Koon, Scheinberg, Moorman Named Finalists for Poker Hall of Fame Induction in 2026

Who Made It Into the TOP-8 Nominees?

After initially reviewing all the nominations received by the WSOP, eliminating ineligible players, and calculating the frequency of submissions, the eight most popular players were announced as finalists.

Isai Scheinberg

Isai is the “father” of PokerStars and a true industry legend, who will be in his ninth decade in 2026, became a finalist of the Poker Hall of Fame race for the seventh time in his career.

Despite his colossal influence on industry, Isai not only remains elusive in the Hall of Fame, but he hasn’t even received any awards recognizing his achievements, save perhaps for the Outstanding Contribution Award at IGA 2022.

Jason Koon

Jason is not only the record holder for most Triton Poker titles and one of the most successful live tournament poker players but also a man with one of the cleanest reputations in the industry.

Koon didn’t reach the age that makes him eligible for nomination to the Poker Hall of Fame until August 2025, when the nominations and voting had already closed, so his nomination and appearance in the 2026 final are the first in his career.

Chris Moorman

Chris is another legendary player in the industry, but this time from online poker. Moorman is known as one of the pioneers of online grinding, the author of several groundbreaking books on poker theory and strategy, and a zealous advocate of the game who actively contributes to its popularization.

Like Koon, he didn’t reach the Poker Hall of Fame induction age until the summer of 2025, so his official nomination and reaching the final in 2026 are the first of his career as well.

Isaac Haxton

Isaac is a true poker grinding machine who has been winning titles time and time again at various events for decades.

His consistency in the game and his success have earned him legendary status in the community, and his integrity has earned him respect and reputation within the industry.

Haxton also has not previously been nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame, as he did not turn 40 until September 2025.

Scott Seiver

Scott is one of those quietly successful players who is well known in the community and has a clean reputation, while rarely making waves in the public space.

In 2025, Seiver was already a finalist for the Poker Hall of Fame — he was nominated immediately after turning 40 and entered the race with good chances, but lost to the more socially active Nick Schulman and the man-sensation Michael Mizrachi.

Shaun Deeb

Shaun is discussed so often in the media and community that a significant portion of the community has the impression that he, like Phil Hellmuth, has always been a part of it.

In reality, he only turned 40 in 2026 — and being a successful, inspiring, and generally beloved player in the community, Deeb was immediately nominated for inclusion in the Poker Hall of Fame and made it to the final round.

Mike Matusow

Mike is a poker legend with a career spanning over 30 years who is known in poker not only for his success until the mid-2010s, but also for his charisma and specific behavior, which earned him the nickname The Mouth.

In 2026, Matusow is trying to get into the Poker Hall of Fame for the twelfth time in a row.

Justin Bonomo

Justin is perhaps the most controversial finalist in the 2026 Top 8. He was once the youngest finalist in EPT history and was considered one of the most successful online and live regulars, but was later caught using multiple accounts and publicly admitted it.

Throughout his career, he has repeatedly sparked controversy with his political statements and personal life. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the poker community considered him a suitable candidate for induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2026, the year after he reaches the eligible age.

When Will the 2026 Members of the Poker Hall of Fame Be Chosen?

Until the end of July 2026, the 33 current members of the Poker Hall of Fame will distribute their four votes each among the finalists.

If a player receives 2/3 of all votes — he will be automatically included in the Hall. If no such player is present, the person with a simple majority of votes will become a member of the  PHoF.

In 2026, the Poker Hall of Fame can accept up to six people, so in the best-case scenario, only two of the top eight will miss out.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during the WSOP Main Event final table from August 3rd to 5th, 2026, and will be broadcast on ESPN.