Poker officially added to list of mind sports
The International Mind Sports Association has officially recognized poker as a mind sport, following years of advocacy from the World Poker Federation, representing over 45 national federations. Poker now joins the list that features the likes of bridge, chess and draughts.
“We have achieved something today that is both unprecedented and definitive,” WPF president Igor Trafane was quoted as saying. ”Our mission now is to build the foundation that every major sport already has: standardized regulations, professional pathways, player protections, and international competitions.”
The development comes after a provisional membership was granted to the WPF in December 2022. Over the following two years, the federation promoted poker’s development as a strategic discipline.
The event received support from major poker institutions globally, including online poker cardroom PokerStars.
