almost seems like hall of fame is just for americans players. And this is if i remember correct hall of fame for women so i cant see any reason why Annie and Jen are on this list.

molinn9 brings up an interesting point. It is an American-based membership though, but there are some non-Americans that are very worthy of consideration.

I'd say one that comes to mind is Thor Hansen. He's enjoyed good results, and certainly helped grow the game in Norway.

- Two WSOP bracelets, one in 1988 in the $5,000 Seven-card stud; Another in 2002 in $1,500 Ace to Five Lowball
- 46 lifetime WSOP cashes, with a 21st place finish in the Main Event in 1998.

Well, unless you are leveling, the existence of a hall of fame for women doesn't and shouldn't preclude women from being in the Poker Hall of Fame. That said, I find it hard to believe how/why Annie is on the list. Jennifer makes sense to me, and she was on it last year, though I don't think it's her time yet. I do hope she makes it someday, however.

Also, though, I believe that the list is based on an open nomination process set up for fans, so Annie being on the list makes sense in someway (visibility, some mainstream crossover, etc), though I wouldn't have put her there myself, nor do I think she has the credentials, never mind her quite negative image.

But I do agree with your comment that it's a very American-centric HOF (though Luske's nomination is a good (but small) step in the right direction to being more inclusive globally). This will be something they'll need to sort out as the game continues to grow. (I wonder if they could find a way to prioritize this, perhaps by inducting three folks a year, with one being an international player - the NFL does something vaguley similar with much older retired players, to grow their Hall and bring in folks who were missed). If not, perhaps it should be called the American Poker HOF.

Thor is grinding $20-$40 in LA. Actually a good player, but not what I'd say top level. I actually feel bad for the guy-degenerate horse and sports bettor. Dude is going to die with a Racing Form in his hands.

It's offensive that a woman who played an active role in covering up a $20-million fraud against players was approved by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council as a worthy candidate for this process.

I was not joking imo if there is a women HOF i dont really understand why they get shot at both places. If there was none women HOF i wouldnt mind see Jen Harmon there as one of those 10 even i stronlgy believe the only women who really is one of top 200 players in the world is Selbst. Maybe i sound very sexist but i really see nothing wrong to have seperated HOF and frankly i think its just normal.

Agreed. It seems to me that they are still trying to sort out the process as they go. For instance, Men the Master was included on past ballots (resulting in a general WTF reaction in much of what I read in the poker media), perhaps because more casual fans my not be aware of his checkered reputation, but was removed last year.

I do draw some parallels to Annie's candidacy and that of steroid users in baseball. You almost need to put the candidate on the ballot to allow the voters to have a say and thus proclaim, through exclusion, that person as not worthy of enshrinement. I'd hope that, as in MLB, NFL, etc, there's a vote % threshold (as well as a max # of years for voter consideration), where if candidates do not receive enough votes, they will be removed from future ballots. It is interesting to note that Jesus Ferguson made his ballot debut last year, but was removed from this one. A no brainer, of course, given the FTP scandal, but it shows that there is some awareness about the perception and worthiness of candidates, at least. I would like to see a more transparent, consistent process, but I imagined its tougher with poker than it is with most sports, as there's no real "retirement" or end of career to use as one marker for when to consider someone.

Fair enough, but Annie is not exactly Mark McGwire. This is like putting Robin Ventura on the ballot.

I nominated Ted Forrest when the ballots came out. Kind of disappointed that he didn't even make the list.

Whenever I see Tom McEvoy's name I think of that post I read here about his strange behavior in a men's room. Unfortunately.

Greenstein, Nguyen or Juanda. But really anyone except Annie Duke.

I saw Tom McEvoy at my local casino, he was shortstacking the 1/2 full ring PLO game.

I can't believe there were 16 people in this poll who voted for Annie duke. Lol

I would like to see Huck Seed inducted. Probably wont be this year though.

lol @ Hall of Fame in poker. Looking at the list of encumbents it should be a Hall of Shame.

I voted for the Bear, in an environment with more than it's fair share of weasels, overblown ego's and dishonesty the guy always conducts himself with genuine integrity.

Ventura actually got one year on the ballot (2009) - he, of course, fell way short of the % threshold and was gone from consideration.

But I like that Annie = Robin Ventura.

+1

I'll vote for Annie Duke & Marcel Luske. Everyone else, not quite up to snuff. Maybe next year, losers!

Well, there are lots of hall of fames out there for various things, each with its own inclusion process, with some inductees overlapping and some not. Robin Ventura (see above ) is in the college baseball HOF, but had no chance of making the Baseball HOF in Cooperstown. Other players easily make both. So, there's a women's poker hall with its own set of criteria, celebrating the contributions to the game, and surely some women will be elected their that wouldn't meet the criteria for the Poker HOF. But, of course, some inevitably will. That's a good thing, IMO, as this hall seems to be attempting to celebrate the game (and its history) as a whole (albeit from a somewhat American-centric perspective ).

And yes, Vanessa is one of the only current women players falling into the top 200. But her game is tournies, no? Harmon's not much a tourney player, and has long been a big game cash regular. I guess it comes down to criteria again - it's not a "what have you done for me lately hall," but a lifetime contributions hall. Some would argue that Harmon measures up, some argue that she does not. But her current stats shouldn't be held against her, per say, if were talking lifetime contributions, and if we feel that her record to date is enough. I'm not sold yet, but am rooting for her.

NO, i don't know either....

Pretty spooky -- around five hours after I make that post Ventura is announced as manager of the White Sox.

Does McEvoy still bring a briefcase to the table? He used to do that when I lived in Vegas. Actually it was a little intimidating-- his brief case, cowboy hat, and cowboy shirt.

Link please?

Basically any baseball player who plays ten years or more and isn't completely terrible will end up on the ballot the first year they're eligible. Luminaries such as Kirk Rueter and Lenny Harris were on the ballot this year. Managing the White Sox seems like a good fit for Annie, though, she certainly has the personality to succeed Ozzie Guillen.