Fresh Faces Among the Candidates
Five out of the eight names have appeared on the list for the first time. Among the top contenders is undoubtedly Shaun Deeb, who celebrated his 40th birthday in March.
Deeb holds eight gold bracelets and, along with Daniel Negreanu, is the only player in history to have won the WSOP Player of the Year title twice (2018 and 2025). Currently, he is the most decorated living player not yet in the Hall of Fame.
Joining him in seeking the voters' favor are other newcomers:
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Jason Koon: A historical record holder of the Triton series with 12 titles and two WSOP bracelets.
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Isaac Haxton: One of the most feared analytical minds of today, with total earnings exceeding $65 million.
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Justin Bonomo: Three-time WSOP champion, who dominated the Big One for One Drop in 2018 for $10 million. However, his candidacy might spark debates due to past controversies.
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Chris Moorman: A British legend and one of the most successful online tournament players in history, with two WSOP bracelets.
Veterans and Visionary Scheinberg
The list is rounded out by stalwarts of the poker scene. At 41, Scott Seiver is nominated for a second consecutive year and is the second most decorated WSOP player among the finalists. His stellar 2024 season, where he captured three bracelets over one summer and the PoY title, greatly contributed to this status. Seiver has a total of seven bracelets.
The absolute record holder for nominations is Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, reaching the finals for the twelfth time. In fierce competition, he may once again find his wait for Hall of Fame induction prolonged.
The sole representative from the 'builders' category is PokerStars founder Isai Scheinberg. Well-known figures like Daniel Negreanu and Chris Moneymaker have long advocated for his inclusion, especially due to his contributions to online poker and safeguarding player funds after Black Friday. This marks Scheinberg's seventh nomination overall.
Revolutionary Change in Voting
This year, WSOP introduces a significant change in the selection process. Previously, only one member could be inducted annually; now, each of the 33 living Hall of Fame members has four votes.
Any candidate receiving at least 22 votes (a two-thirds majority) will be automatically inducted. This means up to six individuals might theoretically enter the Hall of Fame at once. If no one surpasses this threshold, the person with the highest number of votes will be the sole inductee.
The names of the new immortal poker legends will be ceremoniously announced during the WSOP Main Event final table, taking place between August 3rd and 5th, 2026.
Source: WSOP
