World Series of Poker Hall of Fame: The Nominees
PokerStrategy.com is included in the team of poker experts who will be deciding which of the ten 2012 nominees will be entered into the World Series of Poker Hall of Fame this year. Here are the nominees and their respective poker accomplishments.
The World Series of Poker Hall of Fame elects one or two members to join the ranks of poker's greatest every year.
In order to be nominated for the Hall of Fame, players must meet the following criteria:
• Played poker for high stakes against acknowledged top competition
• Be a minimum of 40 years old at the time of nomination
• Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
• Stood the test of time
Nominated non-players must have contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.
| Chris Bjorin | ||
| • | $5.2 million in live tournament cashes. |  |
| • | Top of Sweden's all-time money list. | |
| • | Two WSOP bracelets - a $3,000 No Limit Hold'em win in 2000 for $334,110 and a $1,500 Omaha win in 1997 for $169,200. | |
| • | Fifth place on the WSOP all-time money list. | |
| • | WSOP European all-time cash leader. | |
| • | Earned six figures in tournaments for 13 consecutive years. | |
| Eric Drache | ||
| • | Accomplished Stud player with five WSOP final tables. |  |
| • | Three runner-up finishes in WSOP events. | |
| • | Served as WSOP tournament director in 1970s. | |
| • | Invented satellite tournaments. | |
| • | Managed and hosted notable cardrooms including The Golden Nugget and The Mirage. | |
| • | Consultant on several poker television productions. | |
| Scotty Nguyen | ||
| • | 1998 WSOP Main Event champion. |  |
| • | 2008 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. champion. | |
| • | Three additional WSOP bracelets - one in 1997, two in 2001. | |
| • | A total of 19 WSOP final tables and 8 WPT final tables. | |
| • | One of poker's most recognisable personalities. | |
| • | Over $11.6 million in tournament cashes. | |
| George Hardie | ||
| • | Big player in California's 1980s poker boom. |  |
| • | Built up the famous Bicycle Club, then the largest cardroom in the world. | |
| • | Responsible for many new rules, guarantees and events still used today. | |
| Brian "Sailor" Roberts | ||
| • | One of the original road gamblers; he travelled around the Texas poker games with Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim. |  |
| • | 1975 WSOP Main Event champion. | |
| • | Won an additional bracelet in $5,000 2-7 Draw in 1974. | |
| • | Also a renowned top-flight bridge player. | |
| • | Earned "Sailor" nickname from serving in the Navy during the Korean War. | |
| • | Passed away in 1995, aged 64. | |
| David Chiu | ||
| • | Began career as dealer after moving to US from China at the age of 18 before becoming a tournament poker player. |  |
| • | Four WSOP bracelets in Limit Hold'em, Omaha 8 and Stud. | |
| • | 2008 WPT $25,000 World Championship winner. | |
| • | Over $7.5 million in tournament cashes. | |
| • | A total of 54 WSOP cashes. | |
| • | Earned six figures in tournaments for 13 consecutive years. | |
| John Juanda | ||
| • | Over $14 million in live tournament cashes |  |
| • | Five WSOP bracelets from 2002 to 2011 in Triple Draw, Stud 8, Omaha, No Limit and Single Draw. | |
| • | Won 2008 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event and finished runner-up at EPT London in one week. | |
| • | A total of 31 WSOP final tables and $1.5m in EPT/WPT cashes. | |
| • | At 41, the youngest of the 10 nominees. | |
| Thor Hansen | ||
| • | Top of Norway's all-time money list. |  |
| • | Over $2.9 million in 175 tournament cashes since the 1980s. | |
| • | Two WSOP bracelets in 1988 and 2002, $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. final table in 2007. | |
| • | Known as 'the Godfather of Norwegian poker'. | |
| • | Accomplished cash game player, formerly backed by Larry Flynt. | |
| • | Diagnosed with terminal cancer in early 2012. | |
| Tom McEvoy | ||
| • | Four-time WSOP bracelet winner from 1983 to 1992. |  |
| • | 1983 World Series of Poker Main Event champion. | |
| • | Over $2.9 million in live tournament cashes over 30 years. | |
| • | Noted author, having penned poker volumes including How to Win at Poker Tournaments and Championship No-Limit and Pot-Limit Hold'em. | |
| • | 38 WSOP cashes. | |
| • | Won first WSOP Champions' Invitational in 2009. | |
| Jennifer Harman-Traniello | ||
| • | Over $2.6 million in live tournament cashes. |  |
| • | Two WPT and 12 WSOP final tables. | |
| • | Two WSOP bracelets in 2000 and 2002. | |
| • | First woman to win multiple bracelets in open-field events. | |
| • | Over a decade of competition in the highest stakes mixed games in Las Vegas. | |
| • | Part of 'The Corporation'; played Andy Beal at stakes of $20,000/$40,000 and higher heads-up Limit Hold'em, winning millions of dollars. | |
