For those that may be unaware of it, the Poker Hall of Fame is looking to the poker world for the next set of nominees for entry into the Hall. By visiting the World Series of Poker’s website, the public can put one name forth (only one vote per e-mail address) for induction into the Hall. Voting has been open since mid-July and will wrap up on August 15, with the ten nominees announced soon after that by WSOP officials.
Over the past couple of months, there has been some politicking going on to be among the ten persons who will vie for one of poker’s greatest honors. Two names continue to come up that, while worthy of being a part of the consideration for induction, should not go in this year.
One of the people that has gotten a great deal of attention is former PokerStars owner Isai Scheinberg. Scheinberg, who created what has become a behemoth in the poker world in general and online poker specifically, is rightfully credited with being one of the major reasons poker exploded during the 2000s. That notoriety is also the major reason that he cannot be considered for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame just yet.
When “Black Friday” came in 2011, Scheinberg was one of 11 men who were indicted for various violations of banking fraud (among other things). In the more than four years since that time, nine of those men have stood in front of a judge, pled guilty (often to reduced charges) and taken their medicine for the crimes committed. The two that haven’t stepped forward: Scott Tom of Absolute Poker (probably never will) and Scheinberg.
For all of the good will that Scheinberg built with the creation of PokerStars, he continues to damage it today by remaining a fugitive from United States law enforcement. There is an argument that some of the other members of the Poker Hall of Fame aren’t exactly saints that, while valid, is also something that can be overlooked as being a part of the culture at the time the inductee was living. Scheinberg continues to flout the U. S. authorities and put a black mark by his name, something that would be removed with his surrender to law enforcement and (due to his age) sentencing to a fine and probation.
Another person who should get consideration for the Poker Hall of Fame – but not this time around – is the late British poker legend David ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott. A WSOP bracelet winner and a World Poker Tour champion, Ulliott led a resurgence in poker in his native country through the British television program Late Night Poker. His irrepressible charm, his rough-and-tumble backstory and his exquisite skills on the felt all make him an outstanding choice for the Hall; the problem is that there are other European players, not just British, who need to be seated first.
There isn’t ONE member of the Poker Hall of Fame that isn’t from the United States. You can bring up Johnny Chan, but he is a naturalized U. S. citizen; Sir Edmond Hoyle’s induction was more for ceremonial purposes as his rules regarding card games are still the standard. That is something that should have been addressed long ago by the Poker Hall of Fame because there are an equal number of qualified nominees from Europe as there are from the U. S.
There is also the tidal wave of sentimentality that comes up in cases such as Ulliott. The same sentimentality arose in 2014 after the passing of Chad Brown, when people advocated for his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame because he was a “good man.” Although Brown is deservedly greatly loved by the poker world, he didn’t have the qualifications to get into the Hall. Ulliott is more than qualified, but I would rather see him inducted into the Hall of Fame on his merit rather than the sentiments of people who miss him.
The best question to ask regarding Ulliott is “Would I nominate him if he were still alive?” That seems to be the driving reason for his induction chances in 2015 and, to me, that isn’t a valid reason. Do not construe this as a vote against Ulliott being in the Hall, it is just that there are folks ahead of him that deserve the honor first.
So who should get into the Poker Hall of Fame? From the United Kingdom, it is far too long to have let such men as Terry Rogers and Liam Flood miss out on the honor of induction. In the U. S., Jennifer Harman and Huck Seed would be outstanding choices (there would be others under consideration save for those ugly “black marks” against their names) and, as to the remainder of the world, players such as Thor Hansen, Chris Bjorin, Humberto Brenes, Carlos Mortensen and Bruno Fitoussi – all men who expanded the game of poker in their own countries – would be excellent choices.
The final day for voting is August 15. Some point soon after that, we will learn who the ten people will be that are under consideration for the next two seats in the Poker Hall of Fame.
