Home / Poker News October 2012 / Poker HoF – “Sailor” Roberts and Eric Drache to be Inducted
Poker HoF – “Sailor” Roberts and Eric Drache to be Inducted
Posted by: James Carter. - Fri, 2012-10-19 11:01
The intricate 2012 Poker Hall of Fame process has finally worked down to what will amount to the “Class of 2012”. After the public had nominated a number of players and after a special panel – one consisting of actual HoF members among others – had reached a decision, the two players to be inducted into the Poker hall of Fame this year have been announced: Eric Drache and Brian “Sailor” Roberts.
The decision was a rather surprising one for many, among them for one of the actual recipients of the honor too: in a post-announcement interview, Drache said he was not only surprised by the panel’s pick, but also a tad embarrassed, given the fact that there were some pretty high-profile names among the nominees indeed.
Although he was one of the actual founders of the Hall of Fame, Drache said he had never considered himself a potential inductee.
Drache also said he was extremely happy for “Sailor” Roberts’ family.
Although most of today’s “
online poker age” players probably know nothing about Drache, he was an accomplished professional back in the days when WSOP Main Events didn’t attract tens of thousands of participants. He made 5 WSOP final tables. He was an industry insider too: between 1973 and 1988, he was the WSOP’s tournament director. He is credited with the invention of the satellites and he was the manager of many a famous brick and mortar card-room in Vegas.
Sailor Roberts on the other hand won the 1975 WSOP Main Event, and he was a member of the Texas Road Gamblers, together with Doyle Brunson and “Amarillo Slim” Preston. The actual induction ceremony will take place on October 30.
