2015 Poker Hall of Fame Candidates announced -- no Isai

[Dan Druff]

Once again, the running joke that is the Poker Hall of Fame has its 10 candidates for the year. Terrence Chan (former Pokerstars employee) pushed for the inclusion of Pokerstars founder Isai Scheinberg, but it didn't happen.

2013 Poker HOF thread: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...ates-announced

2014 Poker HOF thread: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...ates-Announced

My post on why the point system to elect people is completely (and intentionally?) broken, allowing small voting blocs to force friends in: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...l=1#post292573

SrslySirius' post on why the HOF is a complete joke: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...l=1#post292764

Tom McEvoy was one of the two elected in 2013 (lol).

Jack McClelland was one of the two elected in 2014 (again, lol).

Amazingly, David Chiu fell off the ballot after 2013, but he's back this year.

Here are the candidates for 2015:

CHRIS BJORIN
DAVID CHIU
BRUNO FITOUSSI
JENNIFER HARMAN
JOHN JUANDA
CARLOS MORTENSEN
MAX PESCATORI
TERRY ROGERS
MATT SAVAGE
DAVID “DEVILFISH” ULLIOTT

At most, two will be elected.

The new ones for this year are John Juanda, Terry Rogers, Matt Savage, Devilfish, and Max Pescatori.

David Chiu and Carlos Mortenson came back after being gone in 2014.

Ted Forrest, Humberto Brenes, Huck Seed, and Mike Matusow, on last year's ballot, are gone.

So who is Terry Rogers?

Many consider Terry Rogers Ireland’s ‘Godfather of Poker’ but the colorful character is also one of the most influential people in all of Europe in terms of impact on the game of poker, sports betting and horse racing. Rogers founded The Eccentric Club and started the Irish Poker Open in 1980, the longest running tournament in Europe, and the second-longest overall, behind only the World Series of Poker. Rogers was a frequent attendee at the World Series of Poker in the 1970’s, and took the game of Hold’em back to Europe with him and helped bridge the game between continents. Rogers was a bookmaker by trade and credited with changing the face of sports betting in Ireland by revolutionizing betting shops and making them accessible to the ordinary man. Rogers was quite a showman too who was involved in the Muhammad Ali fight that took place in Dublin in 1972. Born in 1928, Rogers passed away in 1999. He dabbled in poker himself including a runner-up finish in the Alaskan Stakes tournament in 1983, but it was beyond the felt where he had the greatest impact. He was instrumental in the career of Noel Furlong, the only Irish WSOP Main Event Champion, who won the event in 1999 and also convinced the likes of Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, Amarillo Slim, Chip Reese and Tom McEvoy to travel to Dublin for Rogers’ tournament.

He "dabbled in poker" and is up for the HOF? Sad.

I also object in general to tournament directors, casino owners, media people, or any other non-players being in the poker HOF, unless they make a separate section (and separate election) for non-players. How can Terry Rogers be competing in the same election with David Chiu?

Hopefully Chiu will finally get the election he deserves.

Here are my past writeups on the 5 candidates we've seen in 2013/2014:

Chris Bjorin: No. This is someone who is consistent and has racked up big numbers simply by playing for a lot of years, but isn't HOF material. Few would mention Chris Bjorin as one of poker's all-time greats.

Jennifer Harman: Maybe. She is known for her ever-presence at high stakes cash games, but I am hearing conflicting reports as to whether or not she really wins at them. She has struggled in tournaments in recent years. It is possible she is a net loser in tournament play overall. On the plus side, Andy Beal considered her one of the toughest opponents in the infamous $100,000/$200,000 nosebleed heads up games awhile back, and she generally has a good reputation for her cash skill.

Bruno Fitoussi: No. Big guy for poker in France, but otherwise does not have HOF numbers, nor is he known for being a big cash game winner. (I played with him on Stars last decade, and actually found him to be one of the weaker LHE players at the higher games.) I understand the argument that Fitoussi did a lot to popularize poker in France, but again, that should not be a reason for induction -- at least not alongside players.

David Chiu: Yes. This guy owns in all kinds of games, and is one of the most underrated in the game. I believe he currently holds the Limit Hold 'Em all time WSOP cash title (I'm 10th on that list), but he also has bracelets in Stud and O8. He's cashed $7.7 million since 1996.

Carlos Mortensen: Maybe. This guy has had some big hits at both the WSOP and WPT, racking up almost $11.5 million in cashes. However, he is nonexistent at cash games, and has just 27 WSOP cashes despite many years of play and a ton of events.

Regarding the new candidates:

Terry Rogers: No. He almost never played poker. Perhaps could be considered for a non-players' HOF, but should never hold a spot that could be given to a player.

Matt Savage: No. See reasons above for Terry Rogers.

