his poker accomplishments. The 51-year-old has 4 gold WSOp bracelets. That’s 4 bracelets in 4 different poker variants. Matusow has also final tabled the WSOP Main Event TWICE, but has never managed to take it down.
8. CHRIS MONEYMAKER
Moneymaker is the poker fairy tale come true. Back in 2003, Moneymaker satellite into the World Series of Poker main event for $39 and turned that into winning the most prestigious poker tournament in the world for $2.5 million. His victory certainly changed the course of poker history and he’s been a friendly ambassador for the game ever since.
9. DAVID OPPENHEIM
Oppenheim is a cash game legend. While he isn’t a consistent presence in tournament poker, he does have a few impressive career runs including a 3rd place finish in the 2010 WSOP Poker Players Championship for $603,348.
10. Last but not least is HUCKLEBERRY SEED
Huck Seed has won four World Series of Poker bracelets. Seed also won the WSOP Tournament of Champions back in 2010 as well as the 2009 NBC Heads Up Championship. RIP.
Who do YOU think will make the cut this year?
