Eric Drache and Brian ‘Sailor’ Roberts Inducted Into Poker Hall of Fame
The Poker Hall of Fame has inducted two new members: Eric Drache and Brian “Sailor” Roberts. They become the 43rd and 44th members, respectively.
The pair were nominated by the public with a final decision made by a 36-person panel made up of existing Poker Hall of Famers along with members of the media.
Roberts won the World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em World Championship in 1975. He was one of three members of the “Texas Road Gamblers” that also included the late Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson. Roberts passed away in 1995.
Drache served as the World Series of Poker's tournament director from 1973 to 1988. He developed the satellite concept that award seats, as opposed to money, for smaller buy-in games. He has served as a consultant for various poker media projects.
"I'm not only surprised and honored to have been selected," Drache said. "When Jack Binion and I worked on creating the Hall of Fame, I never considered myself a potential candidate. I'm particularly happy for the family of Sailor Roberts. Sailor by everyone's account, including my own personal observations, was a great player and played many games very well."
Drache and Roberts will be inducted officially at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the lobby of the Penn & Teller Theatre at the Rio just prior to the WSOP Main Event Final kicking off.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
