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The list of finalists for the Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2011 has been announced.

Who will be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2011?

The finalists are as follows:

• Scotty Nguyen
• Huck Seed
• Tom McEvoy
• Barry Greenstein
• Jack McClelland
• Annie Duke
• John Juanda
• Linda Johnson
• Jennifer Harman-Traniello
• Marcel Luske

Over the next two days, I’ll give you my thoughts on the finalists and their chances of making the Hall of Fame this year.

Scotty Nguyen – I personally love Scotty, baby. He has five WSOP bracelet wins, including both the WSOP Main Event and $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship.

In addition, he has 1 WPT title to his credit. $11 million in lifetime tournament earnings is a strong argument from the tournament side, but he has admitted himself he doesn’t play that many cash games anymore.

Also, many still look down on him due to his past behavior at the tables.

Prediction – Scotty does not get in this year.

Huck Seed – Seed has an impressive resume that includes 4 WSOP bracelets and the 2009 NBC National Heads-up Championship.

He won the 1996 Main Event and has been successful in high stakes games. While he has a lot of respect in the poker world, I don’t know if he has earned enough to convince enough of the panel to vote him in over other stronger candidates.

Prediction – Seed doesn’t get planted in the Hall of Fame.

Tom McEvoy – There is only one person on the finalists list that I would put McEvoy above this year. I give him all the credit in the world for winning the 1983 WSOP Main Event and 4 bracelets.

Also, his books have taught Millions how to improve their game. I just feel that other candidates deserve to get in before McEvoy. Chances are that many on the panel will as well.

Prediction – McEvoy has to wait until a weaker class is posted to have a realistic shot.

Barry Greenstein – Barry in my opinion should have been inducted last year if Ivey was not. He has been on my top 3 to make it in the last two years.

This year, I think that he gets in. Three bracelets, two WPT titles, $7 million in live winnings, and who knows what he has won in high stakes games. This is Barry’s year.

Prediction – Barry Greenstein finally gets voted into the Hall of Fame.

Jack McClelland – I won’t pretend to know all that there is to know about Jack, but suffice it to say that he was the precursor to the likes of Jack Effel and Matt Savage.

He ran the World Series of Poker for 15 years and is one of the most respected tournament directors in the game. With that said, I don’t see him getting in on this ballot, especially when Johnson and McEvoy have made the list for two years running.

I think Jack will be inducted someday, but not this year.

Prediction – Jack has to wait a couple of years before he gets the call.

Tomorrow I’ll give you my thoughts on the remaining list, including the other person I think will make the Hall of Fame.

There’s a 60% chance my pick will be a woman.