For many different reasons, women haven't been as active in poker as their male counterparts. Whether we're talking about participating in live tournaments or playing poker online, the majority of players are still male at this point in time.
The fact that it is 2022 and women still don't feel free to take part in all activities – especially those that shouldn't be discriminatory based on gender - is exactly why initiatives such as the Women in Poker Hall of Fame are needed.
Now is your chance to learn more about the WiPHoF, what it stands for, and who are the latest female pros to join this prestigious club!
All You Need to Know About the Women Poker Hall of Fame
Since 2008, those behind WiPHoF have made it their goal to celebrate and commemorate women who greatly contributed to the poker world.
According to their website, the organization's goal is "…to enhance awareness and celebrate contributions and achievements of women in poker as recognized and respected representatives and proponents of women in poker."
Every couple of years (in this case, it has been much longer due to COVID-19), the organization accepts dozens of nominations for potential WiPHoF members. And after a thorough selection process, only a few of those nominees receive the coveted title.
There are a few requirements the candidates must meet:
- They must be at least 35 years old, being active in the poker community for a minimum of 10 years.
- The nominee must have contributed to the world of poker in one way or another (that includes winning a major poker tournament).
- The nominees must refrain from publicly criticizing women's tournaments.
After the public submits nominations, the WiPHoF Organization Committee reviews all the data, selecting the most deserving players.
This year, the committee received an astounding number of 54 nominations, with seven spectacular women making the ballot. This year, the committee decided to induct four of those women into the Hall of Fame, resulting in one of the largest WiPHoF classes in history.
2022 Poker Hall of Fame Inductees
Drum roll, please!!!!
The first inductee we'll mention is Angelica Hael – the VP of Global Tour Management at World Poker Tour. Hael has been working for WPT for twelve years, overseeing the overall management of most events. But what made this extraordinary woman stand out is her passion for integrating women into the world of poker. She developed the WPT Women's Poker Initiative, which has committed to a $200,000 Guarantee Women's Championship for the first time ever.
Next in line, we have Terry King, who is considered one of the female pioneers in poker. She began her career in 1978, winning a WSOP bracelet, also becoming one of the only women to deal in a $10,000 WSOP Main Event. Since then, she assisted in opening the Hollywood Park Casino, becoming a shift manager in the establishment. In addition to that, King is a rather known poker historian, as she documents stories from the early years of the game and shares them with the public.
Vanessa Selbst also made it into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, even though she no longer plays the game professionally. Her achievements over the years are praise-worthy, as she has earned more than $12 million in live earnings. In addition to that, she is the only female poker player who won three WSOP bracelets, which serves to show just how accomplished Selbst is.
Last but not least, there's Jennifer Tilly. The American-Canadian actress is mostly known for voicing Bonnie in Family Guy and participating in movies like Bound and the Chucky series. But she is also very popular in the poker world. An active player for over 25 years, she has made more than $1 million in live earnings. Tilly won her first WSOP bracelet in a Ladies' event in 2005, winning a WPT event shortly after that. Apparently, Tilly prefers to play in women's championships whenever possible, supporting fellow women in poker.
In Conclusion
On December 14, 2022, those four magnificent women will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a grand ceremony in Las Vegas. It was announced that Maria Ho, Erin Lydon, and Lupe Soto would be speaking at the event, which will also be streamed live on YouTube.
Are you ready to celebrate the successful women in poker? WE ARE!!!