A look at the 40 Poker Hall of Fame members Part 5 of 5
The Poker Hall of Fame was created in 1979 by Benny Binion, who also created the World Series of Poker. The Hall of Fame was like anything else Binion decided to do, aimed at bringing tourists to the Horseshoe Casino.
The inaugural class of the Poker Hall of Fame contained seven inductees including posthumous inductees “Wild Bill” Hickock and Sir Edmund Hoyle. Since 1979 the Poker Hall of Fame has been one of the hardest nuts to crack with no more than two players being honored with induction in any single year (sometimes zero).
While many of the early players inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame are almost completely unknown, their contributions to the game when poker was in its infancy helped blaze the trail for what poker has become today.
This 5-Part series will take a quick look at the 40 members of the Poker Hall of Fame continuing on with the players inducted between 2006 and 2010:
Barbara Enright –2007: Barbara Enright was the first, and remains the only, woman ever inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. Enright has always been a pioneer in the poker world Enright is the first woman to own three WSOP bracelets; was the first woman to win an open event; and is the first, and again only, woman to ever make the WSOP Main Event Final Table.
Phil Hellmuth –2007: Hellmuth is one of the best No Limit Holdem tournament players of all-time, something his 11 WSOP bracelets speak to –all have come in NLHE tournaments. Hellmuth ranks first in WSOP bracelets (11), cashes (79), and final tables (42). With $11.3 million in career tournament earnings Hellmuth ranks 4th on the all-time money-list, although Phil is best known for his “unique” blow-ups at the poker tables –which have earned him the moniker of “The Poker Brat”..
Henry Orenstein –2008: Orenstein holds a WSOP bracelet in 7-Card-Stud, but will go down in the annals of poker for his invention of the Hole-Card Cam, which changed the way poker is viewed around the world, and made poker a TV-friendly product. Orenstein is also the producer of Poker SuperStars and High Stakes Poker.
Dewey Tomko –2008: Tomko is an accomplished poker player with three WSOP bracelets on his resume, not to mntion two runner-up finishes in the Main Event. A long-time gambler, Tomko has racked up millions in poker and other proposition bets. Tomko has participated in every WSOP since 1974!
Mike Sexton –2009: Sexton has always been considered a very strong poker player, but his new role as the ambassador of poker has cemented Sexton’s legacy in poker. As the host of the World Poker Tour Mike became the face of the new era of poker, and is as recognizable as Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson or Daniel Negreanu.
Erik Seidel –2010: Seidel has amassed eight WSOP bracelets in his career but is best known for the one he didn’t win; the 1988 WSOP Main Event where he finished 2nd to Johnny Chan. One of the most prolific tournament poker players in poker history, Seidel has accrued an astounding $10.3 million in career tournament winnings.
Dan Harrington –2010: Harrington has one of the best track records in the WSOP Main Event; having won the tournament in 1995, as well as making three other final tables! Harrington has finished 6th in 1987, 1st in 1995, 17th in 1996, 3rd in 2003, and 4th in 2004 in the WSOP Main Event! Harrington has also penned what is considered the ultimate tournament poker strategy book: Harrington on Hold’ Em.
