Meet the 2014 Poker Hall of Fame Nominees

In order to inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, a person must meet the following criteria:

• Be a minimum of 40 years old at the time of nomination
• A player must have played against acknowledged top competition
• Have played for high stakes
• Have played consistently well, gaining the respect of their peers
• Stood the test of time
• Non-players must have contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results

Here are this year's 10 nominations.

Bob Hooks

Bob Hooks is an 84-year former poker player who was one of the original Texas road gamblers. By 1969, Hooks had already been travelling the then-illegal poker circuit for a decade.

In the 70s, Hooks was a regular in Las Vegas and often battled at the felt with fellow legends "Amarillo Slim," Puggy Pearson and Doyle Brunson, among others. 

Daniel Negreanu

Word around the camp fire suggests that Daniel Negreanu, now in his 40s, is a shoe-in for induction. Negreanu had been nominated previously, but looked over because he was under the age of 40.

With six World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour titles and almost $30 million in winnings, Negreanu is truly one of the game's greats and would be a popular inductee.

Jack McClelland

If you played any WSOP event over the past 20 years then you will have been under the watchful eye of Jack McClelland, the renowned tournament director. 

Many consider McClelland as the best-ever tournament director and one who has helped the game progress as fast as it has. Sadly, McClelland is suffering from severe heart problems and a recent blog from Nolan Dalla stated McClelland requires a heart transplant. Hopefully he is inducted before his problems overcome him.

Bruno Fitoussi

Bushy-haired Bruno Fitoussi doesn't have a WPT or WSOP title to his name --he finished second in the 2007 $50,000 HORSE event -- but he still has over $2.7 million in winnings.

However, it is Fitoussi's efforts away from the table that have led to his nomination. Fitoussi helped create the world famous Aviation Club and has worked tirelessly to promote poker in France and bring the majors tours to Europe.

Ted Forrest

Ted Forrest won his sixth WSOP bracelet in 2014, some 10 years after he won number five, going some way to show that he has still got what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Forrest has in excess of $6.2 million in live tournament winnings and countless more millions from cash games, including the famous game with Texan billionaire Andy Beal/

Huck Seed

Four-time WSOP champion -- including the 1996 Main Event -- Huck Seed is another player who certainly ticks the "stood the test of time" box. 

Seed has managed to accumulate over $7.6 million in live tournament winnings since his first recorded cash some 24 years ago, which is longer than a lot of today's so-called starts have been on the planet!

Jennifer Harman

Jennifer Harman is another player who ticks all of the boxes needed to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. Harman has won two WSOP bracelets, but most of her exploits come from the high stakes cash game she frequents.

Harman, wh has had two kidney transplants, often raises money for charity via poker tournaments and is the founder of Creating Organ Donation Awareness and an active fundriaser for the Nevada Society for the Preventio of Cruelty to Animals.

Humberto Brenes

Costa Rican pro Humberto Brenes has flown poker's flag for the best part of 30 years, during which time he has amassed $6.1 million in tournament winnings.

Brenes has two WSOP bracelets and can be found competing around the globe with his trademark smile and his plastic shark card protector and is seen as been an inspirational figure in South American poker.

Mike Matusow

Forty-six year old Mike "The Mouth" Matusow shot to fame during the televised poker golden years, appearing on shows such as High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark.

The vocal yet popular pro has had a troubled past, including a spell in jail, but has shown that with a lot of hard work you can rebuild your life, reputation and poker skills.

To date, Matusow has four WSOP titles and $9 million in winnings.

Chris Bjorin

Sweden's Chris Bjorin is another veteran of the game who to this day still competes at the highest level. With $5.5 million in winnings, Bjorin is second in the Swedish all-time money listings, helped by winning two WSOP bracelets.

Join Betfair Poker Now