Poker and Chess: Mind Sports in the Isle of Man
Today, 18 players had a chance to take on Mickey Adams, the top UK Grandmaster, in the Villa Marina, while the PokerStars UKIPT Main Event continued next door. The twist – they were all playing simultaneously (black against his white). After just under two and a half hours, Adams had won his 17th game and drawn with the 18th (Alan Ormsby) and had begun to look ahead to tonight’s Combined Chess and Hold’em tournament.
Amongst his opponents were Baard Dahl, winner of last year’s combined event, and PokerStars Team Pro Fatima Moreira de Melo. The amateurs and more advanced players alike agreed that it was “great to have a chance to play against such an experienced opponent and learn from him,” and although Adams doesn’t play simultaneous matches more than about once a year, remembers playing “on the other side” when he was 10 or 11 years old.
“You never know where it might lead,” said Adams, as he contemplated taking his chances as the amateur in the poker half of tonight’s event. “I’m hoping to get quite a lot of points in the chess – or I’ll be in trouble!” Adams, fresh from the Chess World Cup in Baku, will take on up to 39 opponents this evening - not, however, at the same time.
The £150 + £15 Combined Chess and No Limit Hold’em tournament will also see PokerStars Mind Sports Ambassador Jennifer Shahade step in to the ring, starting with six games of chess (beginning at 6pm) and progressing to poker, with 7,000 initial starting chips – upped by points earned in the chess round.
The UKIPT5 Isle of Man stop coincides with the PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament which runs from October 2-11 here in Douglas.