As with everything else in 2020, the Poker Hall of Fame nomination process is different. Poker fans normally take time in the spring or summer to nominate their favorite players, a final list of nominees then goes to a select group of judges, and they decide on one or two players for induction.
This year, without a live summer series in Las Vegas or anything much resembling a normal year, the Poker Hall of Fame hit the sidelines. But, it will all play out this month, according to the World Series of Poker. The nomination process is now open.
How the HOF Works
On December 1, the World Series of Poker announced the opening of nominations for the Poker Hall of Fame. All players and fans around the world are encouraged to nominate a player who meets select criteria, all of which carries over from previous years.
Players can go to this WSOP page to submit a name. The system only allows one nomination per email address, and that email is required to submit the nomination.
The requirements for any nominee to be considered are as follows:
--Player must have played poker against acknowledged and/or recognized top competition.--Player must have competed for high stakes.--Player must be a minimum of 40 years old at the time of the nomination.--Player must have gained the respect of peers and played consistently well.--Player must have withstood the test of time.--Non-players may be considered for contributions to the overall growth and success of poker with “indelible positive and lasting results.”
The form on the WSOP nominations page allows people to nominate anyone. I can nominate my dog if I’d like. But that would then be a wasted vote because it will not be considered in the tally because, sadly, he doesn’t meet the criteria listed above.
https://twitter.com/WSOP/status/1333876813530009600?s=20
Ultimately, the top 8-10 names with the highest number of votes – all of whom meet the criteria – will take their places on a list. The Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council will verify the list. The living members of the Poker Hall of Fame, of which there are 32, will then cast votes to determine the player to be inducted in 2020.
There will be only one player inducted this year.
Dateline HOF
The schedule for the Poker Hall of Fame process is expedited this year.
Nominations are open now and will remain open through the end of the day on Friday, December 11.
Caesars Entertainment – or the World Series of Poker executives – will announce the list of 8-10 finalists on Wednesday, December 16.
Eligible voters will then use 10 points each to allocate across the list of nominees as they deem proper. They can put all 10 points on one name or distribute them as desired.
The WSOP will announce the name of the sole 2020 inductee in Las Vegas on Wednesday, December 30. It is unclear if there will be an induction ceremony. But whatever the WSOP schedules, it will happen just before the WSOP Main Event finale at the Rio.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
In 2019, when the World Series of Poker took place at the Rio in Las Vegas as per usual, Kara Scott announced the 2019 inductees live on ESPN. The two men were Chris Moneymaker and David Oppenheim.
https://twitter.com/WSOP/status/1150980167340158976?s=20
Those who made the list of finalists but did not get inducted were:
People can nominate them again if they so choose.
Many players choose PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg each year, but he never seems to make the final list.
Other names popping up thus far for nominations include “Miami John” Cernuto, Patrik Antonius, Joe Hachem, Gus Hansen, Phil Laak, Matt Savage, Paul Phua, Norman Chad, Robert Mizrachi, David “ODB” Baker, Frank Kassela, and Ulvis Alberts.
https://twitter.com/thechipburner/status/1334135063970082821?s=20
https://twitter.com/ChadAHolloway/status/1328865509220052993?s=20