Max Pescatori: Maybe. But he's not a cash player, and has "only" cashed $4 million, which is fairly low considering all of the big buyin events he has entered. His four WSOP bracelets and influence over the Italian poker scene are the main arguments to let him in.

Devilfish: No. Only one WPT title and one WSOP title. Not known to be a cash player. Was probably nominated only because he died this year.

John Juanda: Yes. $17 million in cashes, 5 WSOP bracelets, and EPT/WPT/APT/PPT titles. Also, he apparently was one of the big anti-Lederer and anti-Bitar forces at Full Tilt, who attempted to create a bloc of part owners to get those clowns out.

If I had to vote, I would go for Chiu and Juanda.

[chinamaniac]

With the way poker has exploded I am surprised they only elect 2

[MumblesBadly]

There really should be different categories of inductees each year: Promoters of the game, and players, with up to 2 spots for the first, and up to 3 for the second. Because the game has gotten so much bigger than back in the day.

[Dan Druff]

As mentioned in the OP, they also need to completely need to revamp the voting system. Right now it's a complete joke, open to serious abuse, and DOES get abused.

[Brittney Griner's Clit]

I can't wait for the fourteenth thread discussing this.

[Brittney Griner's Clit]

DanDruff, one more bracelet and continuing to run this forum equals hall of fame for you.

[SrslySirius]

With the way poker has exploded I am surprised they only elect 2

As I noted in the post that Druff linked to, there is a backlog of deserving players that are going to be permanently shut out as a result of this (worsened by joke inductions like McClelland, McEvoy, Linda Johnson, etc.)

[Indyrick]

and Micon gets the snub again....

[4BET]

Once again, the running joke that is the Poker Hall of Fame has its 10 candidates for the year. Terrence Chan (former Pokerstars employee) pushed for the inclusion of Pokerstars founder Isai Scheinberg, but it didn't happen.

2013 Poker HOF thread: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...ates-announced

2014 Poker HOF thread: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...ates-Announced

My post on why the point system to elect people is completely (and intentionally?) broken, allowing small voting blocs to force friends in: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...l=1#post292573

SrslySirius' post on why the HOF is a complete joke: http://pokerfraudalert.com/forum/sho...l=1#post292764

Tom McEvoy was one of the two elected in 2013 (lol).

Jack McClelland was one of the two elected in 2014 (again, lol).

Amazingly, David Chiu fell off the ballot after 2013, but he's back this year.

Here are the candidates for 2015:



At most, two will be elected.

The new ones for this year are Dan Druff, Terry Rogers, Matt Savage, Devilfish, and Max Pescatori.

David Chiu and Carlos Mortenson came back after being gone in 2014.

Ted Forrest, Humberto Brenes, Huck Seed, and Mike Matusow, on last year's ballot, are gone.

So who is Terry Rogers?

Many consider Terry Rogers Ireland’s ‘Godfather of Poker’ but the colorful character is also one of the most influential people in all of Europe in terms of impact on the game of poker, sports betting and horse racing. Rogers founded The Eccentric Club and started the Irish Poker Open in 1980, the longest running tournament in Europe, and the second-longest overall, behind only the World Series of Poker. Rogers was a frequent attendee at the World Series of Poker in the 1970’s, and took the game of Hold’em back to Europe with him and helped bridge the game between continents. Rogers was a bookmaker by trade and credited with changing the face of sports betting in Ireland by revolutionizing betting shops and making them accessible to the ordinary man. Rogers was quite a showman too who was involved in the Muhammad Ali fight that took place in Dublin in 1972. Born in 1928, Rogers passed away in 1999. He dabbled in poker himself including a runner-up finish in the Alaskan Stakes tournament in 1983, but it was beyond the felt where he had the greatest impact. He was instrumental in the career of Noel Furlong, the only Irish WSOP Main Event Champion, who won the event in 1999 and also convinced the likes of Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, Amarillo Slim, Chip Reese and Tom McEvoy to travel to Dublin for Rogers’ tournament.

He "dabbled in poker" and is up for the HOF? Sad.

I also object in general to tournament directors, casino owners, media people, or any other non-players being in the poker HOF, unless they make a separate section (and separate election) for non-players. How can Terry Rogers be competing in the same election with David Chiu?

Hopefully Chiu will finally get the election he deserves.

Here are my past writeups on the 5 candidates we've seen in 2013/2014:

Chris Bjorin: No. This is someone who is consistent and has racked up big numbers simply by playing for a lot of years, but isn't HOF material. Few would mention Chris Bjorin as one of poker's all-time greats.

Jennifer Harman: Maybe. She is known for her ever-presence at high stakes cash games, but I am hearing conflicting reports as to whether or not she really wins at them. She has struggled in tournaments in recent years. It is possible she is a net loser in tournament play overall. On the plus side, Andy Beal considered her one of the toughest opponents in the infamous $100,000/$200,000 nosebleed heads up games awhile back, and she generally has a good reputation for her cash skill.

