The dinner break of the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table featured one of the veterans of the game solidifying his place as a legend. World Poker Tour (WPT) Host Mike Sexton became the newest inductee of the Poker Hall of Fame, established in 1979. The gala featured some of poker’s top names, including Phil Hellmuth, Dewey Tomko, and Phil Ivey, who was one of seven players remaining at the Main Event final table.

Tomko told PocketFives.com, “I’m excited for Mike and he definitely deserves it. He’s a good guy who has done a lot for poker. He’s an honest guy and it’s good for people to be honest in the Hall of Fame.” Across the room was Full Tilt Poker pro Howard Lederer, who had descended upon the vegetarian buffet. Lederer explained, “Mike is probably the single most important guy for making the poker boom happen. He’s a very good poker player, but probably wouldn’t have made it into the Poker Hall of Fame just on the poker. He’s a preacher. He was the guy spreading the gospel of poker to make it go mainstream from the mid-90s. By the sheer force and will, he made this thing happen.”
Sitting on stage during the festivities was Jack Binion, a Poker Hall of Fame member who helped popularize the WSOP. Following the induction ceremony, Binion told PocketFives.com, “I think what people don’t realize is how much Mike changed the popularity of poker more than anyone else.” Doyle Brunson (pictured at left), a Poker Hall of Fame member who served as the emcee of ceremonies, also noted of his friend for 35 years, “It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.”

T.J. Cloutier, Brunson, Binion, Tom McEvoy, and WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack spoke during the event before Sexton’s brother, Tom, took to the podium. He kicked off his comments by forecasting, “This is going to be a night to remember.” Tom Sexton recalled his brother attending Ohio State University on a full gymnastics scholarship. His best event, by the way: the trampoline. Sexton also served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and his brother rattled off the new inductee’s list of accolades, which include a WSOP bracelet win in 1989.

The younger Sexton then took to the stage to recognize the other eight Poker Hall of Fame finalists. He began by saluting McEvoy and Dan Harrington, whom he dubbed the “elder statesmen” of the octet. On Barry Greenstein and Erik Seidel, Sexton admitted that other players should aspire to match what the pair has accomplished away from the poker felts. Sexton noted that Scotty Nguyen and Men “The Master” Nguyen are “the godfathers of poker for Vietnamese and Asian players.” Finally, he recognized Daniel Negreanu (pictured at right) and Ivey, whom he noted were shoe-ins for the Poker Hall of Fame in future years.

Over Christmas in 2000, Sexton received a phone call from Ruth Parisol, co-founder of Party Gaming, whom he dubbed one of the most successful women in the history of business. Eight months after the phone call, PartyPoker became a reality and the first ever PartyPoker Million cruise set sail under the guidance of CardPlayer Cruises. The rest, as they say, is history.

Sexton individually recognized Vince Van Patten, his WPT co-host who was also in attendance, noting, “We really do love our jokes and we love poker.” On WPT founder Lyle Berman, Sexton claimed, “Like Steve [Lipscomb], he could understand the vision of poker.” Sexton and the entire living cast of the Poker Hall of Fame then made their way to the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio and took to the stage in front of the 1,000-plus assembled crowd. Sexton gave the ceremonial “Shuffle Up and Deal” command for the nightcap session.

Six players remain in the hunt for the $8.5 million Main Event first place payday as of 3:15am ET following Phil Ivey’s elimination in seventh. Play will continue until two remain, which many are estimating to be around 8:00am ET.