SA POKER HALL OF FAME
Acknowledging the legends of the game.
The SA Poker Hall of Fame acknowledges major contributors to poker in South Australia. The Hall of Fame awards are held annually alongside the SA Poker Awards.
CLASS OF 2024
Allan Rye
Allan has been a major part of the SA Poker scene for many years. In 2010 he won a $20,000 package to the WSOP.
He won the Adelaide Poker Championship in 2012 for $37,430. He has also won a MatchrooM Main Event for over $40,000. He has been heavily involved in poker at the Maylands and the MatchrooM and has trained many dealers over the years.
Joe Sandaev
Joe has had outstanding results at poker over many years, but particularly over the last 2 years in major Australian tournaments. He has accumulated more than $1million in tournament winnings, including:
- 1st in the $1600 Deepstacks at Stacked for $71,000;
- 1st in the $2200 Stacked Championship for $75,000; and
- 1st in the $2500 WPT for $117,000; and
- 1st in the WPT for $296,000.
Jon Stark
Jon has played poker in SA and around the world over the last 50+ years.
He has played on every continent and all the world’s major oceans. He has written the Jon Stark Poker Shark blog since 2018. He has played and won 3 out of 3 ‘win a cruise’ poker tournaments. Jon published his book ‘Poker World’ in 2022. He has hosted many poker events in SA and has won numerous mid tier titles both live and on line.
CLASS OF 2023
John Kocbek
John was a member of staff at Australia’s first casino, Wrest Point, in Tasmania. He was selected to start poker at the Adelaide Casino where he ran the poker room for many years. He also started the poker at the Canberra Casino. He ran home games all over the world and also ran the poker room at casinos in Russia for more than ten years. He has now re-settled in Adelaide.
Emanuel ‘Curly’ Seal
Curly has notched up official tournament winnings of over $US700,000 which is the equivalent of more than $AUS1 million. His major cashes have included 2nd in the ANZPT 5k Challenge in Sydney for $175,000, 3rd in the Macau Cup for $34,000, 25th in the Aussie Millions Main Event for $35,000, 8th in the WPT Main Event for $80,000 and 10th in the Aussie millions Main Event for $120,000
Fred Chaptini
Fred has been an invaluable member of the successful SA Poker scene for many years. As a key driving force behind The MatchrooM, Fred has played a pivotal role in their achievements. In addition, he has consistently delivered impressive results at the poker tables, further solidifying his position as an integral part of the triumphant team.
Fred was a member of the Australian Poker Association in Adelaide. He was heavily involved in the Winston Ave games. He was Captain of the SA State of Origin Poker team that won back to back national titles. Among his impressive cashes was a 16th in the Aussie Millions Main Event for $75,000 as well as a 3rd in a side event.
CLASS OF 2022
David Galpin (d)
David ran the poker room at the Adelaide Casino for more than 20 years. He hosted the ANZPT and trained a generation of dealers and tournament directors.
Jarred Grahem
Jarred honed his craft in Adelaide before taking on the world. With a 1st in the PLO at the WSOP he had amassed $US1.7million in live earnings at the time of his induction.
Jonathan Karamalikis
Jonathan burst onto the online poker scene very early and then took on the world. With almost $US5million in live earnings at the time of induction, Jonathan was ranked 6th on the all-time Aussie winnings list.
James Obst
James is another Adelaide success story who made his start in online poker. He has a WSOP title (Razz) under his belt and cashed 13th in the WSOP Main Event for more than $US400,000
Joe Reina
Joe is an Adelaide poker player who has played poker at all levels his entire adult life. He has played poker across Australia with many Aussie household names and captains of industry.
Jeffrey Rossiter
Jeffrey’s most significant cash was more than $3million in the Guang Dong Asia Millions. He ranked 4th on the all time Aussie winners list at the time of his induction.
Lindsay Thompson
Lindsay, now in his 80’s, has played poker his entire adult life mainly here in SA. Known as ‘Lucky Lindsay’, he is equally at home playing Texas, PLO, cash or tournaments.
George Vassilopoulos
George ran the MatchrooM prior to the current owners and has played poker all his adult life in Adelaide, Melbourne and Macau. He helped grow the game and mentor players over many years in SA.
