Harman, Juanda named to Poker Hall of Fame

(PRESS RELEASE) – The 2015 Poker Hall of Fame Class has its newest members as Jennifer Harman and John Juanda gain entrance into poker's most exclusive club. The two become the 49th and 50th individuals to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. The two were nominated by the public and voted in by a 39-person panel made up of existing Poker Hall of Famers, and a Blue Ribbon Media Panel, it was announced today by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council.

Harman and Juanda will be inducted officially on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel – the birthplace of poker in Las Vegas – and the original home of the World Series of Poker (from 1970-2004). The Poker Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner will once again occur inside the Longhorn Room, which was originally called Benny's Bullpen. Benny's Bullpen hosted the very first final table of the WSOP in 1970. Harman has won both her WSOP gold bracelets at Binion's and three of Juanda’s five have been won there as well.

The Poker Hall of Fame Gala kicks off the November Nine festivities, taking place before the 2015 World Series of Poker Main Event final table gets underway at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino (Nov. 8-10).

"Congratulations to the newest members of the Poker Hall of Fame," said Poker Hall of Fame governing council member Ty Stewart. "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."

The Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council would like to recognize and congratulate the other 2015 finalists all whom remain eligible for future induction: Chris Bjorin, David Chiu, Bruno Fitoussi, Carlos Mortensen, Max Pescatori, Terry Rogers, Matt Savage and the late David Ulliott.

"It's truly an honor to be selected into the PHOF," said Harman. "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!!!!"

"I appreciate the recognition," said Juanda. "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."

About this year's inductees:

Jen Harman

Jen Harman has a long list of tournament accomplishments, including more than $2.7 million in earnings, two WPT final tables, 12 WSOP final tables, and the honor of being the first woman to win multiple WSOP bracelets in open events. However, what might be even more impressive than her tournament results is her skills in the cash games. The Reno, Nevada native has been a staple in the biggest cash games in Vegas for more than a decade and is one of the only women to play cash at such high stakes. The mother of two also dedicates much of her time to using poker to raise money for charitable causes, including the National Kidney Foundation and the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

John Juanda

Johnson "John" Juanda is a 44-year-old Indonesian-born poker pro who doesn't do much talking, but his poker resume speaks for itself. He has amassed more than $17 million in tournament winnings, including five WSOP gold bracelets, an EPT title, plus WPT, APT, PPT, and many other tournament victories. He's also won wherever he has went, with victories in Europe, Australia, Asia and North America. A long-time U.S. resident, Juanda came to the United States in 1990 to attend college at Oklahoma State University and then went on to receive his Master’s Degree from Seattle University. But since 1997 John has made his income on the felt and in so doing has cemented himself as one of the most consistent and successful players of the last two decades.

The Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979, was acquired by Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars) along with the World Series of Poker in 2004. Though the Hall of Fame is virtual in nature, its membership includes poker's most influential players and other important contributors to the game. There are now 25 living members.

The main criteria for the Poker Hall of Fame are as follows:

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

The entire list of 50 Poker Hall of Fame members includes (alphabetical):

Tom Abdo '82
Crandell Addington '05
Bobby Baldwin '03
Billy Baxter '06
Lyle Berman '02
Joe Bernstein '83
Benny Binion '90
Jack Binion '05
Bill Boyd '81
Doyle Brunson '88
Johnny Chan '02
T.J. Cloutier '06
Nick Dandolos '79
Eric Drache '12
Barbara Enright '07
Fred “Sarge” Ferris '89
Henry Green '86
T “Blondie” Forbes '80
Barry Greenstein '11
Jennifer Harman '15
Dan Harrington '10
Murph Harrold '84
Phil Hellmuth '07
James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok '79
Red Hodges '85
Edmond Hoyle '79
Linda Johnson '11
Berry Johnston '04
John Juanda '15
Jack Keller '93
Jack McClelland '14
Felton McCorquodale '79
Tom McEvoy '13
Roger Moore '97
Johnny Moss '79
Daniel Negreanu '14
Scotty Nguyen '13
Henry Orenstein '08
Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson '87
Julius Oral Popwell '96
Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston '92
David "Chip" Reese '91
Brian "Sailor" Roberts '12
Erik Seidel '10
Mike Sexton '09
Jack "Treetop" Straus '88
Duane "Dewey" Tomko '08
Stu "The Kid" Ungar '01
Red Winn '79
Sid Wyman '79