Before the poker bus pulls up to Day 2 of the Aussie Millions, it’s traditional to stop at the stop called ‘The Australian Poker Hall of Fame.’
2020, right on cue, that’s what happened.
The Australian Poker Hall of Fame, or APHoF for people who have to type it out ten times in a 758-word article, first bust out the lingerie and high heels in 2009.
The creators called the first two inductees’ Legends’, and one of them – the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Champion, Joe Hachem – took to the stage at the Crown Casino in Melbourne to induct a pair of beauties.
Joining Hachem were fellow APHoF members David Gorr, Billy’ The Croc’ Argyros, Tony G and Grant Levy. A quick pout and selfie later, and Lynn Gilmartin joined them as the first inductee.
“I’ve known this little girl since she started working here at the Crown,” Hachem told the crowd. “She never walks around without a smile on her face. She loves poker, she loves people, and she’s just an amazing human being and a credit to us all in poker.”
Gilmartin’s poker career began at the Crown Casino where she worked in the marketing department before going on to work for PokerNews. It was during her tenure at PokerNews that Adam Pliska hired her to host the World Poker Tour (WPT) Alpha8 Super High Roller series, and it turned into a full-time job. Gilmartin currently acts as the anchor for the WPT TV show and is the second female to be inducted into the APHoF after Marsha Waggoner.
“My commitment has been to shine a spotlight on this industry, this game and the players within it,” Gilmartin said after receiving her accolade. “It’s been a privilege. I have so much admiration for this game and for all of you who either play this for a living or just for fun. To receive this award means the world to me, and I’m just so very grateful.”
The second person to receive that Superbowl Sunday feeling was an Australian currently enjoying his role as an End Boss.
“I’ve been playing with this young man for many years, and I can honestly say I’ve given him more bad beats than he’s given me,” Hachem said. “He plays PLO, he plays hold ’em and he travels the world. He’s been on a tear for the last three years and won two bracelets in Europe this year. Give it up for Kahle Burns.”
Burns has had an incredible 12-months, earning $4.4m in 2019 alone, including wins in Melbourne, partypoker MILLIONS, The Poker Masters and two WSOP bracelets. Burns earned those slivers of gold in Rozvadov, during the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE), winning the €2,500 Short-Deck and €25,500 No-Limit Hold ’em (NLHE) events.
“I start playing poker at 18 years old,” said Burns. “I was just out of high school, and this is the room where it all started. I dropped out {of school} at 20 years old to take it seriously, and it’s been a fun ride for 12 years. I spent the first half mostly in this room grinding cash, and it’s been cool to see the poker room grow since then.”
Burns needs a trip to Ikea to buy a trophy cabinet. Earlier this year, the Global Poker Index (GPI) anointed him with the title: 2019 GPI Australian PoY.
Michael Addamo Wins The Young Achiever Award
The APHoF also likes to recognise young talent, and this year, the two-time WSOP bracelet winner, Michael Addamo got the nod – and the timing was perfect.
Addamo’s decision to shun the path of least resistance for the poker life bore fruit when in 2018 he won the $2,620 buy-in, 1,637-entrant NLHE Marathon for $653,581, before travelling to Rozvadov for the WSOPE, taking down the €25,500 NLHE High Roller for a further $973,630.
A few days ago, Addamo defeated a record field of 82-entrants to earn his first Aussie Million gold ring in the AUD 50,000 NLHE Challenge for $741,752 and lies third in the All-Time Australian Money List behind Joe Hachem and Kahle Burns.
The Australian Poker Hall of Fame
Joe Hachem
Jeff Lisandro
Billy Argyros
Lee Nelson
Gary Benson
Mel Judah
Tony G
Maurie Pears
Marsha Waggoner
Leo Boxell
Danny McDonagh
David Gorr
Jason Gray
Graeme Putt
Van Marcus
Joe Cabret
Manny Stavropoulos
Grant Levy
Jonathan Karamalikis
Lynn Gilmartin
Kahle Burns