Eric Drache And “Sailor” Roberts Enter 2012 Poker Hall of Fame

The inventor of satellite tournaments Eric Drache, and old style Texas Road Gambler Brian “Sailor” Roberts (photo) have been chosen to become the 43rd and 44th members of the Poker Hall of Fame. They will officially be inducted at the Rio in Las Vegas on October 30th just before the conclusion of the WSOP Main Event final table.
After leaving the United States Navy, Roberts, who died in 1995, became a ’rounder’ and hooked up with Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim, traveling up and down the US in search of poker games. As hall of famer Crandell Addington explains:
“In a time fifty years ago when poker players relied on luck, Sailor was developing sophisticated strategies that would enable him to make his own luck.”
Outside of being a successful cash game player, Brian “Sailor” Roberts other accolades include winning the 1975 WSOP Main Event for $210,000, and capturing a WSOP bracelet in 1974 at the $5k NL Deuce to Seven Draw for $35,850.
As well as being a successful player, the second inductee, Eric Drache, has also been honoured for his contributions off the felt, not least as the inventor of the satellite tournament. Drache came up with the concept while serving as a WSOP tournament director between 1973 and 1988. However, Drache’s contribution to the game does not end there having worked as a manager and consultant in the industry for many years. Commenting after being told about his Poker Hall of Fame nomination, Eric Drache said:
“I’m not only surprised and honored to have been selected, I’m also a bit embarrassed considering the other nominees. When Jack Binion and myself worked on creating the Hall of Fame, I never considered myself a potential candidate.”
The Poker Hall of Fame was established in 1979 with roughly half its members still alive. Amongst its living legends are such pros as Doyle Brunson (1988),  Johnny Chan (2002), Phil Hellmuth (2007), Erik Seidel (2010) and Barry Greenstein (2011).