Daniel Negreanu and Jack McClelland Are 2014 Poker Hall of Fame Class

October 23rd, 2014 | by Jason Reynolds

Daniel Negreanu, along with Jack McClelland, is one of the Â inductees for the 2014 Poker Hall of Fame class. (Image: WSOP)

Daniel Negreanu and Jack McClelland have been announced as the inductees for the 2014 class of the Poker Hall of Fame, making the two men the 47th and 48th members of the exclusive club.

They will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, November 9 as part of the ceremonies surrounding the November Nine at Binion’s Gambling Hall in downtown Las Vegas, the original home of the World Series of Poker.

While the two inductees are both worthy members of the Hall of Fame, they arrived at this destination through very different routes. One is one of the greatest poker players of the modern era, while the other was one of the most influential tournament directors and poker room managers over the past 40 years.

“Congratulations to the newest members of the Poker Hall of Fame,” said Ty Stewart, one of the members of the organization’s governing council. “While a contrast in styles, there is a common thread between these two deserving nominees. Both live all-in on poker and have devoted their full hearts to the game.”

Negreanu An Easy Choice

In the case of Negreanu, his exploits at the poker table have made him a household name even beyond the poker community. Known as “Kid Poker,” the Canadian superstar is the all-time leader in live tournament poker winnings, having earned nearly $29.8 million over the course of his career. Among his many accomplishments are six WSOP bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles. He has also been one of the top ambassadors for the game of poker, and has been outspoken on many issues impacting the game over the course of his career.

“It’s an honor to be inducted alongside so many great players that have come before me,” Negreanu said. “An even bigger honor to be recognized at age 40, the same age as the legend Chip Reese. Thank you to the living members of the Poker Hall of Fame and those on the Blue Ribbon Media Panel that voted for me.”

McClelland: Tournament Director Par Excellence

While Jack McClelland played poker from time to time, that’s not what is landing him in the Hall of Fame. McClelland is one of the world’s most respected tournament directors and operations managers, having been working with some of the major events and in some of the most influential poker rooms in the world for several decades. In the 1980s, he was the tournament director of the WSOP, and would later run the Bellagio poker room in Las Vegas from 2002 to 2013.

“Being inducted into the Class of 2014 Poker Hall of Fame is a very exciting prospect and I am sure it will be a very humbling experience,” McClelland said. “I thank everyone involved in this process and to the WSOP, WPT and all of the great people I have met and the wonderful people I have worked with throughout the years. Thank you for bestowing this honor upon me. I am very grateful.”

Traditionally, the Poker Hall of Fame has inducted up to two members each year after a public nomination process and voting by HOF members, along with selected members of the poker media. Other individuals who were finalists for nomination this year included Ted Forrest, Jennifer Harman, Huck Seed and Humberto Brenes.