Poker Hall Of Fame
The Poker Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that 1996 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion Huck Seed is the newest inductee. The honor recognizes a card-playing career dating back to the late 1980s.
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Seed received the greatest number of votes from living Hall of Fame members. That totaled 76votes with tournament director Matt Savage getting the second-largest total at 51.
“Hearing the news that I am being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame this year brought back memories of my early poker days, walking into the Binion’s Horseshoe, about to start a poker session, admiring all the Poker Hall of Famers on the wall,” Seed said in a news release.
The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are as follows: A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition Played for high stakes Be a minimum of 40 years old at. The nWo, one of sports-entertainment’s most controversial factions, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020. With The nWo’s induction, 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman will all become two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductees.
“It feels good to be included with all the poker legends that I once idolized and competed against over the years. Thank you everyone.”
A long career at the poker table
Originally from Corvallis,Montana, the 6-foot, 7-inch Seed was a star basketball player in high school. He earned all-state honors and went on to study electrical engineering and play basketball at the California Institute of Technology.
However, Seed left college behind in 1989 to play poker full time. Along with being a regular high stakes cash game player for several decades, Seed has several notable tournament wins. Along with the Main Event, Seed has three other WSOP bracelets.
In 2009, he won the NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship for $500,000. Winning the WSOP Tournament of Champions followed a year later for another $500,000. Seed currently boasts live tournament winnings of $7.7 million.
Along with prowess at the poker table, Seed’s prop betting antics are also well known. His wagers included learning to do a standing backflip within six months and not shaving for an entire year.
Reaction to Seed’s Hall of Fame induction
Many poker players applauded Seed’s election to the hall after such a long career in the game. WSOP/ESPN commentator Lon McEachern was also a nominee with broadcast partner Norman Chad. He congratulated Seed on a worthy career for the honor.
Huck Seed is such an amazingly worthy new member of the Poker Hall of Fame. His accomplishments are more than 'Hall-worthy' and the stories of him off the felt would have lasted forever even if he were not voted in. I am very happy for him.
— Lon McEachern (@lonmceachern) December 31, 2020
Poker legends Erik Seidel and Phil Hellmuth expressed their congratulations on Twitter as well. Daniel Negreanu, who is locked in a heads-up battle with Doug Polk, also offered some words about Seed’s induction.
Was happy to see @HuckleberrySeed finally get the call for the Poker Hall of Fame, his induction was long overdue.
He was a hero of mine growing up in Vegas trying to make it. We used to go for drinks then play $200-$400 Stud 8 heads up for hours.
He won.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) December 30, 2020
The Hall of Fame added only a single member this year as done from 1980 to 2004. Hall member Linda Johnson congratulated Seed, but wished the process still inducted more than one person.
“Congratulations to Huck Seed,” she noted. “I sure wish they had inducted two people this year. Matt Savage also deserves to be in.”
Inside the Hall of Fame voting
Among the qualifications for the Hall of Fame include playing against top competition for high stakes and standing the test of time. Non-players must have contributed to the growth and success of the game with “positive and lasting results.”
Several big names were among this year’s nominees – from Antonio Esfandiari and Mike Matusow to Eli Elezra and Ted Forrest. PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg was also included for the first time.
Scheinberg finished third in the voting with a tally of 45 and Elezra behind him with 30. The hall was acquired by Caesars Entertainment in 2004 when the company bought the WSOP. This was the first year that the Hall of Fame has released official voting results.
All 31 living Hall of Fame members could cast up to 10 votes across the slate of finalists. In total, members cast 30 ballots with one abstention. The hall plans an induction ceremony sometime later in 2021. Here’s a look at the final voting:
- Huckleberry Seed – 76 Votes
- Matt Savage – 51 Votes
- Isai Scheinberg – 45 Votes
- Eli Elezra – 30 Votes
- Antonio Esfandiari – 23 Votes
- Lon McEachern and Norman Chad – 20 Votes
- Ted Forrest – 20 Votes
- Mike Matusow – 17 Votes
- Patrik Antonius – 15 Votes
- Chris Ferguson – 3 Votes
* Lead image courtesy WSOP
Poker Hall Of Fame 2018
* Legends of Poker photo courtesy WPT