The new Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WIPHOF) is scheduled to launch with a luncheon and induction ceremony at 11 a.m. on February 2, 2008 at Binion's in Las Vegas, and will honor some of the top females in the poker industry, including Barbara Enright, Susie Isaacs, Linda Johnson, and Marsha Waggoner. World Poker Tour's Mike Sexton will be the master of ceremony. The event and is open to anyone who wants to join the organization. I have the honor of being a guest speaker at the ceremony.
Membership in the WIPHOF is $75 and includes a one-year membership, a ticket to the luncheon, and a special commemorative gift. Following the induction luncheon, a $500 buy-in no-limit tournament will take place.
To be an eligible candidate for induction into the WIPHOF, all of the following three requirements must be met:
1. A candidate must have been active as a player or industry leader at some time during a period beginning fifteen years prior to election.
2. A candidate must have contributed to the world of poker in some significant way, either by winning and cashing in major tournaments or by making significant contributions to the poker industry. 3. A candidate must be a proponent of women's poker.
Barbara Enright has more than $1,200,000 in tournament wins and cashes and is the only woman with three bracelets from the World Series of Poker. She also has the best female finish-fifth place-in the main event at the WSOP.
Susie Isaacs has made her mark as a player and a poker writer. She has won two WSOP ladies events and has a tenth place finish in the main event at the WSOP. Susie has more than 50 cashes in major tournaments and has written several poker books.
Linda Johnson, known as the First Lady of Poker, has many accomplishments in the poker world, both as a player and an industry leader. She has a WSOP bracelet and has many tournament wins and cashes in major events. Linda is the studio announcer for the WPT and a WPT Boot Camp instructor. She was the honored recipient of the prestigious Brian Saltus award, an award given for representing class and dignity at the poker table. Other credits include cofounding the Tournament Directors Association, and the World Poker Industry Conference. Linda is also a co-owner of Card Player Cruises. Marsha Waggoner, the Grand Dame of Poker, has tournament winnings of about $1,000,000. Her origins in poker began as a dealer.
She is a member of the Senior's Poker Hall of Fame and has more than 80 cashes in major tournaments. Marsha is an executive host at Hollywood Park Casino.
Lupe Soto, founder of the Ladies International Poker Series which created the WIPHOF, had this to say: "Although many women have made major contributions to the poker world, it wasn't until 2007 that a woman (Barbara Enright) was finally inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. It's time for the women in poker to be recognized and honored and the WIPHOF was formed to do just that. A permanent wall displaying the photos of the inductees will be on display at Binion's"
Some of the most prominent women in poker have worked hard over the past nine months to make this happen. The Board of Directors includes Suzanne Carter, Maureen Feduniak, Karina Jett, Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, and Lupe Soto. Induction ceremony event producer Gyla Whitlow and Margie Heinz, the first woman to deal the World Series of Poker, have also donated their time to make this inaugural event take place.
To order tickets for the luncheon and induction ceremony or if you have questions, write to inquiries@womenspokerhalloffame.com or pokerchick@pokerchix.com. Seating is limited to 250 and open to men and women.
