Anticipation is high in the poker world as the Poker Hall of Fame gears up to welcome its newest member. With the list of finalists down to ten contenders, all bets are on!
The final ten include some of the most notable personalities in the game, of whom some have been nominated in previous years and hoping to get lucky this time around. They are Josh Arieh, Jeremy Ausmus, Ted Forrest, Kathy Liebert, Mike Matusow, Lon McEachern and Norman Chad, Brian Rast, Matt Savage, Isai Scheinberg, and Bill Smith. This robust group was picked based on public online votes and decisions from the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council.
Eligibility
Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is a monumental honor, one that requires meeting stringent criteria. Players must be at least 40 years old and have consistently demonstrated exceptional performance against top-level competition. Equally important is the respect they’ve garnered from their peers and their ability to withstand the test of time.
Non-players, on the other hand, are judged on their contribution to the game’s growth and success, specifically the lasting and positive impact they’ve made.
Following the nominations, the responsibility now falls on the shoulders of the 31 living hall members. They will decide who among the ten finalists will be the esteemed 2023 inductee. This announcement is scheduled for July 13 at the annual Poker Hall of Fame bounty event, a highlight of the WSOP.
1979
This hallmark event comes with a buy-in of $1,979, signifying the year the hall was founded. It adds an extra layer of excitement as Hall of Famers playing will carry a bounty corresponding to the year they were inducted, marking their unique place in the history of the game.
As we wait to find out this year’s inductee, we remember Layne Flack, who was honored posthumously last year. The six-time bracelet winner, who sadly passed away in 2021, became the 61st member of this revered institution. His memory lives on in the Poker Hall of Fame, reminding us of the greatness achievable in this intense game.
Overview of All Past Poker Hall of Fame Members
| Player | Year Inducted |
| Johnny Moss | 1979 |
| Nick “The Greek” Dandolos | 1979 |
| Felton “Corky” McCorquodale | 1979 |
| Red Winn | 1979 |
| Sid Wyman | 1979 |
| James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok | 1979 |
| Edmond Hoyle | 1979 |
| Blondie Forbes | 1980 |
| Bill Boyd | 1981 |
| Tom Abdo | 1982 |
| Joe Bernstein | 1983 |
| Murph Harrold | 1984 |
| Red Hodges | 1985 |
| Henry Green | 1986 |
| Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson | 1987 |
| Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson | 1988 |
| Jack “Treetop” Straus | 1988 |
| Fred “Sarge” Ferris | 1989 |
| Benny Binion | 1990 |
| David “Chip” Reese | 1991 |
| Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston | 1992 |
| Jack Keller | 1993 |
| Julius Oral Popwell | 1996 |
| Roger Moore | 1997 |
| Stu “The Kid” Ungar | 2001 |
| Lyle Berman | 2002 |
| Johnny “The Orient Express” Chan | 2002 |
| Bobby “The Owl” Baldwin | 2003 |
| Berry Johnston | 2004 |
| Jack Binion | 2005 |
| Crandell Addington | 2005 |
| T.J. Cloutier | 2006 |
| Billy Baxter | 2006 |
| Barbara Enright | 2007 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 2007 |
| Dewey Tomko | 2008 |
| Henry Orenstein | 2008 |
| Mike Sexton | 2009 |
| Dan Harrington | 2010 |
| Erik Seidel | 2010 |
| Linda Johnson | 2011 |
| Barry Greenstein | 2011 |
| Eric Drache | 2012 |
| Bryan “Sailor” Roberts | 2012 |
| Scotty Nguyen | 2013 |
| Tom McEvoy | 2013 |
| Daniel Negreanu | 2014 |
| Jack McClelland | 2014 |
| Jennifer Harman | 2015 |
| John Juanda | 2015 |
| Carlos Mortensen | 2016 |
| Todd Brunson | 2016 |
| David “Devilfish” Ulliott | 2017 |
| Phil Ivey | 2017 |
| John Hennigan | 2018 |
| Mori Eskandani | 2018 |
| Chris Moneymaker | 2019 |
| David Oppenheim | 2019 |
| Huck Seed | 2020 |
| Eli Elezra | 2021 |
| Layne Flack | 2022 |
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