Poker officially recognised as a mind sport

Poker officially recognised as a mind sport

Friday, 30 April 2010

The International Federation of Poker (IFP) celebrated its first birthday yesterday and had extra reason to cheer with the news that poker has officially been recognised as a mind sport on a par with the likes of chess and bridge.

President of the IFP Anthony Holden said that yesterday's decision by the International Mind Sports Association in Dubai represented, “a major milestone in our campaign to have poker accepted throughout the world as a game of strategic skill. Over time, this should help to free poker from much governmental interference and other such unnecessary restrictions all over the globe.”


The Big Deal author added, “I know the whole poker world will now come behind our efforts, not least because it means that poker will be played in the World Mind Sports Games due to take place in the UK alongside the 2012 London Olympics.”


Doyle Brunson, a member of the IFP advisory board said, “The IFP deserves our thanks and congratulations. I believe that history will show this was a key moment for poker. All over the world the game has been faced with governmental controls and other obstacles. Yet it is obvious it calls for qualities and skills that go far beyond a capacity just to take a chance.”


The IFP will formally apply to join SportsAccord (formerly the General Association of International Sports Federations) later today.



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