On Thursday, it was announced that Todd Brunson and Carlos Mortensen become the 51st and 52nd individuals to be inducted into Poker's most exclusive club! The two poker pros were nominated by the public and voted in by a 44-person panel made up of existing Poker Hall of Famers and a Blue Ribbon Media Panel.
"It's a true honor to be inducted by my peers into this prestigious institution," said Brunson. "I literally grew up attending these ceremonies and have always respected and admired its members. To join their ranks is the honor of a lifetime.
"I have been playing poker professionally for more than 20 years," commented Mortensen. "This game has given me so many things that I have come to cherish. I've always wanted to be included among the great players who make up the Poker Hall of Fame. To be included with the legends makes me very happy. I want to thank my friends, the poker fans, and all the people who vote for me. I take this honor very seriously."
The official induction of Brunson and Mortensen will take place on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00 pm at Binion's Gambling Hall - where the very first World Series of Poker was played in 1970. The Poker Hall of Fame was established in 1979 and there are 27 living members.
The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are as follows:
• A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
• Be a minimum of 40 years old at time of nomination
• Played for high stakes
• 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.
The entire list of 52 Poker Hall of Fame members includes (alphabetical):
◦ Tom Abdo ‘82
◦ Crandell Addington ‘05
◦ Bobby Baldwin ‘03
◦ Billy Baxter ‘06
◦ Lyle Berman ‘02
◦ Joe Bernstein ‘83
◦ Benny Binion ‘90
◦ Jack Binion ‘05
◦ Bill Boyd ‘81
◦ Doyle Brunson ‘88
◦ Todd Brunon ‘16
◦ Johnny Chan ‘02
◦ T.J. Cloutier ‘06
◦ Nick Dandolos ‘79
◦ Eric Drache ‘12
◦ Barbara Enright ‘07
◦ Fred "Sarge" Ferris ‘89
◦ Henry Green ‘86
◦ T "Blondie" Forbes ‘80
◦ Barry Greenstein ‘11
◦ Jennifer Harman ‘15
◦ Dan Harrington ‘10
◦ Murph Harrold ‘84
◦ Phil Hellmuth ‘07
◦ James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok ‘79
◦ Red Hodges ‘85
◦ Edmond Hoyle ‘79
◦ Linda Johnson ‘11
◦ Berry Johnston ‘04
◦ John Juanda ‘15
◦ Jack Keller ‘93
◦ Jack McClelland ‘14
◦ Felton McCorquodale ‘79
◦ Tom McEvoy ‘13
◦ Roger Moore ‘97
◦ Carlos Mortensen ‘16
◦ Johnny Moss ‘79
◦ Daniel Negreanu ‘14
◦ Scotty Nguyen ‘13
◦ Henry Orenstein ‘08
◦ Walter Clyde "Puggy" Pearson ‘87
◦ Julius Oral Popwell ‘96
◦ Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston ‘92
◦ David "Chip" Reese ‘91
◦ Brian "Sailor" Roberts ‘12
◦ Erik Seidel ‘10
◦ Mike Sexton ‘09
◦ Jack "Treetop" Straus ‘88
◦ Duane "Dewey" Tomko ‘08
◦ Stu "The Kid" Ungar ‘01
◦ Red Winn ‘79
◦ Sid Wyman ‘79
source: http://www.wsop.com/news/2016/Oct/7944/POKER-HALL-OF-FAME-ANNOUNCES-2016-INDUCTION-CLASS.html
