Match Poker recognised by Olympic Association
The International Federation of Match Poker reveals the game has become a Global Association of International Sports Federations Observer.
The International Federation of Poker has changed its name to the International Federation of Match Poker (IFMP) and in doing so its President, Patrick Nally, has announced that is has become a Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) Observer.
Because poker is a game consisting of elements of both skill and chance, it has continuously been ruled out as a mind sport but, with the emergence of Match Poker and now, with the validity offered by the GAISF, it has even been accepted by the Olympic Association.
In February, the Sicilian Match Poker Championships took place and next month the world’s first professional league will begin in India where eight teams made up of eight players will challenge for the $225,000 first prize. The winner of the Match Indian Poker League will then represent India in the Match Poker World Cup.
What is Match Poker?
So it came to pass that GAISF appointed its first observer federations and Match Poker steps into the limelight! https://t.co/05p2SNG3qU
— Patrick Nally (@patrick_nally) October 3, 2017
Match Poker has been developed by the IFMP as a team sport. Here, the element of chance, chiefly found in the dealing of the cards, has been removed as has all gambling meaning the sport is available to players of all ages worldwide.
Players are divided onto different tables where one player from each team, each playing on a specially IFMP developed mobile device, takes a different seat at the table before being dealt the exact same hole cards as their rivals occupying the same spot at the tables elsewhere. With all community cards matching across the tables, all matching seated players are holding the same.
All players are given even chips which are then added up per team after every hand before points are awarded to each team as a whole. At the end of the contest, team with the most points wins.
Is this development the next logical step for the game? Let us know in the comments:
