New Delhi:
The Poker world is abuzz- Finally, after years of tireless efforts, the game has earned the recognition it deserves! , The World Poker Federation has become the 9th International Federation to Join International Mind Sports Association (IMSA). This happened during the Annual General Assembly in Sao Paolo, Brazil on 16th November 2024. That’s right Poker now sits shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Chess, bridge, and Go-a testament to the strategic thinking, mental ability, and ice-cold composure it demands.
Each person in this photo represents an entire community that has fought for years to have poker recognized as a mind sport. This victory belongs to all of us.
Together, we’ve made history. pic.twitter.com/k1COym9pjs
— WPF – World Poker Federation (@wpf_Poker) November 17, 2024
A Big Milestone Achievement for World Poker
This wasn’t some overnight miracle. The World Poker Federation (WPF), a global network representing 49 national poker federations across five continents, has been battling for years to shatter the stereotypes and that poker is not gambling.
Follow us on Instagram! 📲 https://t.co/6C10fOB87i
— WPF – World Poker Federation (@wpf_Poker) November 17, 2024
The President of WPF Igor Trafane shared his emotions: “We have achieved something today that is both unprecedented and definitive,” he declared. “This recognition represents the dedication of thousands who view poker as a genuine intellectual discipline. It’s an important step in solidifying poker’s status on a global stage.”
Other Member Federations
- World Bridge Federation (WBF) ( Joined in 2005)
- International Draughts Federation (IDF) (Joined in 2005)
- Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) (Joined in 2005)
- International Go Federation (IGF) (Joined in 2005)
- World Xiangqi Federation (WXF) (Joined in 2015)
- Mahjong International League (MIL) (Joined in 2017)
- Federation of Card Games (FCG) (Joined in 2018)
- International eSports Federation (Joined in 2022)
What is IMSA?
The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) is an association which governs all mind sports across the world. It has national members across 200 countries.
It is a governing body for contract bridge, chess, draughts, eSports, go, xiangqi (Chinese chess), mahjong and card games.
Its members are the World Bridge Federation (WBF), World Chess Federation (FIDE), World Draughts Federation (FMJD), International Go Federation (IGF), World Xiangqi Federation (WXF), Mahjong International League (MIL), Federation of Card Games (FCG) and International Esports Federation (IESF). IMSA is an associate member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations, and was founded on 19 April 2005 during the GAISF General Assembly. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
What is Mind Sports?
The first major use of the term was as a result of the Mind Sports Olympiad in 1997. The phrase had been used prior to this event such as backgammon being described as a mind sport by Tony Buzan in 1996; Tony Buzan was also a co-founder of the Mind Sports Olympiad. Bodies such as the World Memory Sports Council use the term retrospectively.
Many of the games’ official bodies which had come together for the Mind Sports Olympiad, formed larger organisations such as the Mind Sports Council and International Mind Sports Association (IMSA). With IMSA organising the World Mind Sports Games in Beijing 2008 for contract bridge, chess, go, draughts and xiangqi many other bodies have lobbied for inclusion such as the International Federation of Poker, which won provisional membership at the annual congress of SportAccord in Dubai in 2009.
