When the 2016 nominees for the Poker Hall of Fame were announced, only three of the nominees were on the ballot for the first time. Of those three men (former World Champion Chris Moneymaker and Todd Brunson were the other two), there was quite a cacophony of voices supporting the nomination of Eli Elezra to the Hall. The reason? He’s actually achieved greatness in both the cash game and the tournament worlds.
A three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner and a former World Poker Tour champion, Elezra has had some great success in the tournament poker world. But he does recognize which side his “bread is buttered,” so to speak, continuing to play in the biggest cash games in Las Vegas and around the world. Elezra spoke with Poker News Daily earlier this week as we got his thoughts on being up for poker’s premiere honor.
Poker News Daily: Although you have been eligible for some time, this is your first nomination to the Poker Hall of Fame. How does it feel to be recognized by the poker public who nominated you and how does the nomination feel overall?
Eli Elezra: I am really happy to be recognized by the public for this honor. I have been playing poker for twenty-five years. This nomination makes me think about how my love for the game has gotten stronger over the years.
PND: This year’s class is one of the tougher classes in recent memory. Who do you see as your most difficult competition?
EE: From all of the candidates, I see Matt Savage as my most difficult competition. He is not known as a poker player, but has influenced the game a lot since the Binion’s Horseshoe days 30 years ago. Vegas was a different place back then. And in my opinion, he’s an old school and modern guru.
PND: You have excelled at both tournament poker and cash games in your career. What are you most proud of and why?
EE: After I won the WPT Mirage Showdown in 2004, I felt that I became a part of a different group of poker players. Most people know me from the cash games, but this was the first time that I started to consider myself a tournament player. My preferred style of play is the cash game because I am better at playing a lot of hands. Of course, the bracelet wins in the WSOP have also made me proud.
PND: What are the highlights of your career that you would put on your Hall of Fame “plaque”?
EE: My highlights would be the big cash games I’ve played with my idols Chip Reese and Doyle Brunson. I would also say winning the WPT tournament and my 3 WSOP bracelets. And playing all of the seasons of “High Stakes Poker” and “Poker After Dark.”
PND: If you are inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, it might be considered something that puts the conclusion on a person’s career. What haven’t you done yet in the world of poker (or otherwise) that you would like to achieve?
EE: Simple…winning the Main Event.
PND: You have a chance to give your speech advocating for your induction starting…NOW!
EE: My entire life I have referred to myself as a family man, businessman and poker player. It has remained in the same order, but I never knew that poker would become my life’s passion. And at 55 years old, I plan to keep playing competitively with all of the newcomers and young kids. I want to show them that the old school has still got it.