The new future of poker after its recognition as a mental sport

Last week, during the celebration of the BSOP Millionsin Sao Paulo, the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) made official the inclusion of poker in its list of mind sports.

This is a very important step that can radically change the poker ecosystem. From now on, poker has the same status as sports such as chess, bridge, go or mahjong.

To reach this point, it has had a lot to do with the World Poker Federation which was born in Brazil and came to give the final shape to a struggle of more than 20 years. The WPF, which in turn groups federations from more than 45 countries, worked hard to achieve this accomplishment. Its president, Igor Trafane acknowledged that “This recognition represents a new era for poker globally. It means the opening of markets and the possibility of expanding the sport with a solid and regulated structure. Poker is now legitimized worldwide, which allows new countries to see the game from an intellectual sport perspective, providing more opportunities and security for athletes and organizations.

Igor Trafane Federal

After this recognition, WPF is already setting itself new challenges. “Our next step is to to consolidate a global sports structure for pokerwith standardized international regulations and competitions, expanding the acceptance and practice of poker as a mind sport in more countries,” he said.

Finally, as published by our colleagues at codepoker, Igor Trafane is clear about what would be the biggest scenario for poker in this new era. “We see in the future a World Cup of nations, where teams compete and their players can shine on a global stage. Such a prestigious event will give poker and its players even more visibility, attract media attention and increase the interest of brands as potential sponsors. With the development of poker’s sporting structure, with official rules, regulations and competitions, we are driving the creation of idols, recognition of great players and nations worldwide.”