Bruno Fitoussi: No. Big guy for poker in France, but otherwise does not have HOF numbers, nor is he known for being a big cash game winner. (I played with him on Stars last decade, and actually found him to be one of the weaker LHE players at the higher games.) I understand the argument that Fitoussi did a lot to popularize poker in France, but again, that should not be a reason for induction -- at least not alongside players.

David Chiu: Yes. This guy owns in all kinds of games, and is one of the most underrated in the game. I believe he currently holds the Limit Hold 'Em all time WSOP cash title (I'm 10th on that list), but he also has bracelets in Stud and O8. He's cashed $7.7 million since 1996.

Carlos Mortensen: Maybe. This guy has had some big hits at both the WSOP and WPT, racking up almost $11.5 million in cashes. However, he is nonexistent at cash games, and has just 27 WSOP cashes despite many years of play and a ton of events.

Regarding the new candidates:

Terry Rogers: No. He almost never played poker. Perhaps could be considered for a non-players' HOF, but should never hold a spot that could be given to a player.

Matt Savage: No. See reasons above for Terry Rogers.

Max Pescatori: Maybe. But he's not a cash player, and has "only" cashed $4 million, which is fairly low considering all of the big buyin events he has entered. His four WSOP bracelets and influence over the Italian poker scene are the main arguments to let him in.

Devilfish: No. Only one WPT title and one WSOP title. Not known to be a cash player. Was probably nominated only because he died this year.

John Juanda: Yes. $17 million in cashes, 5 WSOP bracelets, and EPT/WPT/APT/PPT titles. Also, he apparently was one of the big anti-Lederer and anti-Bitar forces at Full Tilt, who attempted to create a bloc of part owners to get those clowns out.

If I had to vote, I would go for Chiu and Juanda.

FYP

[GrenadaRoger]

lol at Poker, Blackjack or Rock&Roll having a hall of fame....

there really isn't a centralized body or group that is recognized as the governing body of the activity.... for example college sport has the NCAA and NAIA; baseball has the National Association of baseball leagues...Boxing has the WBA,WBC or Ring Magazine...

[MrTickle]

Pescatori is probably the best poker player out of the lot, with Juanda a close second, but none of these should be in a Hall of Fame. It's not the Hall of Very Good.

[jacosta24]

There should be a PFA Poker Hall of Fame

[Daniel72]

and a Hall of Shame

(greatest scammers)

[Lord of the Fraud]

Devilfish not known to be a cash player he says.


Well on the internet he wasn't.


But live he was, and often AND crushed.


Dave is also part responsible for many in Europe taking up the game.


And I know Druff doesn't like him because he slapped some birds arse or w/e. But the guy was genuinely liked by everybody who knew him. He had bags of charisma and was also a pretty decent safecracker back in the day.


I predict The Fish will make HOF and it will be richly deserved.

[SrslySirius]

Juanda and Harman get the nod.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion...oker-hall-fame

[RegGaymer]

Jen Harman lol nuff said

[SrslySirius]

According to Earl Burton, the voting panel may have been altered this year, cutting back the number of media votes and giving inducted HOFers more power.

Has anyone heard anything about this? LOL if true.

The other day I heard someone say that the institution is in a transition from the Hall of Doyle and Friends to the Hall of Daniel and Friends. Sounds about right.

[Dan Druff]

"Hall of Daniel and Friends" seems to be a pretty accurate assessment these days. At least Daniel learned quickly how to manipulate the system like his nemesis Howard had been previously doing. Gotta give him credit for seeing the game theory right there.

Juanda deserved induction, but yeah, Jennifer Harman seems to have been manipulated in there by Negreanu and his buddies. Harman isn't a horrible induction like McEvoy and some of the others, but she wasn't the 2nd most deserving candidate this year.

David Chiu, who is a great player yet seems to have few influential friends, gets it up the ass once again.

[Dan Druff]

BTW, articles like the one SrslySirius posted above tend to ignore one of the most important factors -- the ability to "game" the voting process by simply voting for the 1 or 2 people you want to see in, leaving the rest blank, and having your friends do the exact same. This gives a HUGE edge for your candidates which can be nearly impossible to overcome.

This is worse than all of the other (also valid) issues being raised about the poker HOF, including non-players competing with players, no transparency, few non-American voters, etc.

Cutting off more media votes is indeed LOL if true.

Looks like they are trying to make it even more of a circle jerk than it already is.

[SrslySirius]

I posed the same question on 2+2 and Kevmath confirmed.

This year, The voting panel was 23 PHOF, 16 media. Due to a variety of reasons, several media members lost their vote.