Who Do You Think Deserves a WSOP “First Fifty” Honor?

WSOP.com is running a poll to determine the players and performances that have stood out during the first fifty years of the World Series of Poker.

This year is the fiftieth anniversary of the World Series of Poker; and, to commemorate the event, the organizers are hosting a series of celebrations including special poker tournaments and a gala dinner. During the gala dinner, awards will be given to players that have stood out during the first fifty years of the WSOP or that have been involved in “special performances”.

To help the organizers decide which players are worthy of a WSOP First Fifty Honor, WSOP.com is asking the public to vote in seven categories. In each category a list of options already exists, but voters have the opportunity to support other players or performances if they wish (via the “Other” option). Eligible voters from the U.S. and Canada that participate in the poll will be entered into a prize draw with seats for Events #69 and #88 up for grabs, as well seats for the gala dinner and WSOP merchandize.

Who´s Up for a WSOP First Fifty Honor

If you have been following the World Series of Poker for as long as we have at PokerNewsReport.com, the lists provided are fairly predictable. If you are not familiar with the players or performances, WSOP.com provides links to player profiles on the voting form and – in the case of special performances – links to videos (which are well worth watching). The seven categories and the default nominees are:

#1 – Most Memorable TV Hand (in the order they appear on the voting form)

• Matt Affleck vs. Jonathan Duhamel (2010 Main Event)
• Sammy Farha vs. Chris Moneymaker (2003 Main Event)
• Johnny Chan vs. Erik Seidel (1988 Main Event)
• Connor Drinan vs. Cary Katz (2014 One Drop)
• Chris Moneymaker vs. Phil Ivey (2003 Main Event)
• Scotty Nguyen vs. Kevin McBride (1998 Main Event)

#2 – Best WSOP Performance in a Single Year

• George Danza (2014)
• Shaun Deeb (2018)
• Phil Hellmuth (1993)
• Phil Ivey (2002)
• Jeff Lisandro (2009)
• Daniel Negreanu (2013)

#3 – Player to Win the Most Bracelets in the Next Fifty Years (2020-2069)

• Justin Bonomo
• Joe Cada
• Shaun Deeb
• Fedor Holz
• Jason Mercier
• Dominic Nitsche

#4 – Fan´s Favorite Player

• Doyle Brunson
• Antonio Esfandiari
• Phil Hellmuth
• Maria Ho
• Phil Ivey
• Daniel Negreanu

#5 – Fan´s Favorite WSOP Bad Boy

• Jamie Gold
• Phil Hellmuth
• Will Kassouf
• Mike Matusow
• Shawn Sheikhan
• Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott

#6 – Most Impressive Main Event Win

• Johnny Chan (1988)
• Jamie Gold (2006)
• Phil Hellmuth (1989)
• Martin Jacobsen (2014)
• Chris Moneymaker (2003)
• Jack Strauss (1982)
• Stu Ungar (1997)

#7 – The Four Most Important Players in WSOP History (Select 4)

• Billy Baxter
• Doyle Brunson
• Johnny Chan
• TJ Cloutier
• Chris Ferguson
• Ted Forrest
• Phil Hellmuth
• John Hennigan
• Phil Ivey
• Chris Moneymaker
• Michael Mizrachi
• Johnny Moss
• Daniel Negreanu
• Scotty Nguyen
• Puggy Pearson
• Amarillo Preston
• David Reese
• Erik Seidel
• Vanessa Selbst
• Stu Ungar

How to Vote for Your Favorite WSOP Player

WSOP.com has set up two voting sites – one for voters in the U.S. and Canada, and one for voters in the rest of the world (because only voters from the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win prizes). If you are voting on the U.S./Canada site be sure to read the terms and conditions of entering the prize draw. If you are voting on the international site, ignore the information about prize draw and – if you are concerned about your online privacy – use a fake name and email address when you vote.