$3.78 Million Won in Poker Series
Published: November 10, 2008
A Brooklyn man who once made his living by playing chess on the streets of New York has won $3.78 million in a national poker tournament.
The player, Ylon Schwartz (FIDE Master – Once rated 2408 USCF), 38, finished fourth at the World Series of Poker’s main event in Las Vegas. He had qualified for the finals by beating more than 6,800 competitors.
Mr. Schwartz, a highly ranked chess player who has been playing poker for several years, started on Sunday in fifth place, based on the number of chips he held. At one point, he took the lead, but was eventually eliminated when he bet all his remaining chips and another player, Peter Eastgate, beat him with a full house.
In an interview afterward on the World Series of Poker Web site, Mr. Schwartz said he was “shocked” that he was eliminated. He added, “I am definitely going to take a break” from gambling.
Source: NY Times
Not sure if articles like this actually help the promotion of chess. Seems like it would just add to players leaving chess if they think they can win millions in poker.
It’s great promotion. If you are good in chess, you will succeed in other activities 😉
WHERE CAN I FIND THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH ACTION THAT WAS PLAYED IN BROWNSVILLE THIS WEEKEND? ITS LIKE THE TOURNAMENT NEVER HAPPENED
Congratulations Ylon! Former NYC chess hustler!
Now I understand why World Class Chess players likes, Etienne Bacrot and Alexander Grischuk also played Poker.
The Prizes is much better (maybe five to ten folds) than chess, while the energy required to win in Poker (I believe) is only about fifty percent less (only if you immersed enough in chess, you will know this).
As we know only higher rated players (above 2700) and some of 2600s will get lucrative invitations, while the rest with rating less than 2500 or even lower will struggle to make ends meet.
Eventualy many of low rated chess players from less known countries with weak organization will lives in Poverty….
or leave chess for a better occupation.
Probably Ylon can donate now some money for Kamsky-Topalov Match to be held at the USA?