Weekly RankingHero Highlights

Some of the events we followed on RankingHero in the past week were the 2014 partypoker WPT Merit Classic North Cyprus at the @Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino; another 100K super high roller at @ARIA Resort & Casino; and, of course, the @Barriere Poker Tour Lille, which was preceded by a fun promotional contest here on RankingHero, won by our own @Jason Matthieu. 

RankingHero is happy to welcome Campok  - the only social poker app with webcam - and our members have begun enjoying the application! Special thanks to all of our betatesters who have been posting screenshots and feedback on #CampokOnRKHbetatest, @Cuanardo @David Maller and @Eric Pineau to mention just a few! Good luck and lots of fun in the exclusive NoMercyMaking Tournament tonight at 21h with @Isabelle Mercier :)

In other news, Bruno Fitoussi has made the Poker Hall of Fame short list of 2014 #PokerHOF candidates, thanks in part to the enthusiastic support and active voting by our community!

If you miss the bright early years of the Moneymaker Era and love #womenINpoker you'll enjoy this flashback to 2004 Ladies Event Final Table and Annie Duke in Tournament of Champions.

You can help bring back poker into mainstream television by voicing your support for the pilot episode of Underground Poker on Discovery, with Antonio Esfandiari and Phil Laak!

Warm welcome to our new members @Matthias de Meulder @Alberto Fiorilla @Patrick Legrand @George Athanasiou and many, many others who have joined our ranks this week. Good luck to @Sylvain Ribes 'Artplay' and the 2nd edition of his e-book, "Le Poker Apprivoisé". Hopefully, he'll  publish some extracts and tips for our members?..

All the best and looking forward to seeing you on Facebook, as well!

Yours truly,

@Annie RKH 

#RKHweekly 

Daniel Negreanu on HOF Candidate Bruno Fitoussi: He was instrumental in poker becoming more of a global game

RankingHero members have every reason to be proud of their contribution to the nomination of @Bruno Fitoussi for induction to Poker Hall of Fame! The community was actively involved in the public voting campaign, in social media, and of course, here, on RankingHero, with the special summer mission #M4TheKing, asking entrants to post their three reasons for voting for Bruno to #PokerHOF. 

The shortlisted candidates have now been announced:

As announced on WSOP.com: 

The above list of names will be submitted to the 21 living Hall of Fame members and a 20-person media panel later this month for voting. Only these 41 individuals cast votes for induction.

The criteria they will consider in their vote are as follows:
• A player must have played poker against acknowledged top competition
• Be a minimum of 40 years old at time of nomination
• Played for high stakes
• Played consistently well, gaining the respect of peers
• Stood the test of time
• Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

The 2014 Class of the Poker Hall of Fame will be inducted as part of the World Series of Poker Main Event final table festivities at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during a special dinner and induction held Sunday, November 9.

Bruno Fitoussi might well become the first European to join the ranks of some of the greatest players and influencers in poker history! There is little one can add to what Negreanu has written about Bruno in his latest HOF blog:

"He [Bruno Fitoussi] qualifies on all the criteria, but mostly it's his contribution as a pioneer in spreading the game globally and getting Americans to make the trip over to Paris before the inception of The World Poker Tour. He was instrumental in poker becoming more of a global game."

European Poker Community Rallies Behind Bruno Fitoussi to Poker Hall of Fame

@Bruno Fitoussi 'The King' is a living legend in France where he is honored as one of the 'founding fathers of poker' in the country and has been a role model and inspiration for players of all generations. But he is also among the first - and rare - Europeans to build a reputation for himself and gain the respect and admiration of American players, as well. 

In a recent interview, Daniel Negreanu urged for 'de-Americanization' of this institution of poker and named @Bruno Fitoussi as the worthy European HOF candidate: 

Question: If you could change just one thing about the Poker Hall of Fame, what would it be?

Negreanu: Well, it’s way too American-centric. The Hall of Fame should reflect the growth of the game and the influence of other players, like overseas. So many people have done so much.

Question: So give us a name or two of people from overseas who you think deserve to be in the Poker Hall of Fame?

Negreanu: Easy. Bruno Fitoussi is the first. He’s done so much in France and all over Europe for poker. Everyone loves Bruno and respects him. He was one of the first people to bring Americans over to Paris to see the poker scene there.

If you, too, think it's time to induct a European in the Poker Hall of Fame, you have until the end of this week to vote and nominate Bruno Fitoussi. 

After the 15th of August, "all submissions will be tabulated and the top 10 nominations will be reviewed by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council. The existing Poker Hall of Fame members and a blue ribbon media panel will then cast votes of the final list of nominees to determine the class of 2014".

You can now participate in the RankingHero #M4TheKing mission and give your own three reasons for nominating Fitoussi for #PokerHOF (switch your language settings to 'Francais' if you want to see the submissions by our French-speaking members :)

Meanwhile, watch Bruno move up to a runner-up finish (repeatedly enraging and eliminating Phil Hellmuth in the process :) at the WSOP 2007 H.O.R.S.E. Championship - arguably the toughest and most prestigious tournament in the world:

 WSOP 2007 H.O.R.S.E, Episodes 1-6

Public Nominations for Poker Hall of Fame Open Till August 15

VOTE for Bruno here

5 Reasons Why I Voted for Daniel Negreanu in Poker Hall of Fame

#PokerHOF

As much as I love #womenINpoker  and would be happy to see @Jennifer Harman in Poker Hall of Fame, we are only allowed one nomination and I cast my vote for  @Daniel Negreanu :

1. Because he is a model ambassador for poker
2. Because of the sportsmanship and respect for opponents, fans, and media that he promotes and PRACTICES
3. Because of his friendly and entertaining presence at the tables and in social media
4. Because of his amazing and consistent success in live poker
5. Because he just turned 40 and is finally eligible :)

Join Daniel Negreanu to Poker Hall of Fame N.O.W.!!! on Facebook if you agree :)

Now that I think of it, Negreanu would win my vote even in Santa elections :) 

Public Nominations for Poker Hall of Fame Open Till August 15

The WSOP has declared open the process of public nominations for 2014 Poker Hall of Fame inductees:

Nominations will be accepted online and fans are encouraged to participate by submitting their nominee along with a brief explanation. All submissions will be tabulated and the top 10 nominations will be reviewed by the Poker Hall of Fame Governing Council. The existing Poker Hall of Fame members and a blue ribbon media panel will then cast votes of the final list of nominees to determine the class of 2014.

The Poker Hall of Fame was founded in 1979 by @Benny Binion and only 46 people have been inducted to date. Public voting was introduced in 2009 and, following the nomination of @Tom Dwan (then 23 years old), an age restriction was adopted in 2011. According to what is now known as the "Chip Reese rule", inductees must be at  least 40 years old, which makes @Daniel Negreanu eligible for the first time this year. (The late @David 'Chip' Rees was 40 years old when he was inducted as the youngest Hall of Fame member).

Other requirements include:

A gambler must have played poker against acknowledged top competition,
Played for high stakes,
Played consistently well, gained the respect of peers,
And stood the test of time.
Or, for non-players, contributed to the overall growth and success of the game of poker, with indelible positive and lasting results.

Last year's nominees and inductees:

@Tom McEvoy and @Thuan B. "Scotty" Nguyen were the two players selected last year. The other nominees were: @Chris Bjorin @Humberto Brenes @David Chiu @Thor Hansen @Jennifer Harman @Mike Matusow  @Carlos Mortensen @Huck Seed.

You can vote until August 15th. Who would you like to see inducted in Poker Hall of Fame? #PokerHOF