Brian Rast is inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame
The three-time Players Championship winner is the 2023 addition to the prestigious hall of fame.
Brian Rast is the 2023 Inductee into the Poker Hall of Fame, beating off stiff competition from Josh Arieh, Jeremy Ausmus, Ted Forrest, Kathy Liebert, Mike Matusow, Lon McEachern and Norman Chad (as a pair), Matt Savage, Isai Scheinberg, and Bill Smith
Three of the players nominated all won their 6th bracelets this year. Arieh won both his 5th and 6th, while Rast and Ausmus won their 6th. However, Rast won his 6th bracelet by taking down the $50,000 Players Championship for the third time, a feat which no doubt snagged it for him.
He has an impressive record in High Roller events outside of the series, but his acumen at the World Series of Poker likely influenced the vote, these are his career bracelets:
| Year | Event | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em | $227,232 |
| 2011 | $50,000 Poker Player's Championship | $1,720,328 |
| 2016 | $50,000 Poker Player's Championship | $1,296,097 |
| 2018 | $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship | $259,670 |
| 2021 | $3,000 No Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $474,102 |
| 2023 | $50,000 Poker Player's Championship | $1,324,747 |
"With a nearly 20-year-long career riddled with record-breaking wins and historic runs, Brian Rast is one of the best poker players we’ve ever seen,” said WSOP Vice President Jack Effel. “With the 2023 WSOP breaking records left and right, it only makes sense to put a record-setter himself amongst some of the greatest of all time. We are honored to induct Brian Rast into the Poker Hall of Fame and look forward to his successes to come.”
“With a nearly 20-year-long career riddled with record-breaking wins and historic runs, Brian Rast is one of the best poker players we’ve ever seen” - WSOP Vice President Jack Effel pic.twitter.com/lVY2Si04IX
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 13, 2023
The criteria
The criteria, as always, are as follows:
- A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
- Played for high stakes
- 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
- Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results
Last year the late Layne Flack was the 2022 inductee, beating off competition from Josh Arieh, Kathy Liebert, Brian Rast, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, Mike Matusow, Lon McEachern & Norman Chad (as one nomination), Michael Mizrachi, Matt Savage and Isai Scheinberg
Who do you think deserves it next year? Let us know in the comments:
