For many different reasons, women have not been as active in poker as their male counterparts. Whether we are talking about participating in live tournaments or playing poker online, the majority of players are still male at this point.
The fact that it’s 2022 and women still don’t feel free to participate in all activities – especially those that shouldn’t discriminate on the basis of gender – is exactly why initiatives like the Women in the Hall of Fame are needed of poker.
Now is your chance to learn more about WiPHoF, what it is and who are the latest professionals to join this prestigious club!
Everything you need to know about the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame
Since 2008, those behind WiPHoF have made it their mission to celebrate and honor women who have made significant contributions to the world of poker.
According to their website, the organization’s goal is to “…raise awareness and celebrate the contributions and achievements of women in poker as recognized and respected representatives and supporters of women in poker.”
Every two years (much longer in this case due to COVID-19), the organization accepts dozens of nominations for potential WiPHoF members. And after a thorough selection process, only a few of these nominees receive the coveted title.
There are several requirements that applicants must meet:
- They must be at least 35 years old and have been 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 (which includes winning a major poker tournament).
- Nominees should refrain from publicly criticizing women’s tournaments.
After the public submits nominations, the WiPHoF Organizing Committee reviews all the data, selecting the most deserving players.
This year, the committee received an astonishing 54 nominations, with seven spectacular women taking part in the voting. This year, the committee decided to induct four of these 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 rookie we will mention is Angelica Hael – Vice President of Global Tour Management at the World Poker Tour. Hael has worked for the WPT for twelve years, leading the overall management of most events. But what made this extraordinary woman stand out was her passion to integrate women into the world of poker. She developed the WPT Women’s Poker Initiative, which first committed to the $200,000 Guaranteed Women’s Championship.
Next in line, we have Terry King, who is considered one of the pioneer women in poker. She began her career in 1978, winning a WSOP bracelet while also becoming one of the few women to play in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event. Since then, she has assisted in the opening of the Hollywood Park Casino, becoming a shift supervisor at the establishment. King is also quite a well-known poker historian, documenting stories from the early years of the game and sharing them with the public.
Vanessa Selbst also entered the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame, even though she no longer plays the game professionally. Her achievements over the years are commendable as she has earned more than $12 million in live earnings. In addition to that, she is the only female poker player to win three WSOP bracelets, which shows how accomplished Selbst is.
Last but not least, there is Jennifer Tilly. The American-Canadian actress is best known for voicing Bonnie on Family Guy and appearing in films such as 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 winnings. Tilley won her first WSOP bracelet in a Women’s Event in 2005, winning a WPT event shortly after. Apparently, Tilley prefers to play in the women’s championships whenever possible, supporting her fellow poker players.
In conclusion
On December 14, 2022, these four magnificent women will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a spectacular ceremony in Las Vegas. It was announced that Maria Ho, Erin Lydon and Lupe Soto will speak at the event, which will also be streamed live on YouTube.
Ready to celebrate successful women in poker? WE ARE!!!