Carlos Mortensen and Todd Brunson are the latest Poker Hall of Fame inductees, the WSOP announced on Thursday. Both players, together with eight other poker-related individuals, were nominated by poker fans and voted on by a 44-member voting panel, comprised of existing Poker Hall of Fame members and a special Media Panel.
The induction ceremony is set to take place on October 26 at Binion’s Gambling Hall. The choice of venue is not arbitrary as it is known to have played host to the original WSOP since the series’ inception in 1970 up until 2004. What is more, the ceremony will once again be held in the Longhorn Room, previously known as Benny’s Bullpen. The room was where the first ever WSOP Main Event Final Table was played back in 1970.
As usual, the Poker Hall of Fame ceremony will put the beginning of the Main Event Final Table festivities. This year’s November Niners are set to return to Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on October 30. The Final Table will once again be played over three days, which means that the name of this year’s winner will probably become clear on November 1.
As pointed out by the WSOP, the choice of Poker Hall of Fame inductees was one of historical significance. Todd Brunson joins his father, poker legend Doyle Brunson, as a Hall member. Thus, the two have become the first father-son pair to be inducted into the elite poker club. As for Carlos Mortensen, the Spaniard has become the first truly international (and first European player) to join the Poker Hall of Fame.
Brunson is yet another living and breathing proof that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Being the son of one of the greatest poker player, it was no surprise at all that he followed his father’s footsteps. With live tournament earnings of more than $4.2 million, a WSOP gold bracelet, and consistent presence on the poker scene for the past 25 years, Todd Brunson’s induction into the Poker Hall of Fame is most certainly well-deserved.
Carlos Mortensen is Spain’s most profitable poker player of all-time and is one of the world’s most profitable players, as well. His live tournament earnings currently amount to a little less than $12 million. Mortensen won the WSOP Main Event in 2001. He holds one more gold bracelet for a $5,000 Limit Hold’em tournament he won in 2003. What is more, he became the first player to win the World Championships of the world’s most popular poker series – the WSOP and the WPT. It is also important to note that Mortensen is one of four players to have ever won three WPT titles.
Brunson and Mortensen are the 51st and 52nd Poker Hall of Fame inductees. They were selected among a total of ten poker players and poker-related personalities, with the other eight being Bruno Fitoussi, Chris Bjorin, Chris Moneymaker, David Ulliott, Eli Elezra, Humberto Brenes, Matt Savage, and Max Pescatori.
Generally speaking, players need to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for induction. They need to be aged 40 or over at the time of their nomination, to have played against recognized competition, to have demonstrated consistency over the course of their career, to have gained their peers’ respect, to have taken part in high stakes games, and to have stayed the “test of time.”
Commenting on his induction, Brunson said that he felt honored to be recognized by his peers. The player added that he had grown up attending the Poker Hall of Fame ceremonies and that joining the elite group of inductees was an honor of a lifetime.
Mortensen commented that he had always wanted to become a Poker Hall of Fame member and thanked the poker community for placing his name among the great players who comprise the Hall.
