Online Poker

October 15, 2009

PartyPoker ambassador and voice of the World Poker Tour, Mike Sexton, has been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.

In a strange turn of events, Sexton was the only inductee for 2009, after the selection panel decided to snub all-time leading money winner Daniel Negreanu, Erik Seidel, Barry Greenstein, and seven-time bracelet-winner Phil Ivey. The panel was made up of 30 members: 15 Hall of Fame members, and 15 media representatives. The decision to name Sexton as the sole inductee was passed with him being the only nominee to receive the necessary 75% approval.

“It’s a nice honor,” said Sexton from London.

“It really feels great. I'm truly flattered. Being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame is about more than winning a tournament or having a good year. Essentially it is about having your career evaluated, being appreciated for what you've accomplished and what you've done for poker.”

And Sexton certainly has accomplished a lot in his prestigious career. Enlisted in the army in his younger years, Sexton left the armed forces to play poker professionally in 1977. Twelve years and plenty of wins later, he won his first and only World Series of Poker bracelet in the $1,500 Seven-card Stud Split event.

In his poker career that has spanned more than 30 years, Sexton has earned over $3,700,000.00 in total tournament winnings, and has 45 money finishes in the World Series of Poker alone.

“The fact that, for the first time, this was a process that involved the fans, the media and the living members of the Hall of Fame is what makes this very special to me. That they consider me worthy of induction into this exclusive club is the most precious thing.”

Despite his popularity on the poker circuit, Sexton is perhaps best known as a World Poker Tour analyst and PartyPoker pro.

“As long as I'm alive and healthy and I can walk back and forth from the tournament area, I'll still be playing, it doesn't matter how old I get,” he said.

“I still enjoy playing and now I feel like when I play poker, I'll be carrying the torch for all the Hall of Famers.”