Linda Johnson Inaugural WPT Honors Award Recipient

The World Poker Tour took time during the LAPC Main Event at a private dinner reception to honor Linda Johnson with the inaugural WPT Honors Award for her lifetime of work in the poker and her contributions to the WPT. Johnson, known as the “The First Lady of Poker”, was onscreen with the WPT for the first six seasons as a Studio Commentator.

“We are proud to present Linda Johnson with the inaugural WPT Honors Award,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska. “The award represents WPT’s highest honor and will serve as a lasting tradition that allows us to recognize the most important people in our industry and the WPT’s history.”

“Linda played a unique role in helping shape the World Poker Tour, and she embodies all the WPT stands for,” Pliska said. “In addition to her time with the WPT, Linda’s extraordinary contributions have helped poked globally and her efforts have left lasting impressions that will forever impact our game.”

Johnson was a 2011 inductee to the Poker Hall of Fame after a career that included running CardPlayer Magazine during the 90s, a founding member of the Tournament Director’s Association and sits on the Board of the Poker Players Association.

Johnson was also a charter member of the Women in Poker Hall of Fame alongside Barbara Enright, Marsha Waggoner and Susie Isaacs. She helped start the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) all while she took time to play, winning a WSOP bracelet in 1997.

According to the WPT, the WPT Honors Award is the WPT’s highest honor, awarded to members of the poker industry in celebration and appreciation of exceptional contributions made to the World Poker Tour and the poker community as a whole. The WPT Honors Award is to be presented as determined by Adam Pliska and the WPT, given in recognition to those who distinguish themselves by excellence and dedication beyond expectations, with Ms. Linda Johnson named as the first recipient of many.