Poker Headlines

Erik Seidel and Dan Harrington get the nod

By Andrew Feldman

After the fans, a selected panel of media members and living members of the Poker Hall of Fame cast their votes for players they felt were worthy of the honor, the WSOP announced Tuesday that Erik Seidel and Dan Harrington will be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in November as the 39th and 40th members. Both players have had storied careers, satisfy all the criteria necessary for induction and are incredibly deserving.

Simon Fergusson/Getty ImagesErik Seidel's legendary career has landed him in the Poker Hall of Fame class of 2010.

Seidel is an eight-time WSOP bracelet winner with 60 WSOP cashes, two achievements that place him fifth on the all-time list in both those categories. His first major tournament was the one that placed him on map in the poker world, finishing second to Johnny Chan in the 1988 WSOP main event. Of course, that same achievement also placed him on the radar of movie fans everywhere as his defeat was glorified in "Rounders." He has accumulated over $10 million in tournament earnings throughout his career, which includes victories in many of the different varieties of poker.

"It's a really nice honor," said Seidel during an exclusive interview on the Poker Edge Podcast . "The bonus is that I get to be going in with Dan, who is a good friend. We've been playing for as long as I've been playing. We both came out of the Mayfair, and for both of us to go in at the same time is really fun."

Doyle Brunson was the one who repeatedly voiced his support for Seidel throughout the entire selection process, and that in itself was a real honor.

"Doyle has been great," Seidel said. "He really was very vocal in backing me in the Hall of Fame, and that was very nice. It's such an honor for somebody I have a lot of respect for. For me, there have always been two icons in the game, him and Chip [Reese]."

Besides becoming part of this legendary group, Seidel is excited to become part of the voting process and having the ability to vote for new members in the future.

"There are a lot of good candidates [for future induction]," Seidel said. "I certainly want to see Howard [Lederer] in there. Chris Ferguson should be in there. [John] Juanda is going to make it. [Phil] Ivey, it's just a matter of when he wants to go in. There's no question that he's the most qualified right now."

[+] Enlarge

AP PhotoDan Harrington owns two WSOP bracelets and a WPT title. Fans can always spot him by his green Boston Red Sox hat.

Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, Linda Johnson, Tom McEvoy, Scotty Nguyen and Jennifer Harman-Traniello will have to wait for their turn to enter the Hall of Fame, but it seems fitting that the two Mayfair players are going in together.

Harrington's achievements in the poker world are even more amazing when you take into consideration that he is only a part-time player. Harrington reached the WSOP main event final table a record four times. His first appearance in 1987 resulted in a sixth-place finish, while his second made him the main event champion in 1995. Before that main event victory, Harrington won his first bracelet in a $2,500 no-limit hold 'em event.

In 2003 and 2004, Harrington cemented his place in history as the poker-playing public witnessed his amazing back-to-back run to the final table just as the poker boom began. The respect only continued to grow for Harrington, who then published what many believe are the new poker bibles -- the "Harrington on Hold 'Em" series of books.

He's accumulated over $6.6 million in career earnings, won a World Poker Tour event and will forever be an icon in the game.

Congratulations to both players on this achievement. The formal induction ceremony will take place during the WSOP main event final table weekend this November.