During the festivities for this year’s World Series of Poker Championship Event “November Nine” play, two more inductees will enter into the Poker Hall of Fame. After fan balloting chose the ten potential inductees, a blue ribbon panel of living Hall of Fame members and poker journalists have selected former World Champions Tom McEvoy and Scotty Nguyen to receive the honor of entering the Hall.
McEvoy was understandably elated over his election to the Poker Hall of Fame, commenting about it over his Facebook page. “On November 3, I am going to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame,” he started. “I hold the record for the most nominations before finally getting elected. I lost the previous four times by the fifth time was the charm. I wish to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts over the years.”
Nguyen, known for his boisterous and fun-loving attitude, was (for him) subdued in his celebration of the announcement. “I thank you all (for) your love and support all of these years, baby!” he Tweeted to his followers. Nguyen was also on his fifth nomination attempt.
McEvoy, the 1983 World Series of Poker Championship Event victor, was the first player to ever win the tournament after working his way through the satellite system employed by the WSOP. That same year prior to the Championship Event, he captured his first WSOP bracelet in winning a $1000 No Limit Hold’em tournament, defeating Irish poker legend Donnacha O’Dea, and has gone on to win two more bracelets since then. In 2009 during the 40th anniversary celebration of the WSOP, McEvoy outlasted the 19 living winners of the Championship Event in the first (and, to this date, only) Champions’ Invitational. All totaled, McEvoy has earned $2.95 million in his poker career.
While his history at the WSOP has been storied, it is his contributions away from the table that have solidified his place in the Poker Hall of Fame. The author of 14 books (many with fellow Poker Hall of Famer T. J. Cloutier and fellow World Champion Brad Daugherty) on poker that range across all disciplines, McEvoy has been a teacher of the game with few contemporaries. He has also continued to be an ambassador of the game, embracing not only live tournament play but also online play, in reaching out to poker’s fan base.
Nguyen has been, with his happy-go-lucky attitude and strong play, one of the most popular players on the tournament circuit for decades. The 1998 WSOP Championship Event winner (where he uttered the now famous line, “You call, it’s gonna be all over, baby,” to runner-up Kevin McBride on the final hand), Nguyen has gone on to earn five total WSOP bracelets, none more notable than his 2008 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship (the predecessor of the Poker Players’ Championship).
Nguyen’s success hasn’t been limited to just the WSOP. On the World Poker Tour stage, Nguyen has journeyed to eight final tables, winning one WPT title during Season IV at the World Poker Open in Tunica, MS. Over the entirety of his career, Nguyen has earned over $11.7 million (good for 12th on the all-time list, a phenomenal feat in this day and age) while traveling the world as “The Prince of Poker.”
For the celebration of McEvoy and Nguyen’s induction, congratulations also must go to those who fell a bit short in this year’s election. Chris Bjorin, Humberto Brenes, David Chiu, Thor Hansen, Jennifer Harman, Mike Matusow, Carlos Mortensen and Huck Seed were all worthy nominees, but they will have to wait until at least next year for another shot at Hall of Fame glory.
Congratulations to both Tom McEvoy and Scotty Nguyen, who can now add “Poker Hall of Famer” to their names in addition to being former World Champions of poker!