Harman and Juanda Join the Club
8 years ago
27 Oct
The Poker hall of Fame today saw its Class of 2015 announced, with Jennifer Harman and John Juanda making the grade.
The two were chosen ahead of a host of the game’s stars, including Carlos Mortensen and the late Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott who passed away this summer.
Poker Hall of Fame’s governing council member Ty Stewart said of the announcement
Congratulations to the newest members of the Poker Hall of Fame,” the WSOP Executive Director explaining, “Both Jen and John are well-respected long-time poker players who have paid their dues and deserving to represent the 2015 class of the Poker Hall of Fame.”
Harman followed up with:
It’s truly an honor to be selected into the PHOF. Poker has been an unbelievable journey for me and to have the respect of my peers is truly amazing. I want to thank everyone for the amazing support. I’m so happy!!!!”
44-year old Indonesian-born Juanda was equally enthused, stating of the decision,
I appreciate the recognition…It’s an honor to see my name among so many players I have admired and respected throughout my career: Chip Reese, Erik Seidel, Dan Harrington, Daniel Negreanu. Thank you to all the fans who nominated me and to the HOF and media members who voted me in.”
Here you can see Juanda's initial reaction on his acceptance into the PHOF:
Established in 1979, The Poker Hall of Fame was sold along with the World Series of Poker to Harrah’s Entertainment in 2004, which in turn passed on the buck to Caesars in 2010 - and it is during the WSOPMain Event in November that a special dinner and induction service will be held, at the famous Binion’s Gambling Hall in Las Vegas.
Juanda and Harman will become the 49th and 50th members of the Hall of Fame, which last year inducted Bellagio poker room manager Jack McClelland and Daniel ‘Kid Poker’ Negreanu. This year’s duo were chosen ahead of Chris Bjorin, David Chiu, Bruno Fitoussi, Carlos Mortensen, Max Pescatori, Terry Rogers, Matt Savage and the late David Ulliott, decided on by a panel of 23 living Hall of Famers and a 16-strong blue ribbon media panel.
Their selection marks the final part of a multi-stage nomination and voting process that begins with a public-nomination phase each summer, with Harman’s selection making her only the 3rd female inductee of the illustrious ranks after Barbara Enright (2007) and Linda Johnson (2011).
Haley Hintze of FlushDraw.net reported on the news with the much-thought but little-spoken barb:
The election of Harman and Juanda is likely to be well received but will do little to quell accusations, particularly from Europe, that the Poker Hall of Fame is a highly American and Las Vegas-centric institution with a heavy bias toward poker faces well known on the Vegas scene.”
Not one to pull any punches when it comes to the poker world, the popular Hintze continued,
Such accusations also note that the HOF’s selection committee is dominated by poker’s old guard, in particular Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, and that a disproportionate number of the HOF’s enshrinees have been cash-game players from the early days of the Vegas poker scene.”
Remarking on the US-centric choices, she pointed out,
That could have changed this year had Mortensen or Bjorin been elected, though both will remain among the HOF’s likely international selections once that imbalance is finally addressed.”
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