The query of who will be part of the Poker Corridor of Fame (PHOF) looms massive on the 2025 World Collection of Poker. With nominations open and voting across the nook, names like Nick Schulman and Scott Seiver are on the forefront of the dialog, whereas Corridor of Famer John Hennigan has thrown his assist behind longtime buddy and six-time bracelet winner Ted Forrest.
PokerNews caught up with a number of Corridor of Fame members—those that will forged a poll—in addition to outstanding professionals and an trade insider who, regardless of not having a vote, had loads to say about who deserves the sport’s highest honor.
Bookmark this web page! All you could know in regards to the 2025 WSOP is right here.
How are Members of the PHOF Determined?
Every year, the WSOP oversees the choice course of for the Poker Corridor of Fame. Whereas followers are invited to submit nominations—with the 2025 deadline set for June 15—the ultimate determination finally rests with the WSOP and the Corridor’s current members.
The method begins with a public nomination interval. Followers can put ahead names, together with a brief rationalization of why their nominee deserves induction. These submissions are reviewed and tallied by the Poker Corridor of Fame Governing Council, which finalizes an inventory of 10 nominees.
Voting then shifts to the residing Corridor of Fame members, who every forged votes to find out that yr’s inductee. For 2025, the enshrinement ceremony will coincide with the ultimate desk of the WSOP Primary Occasion in Las Vegas.
Corridor of Famers Have Their Say
“Nicely I feel it is fairly clear to be sincere with you. It is gonna be Nick Schulman.” stated Corridor of Famer Daniel Negreanu. “He is a category act. I do not actually choose peopled based mostly on how they’re good guys or unhealthy guys or the commentary stuff they do. I base them on outcomes and pedigree.”
Negreanu, who was inducted in 2014, added “He has seven bracelets now. He is a three-time champion within the 2-7 which is taken into account one of the vital prestigious and skillful occasions. He does it in all the pieces. How might he not be a shoe-in on Corridor of Fame on the primary poll?”
2018 inductee John Hennigan, who penned a PokerNews op-ed on the subject in February, gave a number of compelling arguments for it to be Ted Forrest’s yr. He wrote, “Ted was one of the best participant on this planet for a few years. He was Recreation Idea Optimum (GTO) in high-limit money video games lengthy earlier than that time period was commonplace,”
“This was at a time when one of the best of one of the best competed day in and time out in these video games. As certainly one of his closest mates then, I used to be aware about his line of considering in lots of elements of the sport, most notably his capacity to have folks considering he wasn’t pretty much as good as he was.”
All Time bracelet winner and 2007 Corridor of Famer Phil Hellmuth echoed Hennigan’s sentiments after studying that Forrest wasn’t already within the Corridor of Fame.
“Ted ought to be within the PHOF. He has six bracelets and beat me heads up for his final one.” stated Hellmuth. “He performed within the greatest video games on this planet for 15 years. He is the one man that performed $10,000/$20,000 restrict 100% together with his personal cash. He simply sat down within the recreation, not even his greatest recreation and performed.”
“I feel Ted Forrest is the clear [pick] until Mike Matusow wins a bracelet, then he might sway me a little bit bit. Mike’s an awesome buddy of mine however Ted performed within the greatest video games ceaselessly. Actually, I believed Ted was already within the Poker Corridor of Fame.”
John Hennigan Op-Ed: Put Ted Forrest within the Poker Corridor of Fame
The Professionals Give Their Opinion
“It is 100% Nick Schulman,” opined poker growth star Erick Lindgren, who was sat beside Negreanu on the time. “However I am the other [to Negreanu] it was that image with the cigar that obtained me.”
Six-time bracelet winner and potential candidate himself, Jeremy Ausmus could not see previous the 2 favorites.
“I feel it is fairly clear between Nick Schulman and Scott Seiver.” Ausmus stated. “I feel it is sort of a tossup. They each have by the roof credentials.”
“Seiver has like the old fashioned excessive stakes money crusher moniker too, which perhaps Schulman does not have, however Schulman additionally has the the commentating factor. He is everybody’s favourite commentator. He simply received a bracelet however Seiver received three final yr. I feel it is it is shut between these two and may come all the way down to who they’ve higher relationships with the members already within the Corridor of Fame.”
Steven “Cuz” Buckner had a unique suggestion, opting to go for perennial PHOF candidate Matt Savage.
Savage is likely one of the most influential figures behind the scenes in trendy poker. He isn’t primarily often known as a participant however because the world’s foremost match director.
“Oh my god, what a tricky query!” stated an animated Cuz whereas grinding the slots at Horseshoe. “[Matt] Savage is likely one of the greatest, he is been round for therefore a few years. I feel he ought to get in. If I had a second selection, I must go together with Schulman proper now.”
Why the Poker Corridor of Fame Vote Should not Be Seiver vs. Schulman this Summer time
What Does an Trade Insider Suppose?
WSOP encyclopedia Kevin Mathers took a break from fielding the infinite stream of participant inquiries to weigh in on this yr’s PHOF debate. He additionally believed both Schulman or Seiver are this yr’s favorites.
“I feel the 2 apparent decisions are Nick Schulman and Scott Seiver,” Mathers acknowledged. “They’re undoubtedly nice gamers. Nick Schulman took down the 2-7 and one other think about his favor is that he is undoubtedly the most effective poker commentators on the market.”
“Scott’s an awesome ambassador for the sport. I might say in the event that they in the event that they’re letting two folks in, I feel these could be the 2 decisions for me.”
“Ted Forrest is one other particular person. I feel one thing that is holding him again although is he does not have a lot by way of latest outcomes. I feel lots of people take a look at it like ‘what have you ever accomplished for me these days.’ Ted Forrest hasn’t been as lively these days.”
“You would most likely consider about 30 individuals who most likely ought to already be within the Poker Corridor of Fame proper now. The way in which they’ve determined to place folks in is a little bit limiting for my part.”
Op-Ed: The Poker Corridor of Fame is Heading For Catastrophe And This is How We Repair It
Poker Corridor of Fame Members
Calum Grant
Senior Editor & Dwell Occasions Govt
Calum has written for numerous poker retailers however discovered his house at PokerNews, the place he has contributed to varied articles and reside updates, offering insights and reporting on main poker occasions, together with the World Collection of Poker (WSOP).
