The World Series of Poker request for nominations for inclusion in the Poker Hall of Fame this week generated a response from a number of top professional players led by Terrence Chan recommending that Pokerstars founder and former owner, Isai Scheinberg, be nominated.
Chan has now started a campaign for a Scheinberg nomination, using social media channels and the popular twoplustwo poker forum to encourage support for the idea.
“In my opinion, if the man who has done more to grow poker than any other individual in the world in the past 20 years (at least) is not in the Poker HoF, it is illegitimate,” Chan posted, pointing to one of the criteria for inclusion at item 6, which declares:
“Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.”
The call on twoplustwo widened into a general discussion with some posters recommending that the World Series of Poker becomes more transparent on how it decides on successful nominees, with some advocating public pressure to ensure this is achieved.
“US poker players have a reputation of outrage without action,” Chan accused in a post. “So if you agree with this post, click on the link, fill out the form, and nominate Isai. Let’s flood the WSOP with Isai nomination ballots, and see if they have the balls to once again ignore a man who has lined their own pockets with millions.”