Cementing the growth of women in poker, a Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WiPHOF) is set to debut on Feb. 2, 2008, at the Binion’s Casino in
The World Poker Tour’s own Mike Sexton will serve as master of ceremonies for the induction luncheon, and Jan Fisher is scheduled as a special guest speaker. Only members of the WiPHOF are invited to attend, but anyone (man or woman) can gain membership. The cost of membership is $75 (20 percent of which is donated to the Breast Cancer Angels Foundation).
After the ceremony on Feb. 2, there will be a $500 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament at 2 p.m., which is open to the public. Festivities carry over to Feb. 3, as members of the WiPHOF are invited back to Binion’s for a freeroll to win $1,000 in cash and prizes donated by Card Player, The Venetian, The Bicycle Casino, Ocean’s Eleven Casino, ClubUBT.com, Binion’s, Ujogo.com, and others. The winner will also get a pass to the WPT Boot Camp.
The WiPHOF was developed over the past nine months by its board of directors, which includes Director of Marketing at Ocean’s Eleven Casino Suzanne Carter, poker professionals Karina Jett and Maureen Feduniak, Card Player’s own Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, and Lupe Soto, Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) founder.
Candidates for the WiPHOF must meet all of the following criteria:
1. Must have been active as a player or industry leader at some time during a period beginning at least 15 years prior to election.
2. Must have contributed to the world of poker in some significant way, either by wins/cashes in major tournaments or by making significant contributions to the poker industry.
3. Must be a proponent of women’s poker. Though not required to play in women-only events, she must support their existence.
The four women to be inducted exemplify this criterion. Bios provided by CardPlayer.com’s player database on each of the women to be inducted follow:
Susie Isaacs
This southern poker professional was born in
Barbara Enright
A true class act, this top female player became the first woman to ever win a major open World Series of Poker event when she won the pot-limit hold’em title in 1996. In addition to holding an open-event bracelet, Enright has also won two bracelets in the WSOP ladies championship.
The only woman to make the WSOP $10,000 main event final table, Enright has also received the all-around best player award at the 2000 Legends of Poker tournament series. In 2007, Enright was the first woman ever inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Linda Johnson
The former publisher of Card Player magazine, Johnson is the current World Poker Tour announcer, a Card Player author, and a well-respected player. She won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 1997 in the $1,500 seven-card Razz event.
When not working with the WPT, Johnson is the organizer of Card Player Cruises, the host of several “at sea” poker tournaments.
She was a co-founder of the World Poker Industry Conference, the World Poker Players Conference, and the Tournament Directors Association. She was the original chairperson for the Poker Players Alliance and still serves on its board of directors. Today, Linda teaches for the WPT Boot Camp and hosts charity events and seminars in cardrooms around the world. Known as “The First Lady of Poker,” Johnson has been worthy ambassador to the game over the years.
Marsha Waggoner
Marsha Waggoner was born and raised in
The following are upcoming LIPS events:
- Jan. 13 --
- Jan. 13 --
- Jan. 19 --
- Jan. 20
- Jan. 27
POSTED ON: Jan 07, 2008
Yeah?....how many women do you see in the Baseball Hall of Fame?....or the Football Hall of Fame? DUH!!....grow up you big idiot!
POSTED ON: Jan 04, 2008
boooooooooo whatta fuckin double standard if there was an all male hall of fame that would be "not right" so why is it "ok" to have an all female Hall of fame???