Chan: “Poker Hall of Fame Illegitimate Until Scheinberg Inducted”

Poker pro Terrence Chan believes the man who created PokerStars — Isai Scheinberg — should be in the Poker Hall of Fame.

Earlier this week the WSOP asked poker fans on Twitter who should be considered for the Poker Hall of Fame this year. Chan responded: “Isai Scheinberg. Do I have to explain this to you guys every year?”

Chan is asking everyone who feels the same way to cast their vote for Scheinberg on the WSOP’s Poker Hall of Fame online ballot page or Tweet to the WSOP about his exclusion.

Scheinberg Introduced More Players to Poker Than Anyone

Chan, who helped build PokerStars’ software in the early stages of the company, explained to PokerListings why Isai Scheinberg deserves to be in the Poker Hall of Fame:

Terrence Chan

It should be patently clear that no one in the recent history of poker has had more impact on the game than Isai Scheinberg. Through the creation of his company, he introduced more players to poker than anyone alive, and ushered a period of growth in the 2000s that was unmatched in poker history.

One need only look at the WSOP fields and prize pools to know that the world before online poker was but a shell of what it is today, and PokerStars was the unquestionable leader of the online poker industry, raising the bar so high that while literally hundreds of attempts have been made to recreate its success, no one has really come close.

There have been other promoters, innovators and industry people who have contributed to the growth of poker, and their contributions are recognized in the PHOF. Isai's accomplishments dwarf them all by comparison. His contribution to the game of poker is arguably bigger than that of everyone in the PHOF *combined*, and there can be no legitimacy for the PHOF until he is included.

The WSOP, whose owner Caesars Entertainment more or less competes with PokerStars, has taken criticism in the past for not acknowledging Scheinberg.

WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart finally addressed the criticism last year saying he thinks Scheinberg will get in someday but because he can’t enter the country to accept the award it’s difficult.