WSOP Hall of Fame
From 1979 up to the present day, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has established a Hall of Fame for poker players who have exhibited exceptional gameplay. Since its establishment, to date the WSOP Hall of Fame has included 38 poker players within its ranks. WSOP Hall of Fame awardees are chosen from several criteria such as competing against celebrated top rank players, or playing with enormous stakes as well as exhibiting consistent poker skills in a considerable number of games.
In the spotlight: Mike Sexton
In 2009, the Hall of Fame honour was awarded to Mike Sexton (Michael Richard Sexton) for being the champion in a number of poker tournaments not to mention his lifelong contributions to the poker gaming world. To date, Mike Sexton has garnered nearly $ 4,000,000 from poker winnings from several poker tournaments worldwide. Mike Sexton is also a proud bearer of a World Series of Poker bracelet won in the $1,500 seven card split stud event in the 1989 WSOP tournament.
Contribution to the poker industry
Notwithstanding the number of winnings, Mike Sexton is more popularly celebrated for his contributions in the promotion of professional poker gaming. He is currently a major promoter of several poker tournaments such as the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker as well as the official public liaison for an online poker site, PartyPoker.com. Consequently, the numerous contributions of Mike Sexton in promoting poker have earned him the appellation of “the ambassador of poker”. On February 15, 2006, Sexton was recognized as the top poker ambassador at the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year Awards Gala.
WSOP Tournament of Champions
Mike Sexton also writes numerous articles for popular poker publications like Card Player Magazine. One of his greatest achievements in the world of poker is the creation of the Tournament of Champions of Poker wherein only those who have been champions are allowed to play.
However, in recent years, Mike Sexton has been participating in less and less poker tournaments citing his wide number of associations as one of the major reasons for his dwindling poker tournament participations. Still, Mike Sexton last placed 10th in a preliminary event at the 2005 WSOP as well as landing in the final 16 of Poker Superstars II. On June 27, 2006, Sexton bagged the third annual World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions tournament subsequently pocketing its $1 million first prize. Soon after, Mike Sexton bequeathed 50% of his post-tax poker winnings to several aid organizations and charities and has vowed to always do so for all his poker winnings in the future.
Poker for the greater good
In the first half of 2009, Mike Sexton along with several other renowned poker professionals founded PokerGives.org, a non-profit online organization which provides the more generous poker players with a more efficient and simple means for donating their winnings to five charitable institutions, namely; Special Olympics, Sunflower Children, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, American Cancer Society and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Accordingly, his many contributions to the general welfare and promotion of professional poker gaming has made Mike Sexton a fitting recipient of a World Series of Poker Hall of Fame award.
Other players in the WSOP Hall of Fame
2008
Henry Orenstein
Duane “Dewey” Tomko
2007
Barbara Enright
Phil Hellmuth
2006
Billy Baxter
T.J. Cloutier
2005
Crandell Addington
Jack Binion
2004
Berry Johnston
2003
Bobby Baldwin
2002
Lyle Berman
Johnny Chan
2001
Stu “The Kid” Ungar
1997
Roger Moore
1996
Julius Oral “Little Man” Popwell
1993
Jack Keller
1992
Thomas Austin “Amarillo Slim” Preston
1991
David “Chip” Reese
1990
Benny Binion
1989
Fred “Sarge” Ferris
1988
Doyle Brunson
Jack “Treetop” Straus
1987
Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson
1986
Henry Green
1985
Red Hodges
1984
Murph Harrold
1983
Joe Bernstein
1982
Tom Abdo
1981
Bill Boyd
1980
T “Blondie” Forbes
1979
Nick “The Greek” Dandolos
James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok
Edmond Hoyle
Felton “Corky” McCorquodale
Johnny Moss
Red Winn
Sid Wyman