The nominees for the 2026 Poker Hall of Fame has been released.
The World Series of Poker, which owns the Poker Hall of Fame, changed the rules this year so it’s possible more than one person will make the cut. It’s in the hands of current members. If a players get more than two-thirds of a vote, they’re in. If no member receives at least two-thirds vote, whoever has the highest vote total will be the lone inductee for 2026.
The new member or members will be announced sometime during the WSOP Main Event final table broadcast on ESPN Aug 3-5.
Here are the nominees.
Shaun Deeb
Shaun Deeb makes the shortlist a few months after he turned 40, which is the cut-off age. The eight-time WSOP bracelet winner is also captured the WSOP Player of the Year honor twice, in 2018 and again in 2025.
Scott Seiver
Scott Seiver made the short-list last year, which was the first time the 41-year-old was eligible, and for good reason: His accomplishments include seven WSOP bracelets and numerous titles across the world’s most prestigious poker series, helping him accrue millions of dollars in live tournament earnings.
Jason Koon
Jason Koon would have made the short-list last year, but his 40th birthday came in August, making this his first year of eligibility. He may come up short with WSOP bracelets, but his real work comes on the nose-bleed high stakes poker tour where he booked more than $77 million in tournament cashes, which puts him third on Hendon Mob’s all-time list.
Isaac Haxton
It’s also Issac Haxton’s first year of eligibility, who has been a regular on the high stakes poker tournament circuit since he finished as runner-up in the 2007 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Since then, he’s accumulated more than $65 million playing tournament poker, good for seventh on the all-time list.
Justin Bonomo
This is also Justin Bonomo’s first year of eligibility since he turned 40 last fall. And like Haxton, he also has more than $65 million in tournament cashes. His biggest came in 2018, when he won the $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop for $10 million.
Mike Matusow
One of the most recognizable players during the early 2000s, Mike “the Mouth” Matusow has made the short list for the 12th time. His four WSOP bracelets put him in a 40-way time for 49th on the WSOP bracelet list.
Chris Moorman
Chris Moorman also is nominated in the first year he turned 40. One of the most accomplished online poker players in history and a highly successful live tournament competitor, he won more than $15 million online since he won $70 in a freeroll. He’s the third Brit to be nominated, and if inducted, would join countrymen Dave “Devilfosh” Ulliott and Edmond Hoyle as members.
Isai Scheinberg
Isai Scheinberg is a pioneering figure in the poker industry whose impact extends far beyond the poker table. A former software engineer and entrepreneur, Scheinberg is best known as the founder of PokerStars, the online poker platform that helped transform the game into a global phenomenon. Under his leadership, PokerStars became the world’s largest online poker site and played a central role in fueling the Poker Boom of the 2000s. His innovations expanded access to the game for millions of players worldwide. Scheinberg’s lasting influence has made him one of the most important figures in poker history.
And remember this: He helped make a lot of the current Poker Hall of Fame members a whole lot of money.
