Hellmuth, Enright inducted in Hall of Fame
By Bob Harkins, MSNBC.com
Posted July 6, 5:15 a.m. ET LAS VEGAS — Thursday was a busy day at the World Series of Poker. Players scrambled to enter satellites in hopes of winning a seat to the main event. Celebrities and poker pros raised money to fight the humanitarian crisis in Darfur by playing in the $5,000 buy-in "Ante up for Africa" tournament. Somewhat lost in the shuffle was the induction of Phil Hellmuth and Barbara Enright into the WSOP Hall of Fame. Hellmuth is well-known for his sometimes immature actions at the table, but his skills are undisputed. At age 42 (he turns 43 on the 16th) he holds WSOP records for most bracelets (11) and is tied for most final tables 39. | |
Clearly aware of his image, Hellmuth pretended to berate WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.
"Why wasn't I inducted in my 20s, or 30s?" he joked.
While Hellmuth stole the show, Enright, 57, quietly became the first woman inducted.
"I'm still pinching myself," she said. "I knew about it for a month, but it's still unbelievable. It's the greatest honor you can achieve. It's like an actor getting an Oscar."
It's been a long journey for Enright, who started playing poker 31 years ago in the backroom of a Toluca Lake, Calif., salon where she worked as a stylist. From there it was casino games in Gardena, where she did well enough that people started suggesting she head to Las Vegas and play in the women's event at the World Series of Poker.
It wasn't a smooth transition at first, as Enright lost nearly all of her money playing blackjack. She put her last $11 on a horse, figuring if she lost it, she could have a friend wire her some money so she could go home. But the horse won, and suddenly she had enough to buy into a satelllite. A satellite win earned her entry into the ladies tournament, which she also won.
"I won $16,400," she said. "Flashbulbs were going off and I had tears running down my face. I'd never seen that much money in my life."
Nine years later in 1995 she became the first — and still only — woman to make a final table in the main event, finishing fifth. She could have finished even higher if not for a bad beat.
"I think it's nice that they finally recognized a woman," she said. "It shows that we are created equal in poker and it's not just a man's world. I'm thrilled that I'm the first woman that they chose."
And Enright said she was honored to go in with Hellmuth.
"I don't mind sharing it (the spotlight) with Phil," she said. "I like Phil. I've known him for a long time and he's a very likable person.
"I mean he throws these temper tantrums on television, and he loves himself and he loves the time he gets (on TV). But he's really a lovely person."
And has Enright been known to lose her temper?
"Never," she said without hesitation. "It's not my style. Why waist the energy? It's not going to do me any good."
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
- Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM POKER |
 Cosmic Log: Humans beat poker bot ... barely |
| Add Poker headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links