poker is one of the oldest games man has known. Some historians date it as long back as the 2nd century. This game has entertained human beings for a very long time, through specially held competitions or challenge events called poker tournaments where poker champions played against one another for the title of world champion of poker.

In the past era of poker games, i.e. before the 19th century has a good number of poker champions who have set examples of excellent strategy and planning. You have Ruy Lopez de Segura winning in 1560 as the uncontested poker champion until 1575, when he lost his title to Paolo Boi and Leonardo de Cutri. Alessandro Salvio claimed the title in 1600 and lost it to Gioachino Greco in 1620.

Though the names of these people went down in the annals of history, the real poker championships, the ones were actually started only in 1843 when Fournier de Saint Amant won himself the title of the world’s best poker player of his time, after defeating Howard Staunton. The French actually dominated the 18th century where names like Kermour, Philidor, Deschapelles and Bourdonnais found mention as poker champions.

In 1851, at the first official poker tournament at London Fournier de Saint-Amant relinquished his title to Adolf Andersen who reigned until 1858 when he played against the brilliant strategist, Paul Morphy. Morphy was renowned for his speed in excellent moves. Morphy was so brilliant that he was not overthrown even once throughout his life. He died a champion in 1884. Upon his death, the title went back to Andersen who played brilliantly in the poker tournament in 1862.

Four years later, he lost the title of the best poker player to Wilhelm Steinitz. This is supposed to have been the first official poker tournament ever. The first world poker championship match was advertised and held as such only in 1886 when Steinitz won without trouble. In this way, Steinitz became the first ever world poker champion. This game established the precedent of a series of games where the poker champion would be challenged at a game and if defeated – the winner would be known as the next world poker champion. This was done in a very informal way.

Steinitz lost to Lasker in 1894, who kept the title for a long period of 27 years, possible only because he was an impulsive player, one who could brilliantly strategize his game to hassle his opponent into defeat. In 1914, the Tsar of Russia changed the name of the poker world championship, to that of Grandmaster of poker. Hence, this name was bestowed upon Lasker, Capablanca (an excellent Cuban poker champion), followed by Alekhine, Tarrasch and Marshall. All these people held the title of Grandmaster of poker.

Capablanca was recognized as the most brilliant poker champion of all times. From 1921 to 1927 he was literally untouchable, and then was defeated by Alekhine; Alekhine lost his title to Euwe, a Dutch amateur poker player and Math Professor. After long battles, Alekhine regained his title from Euwe n 1937 and managed to defend it well till 1946, when he died.

From 1948 to 1972 enters the dominance of Russia in the world of poker and a new era of poker champions begins.

POKER CHAMPIONS OF TODAY

The poker world was totally dominated by the Russians between 1948 and 1972. FIDE took over in 1924, however Soviet Union had not wanted to be part of it. After Alekhine’s death though, since the title went under their control, Russia registered as a member. The first tournament after this event was held n 1948 where Mikhail Botvinnik won after playing against five best world poker players. FIDE enjoyed the role of the organizer so much, that it continued to do so thereafter as a natural outcome.

As the past system was quite informal, FIDE had laid new rules to formalize the title. Now, there was a pre-qualifying game, followed by inter-zonal tournaments, and then the last ‘knock-out matches’. The winner of this series of games would challenge the poker champion. If the champion was defeated, he could ask for a re-match after a minimum gap of one year. FIDE then set the game period to a cycle of three years.

Botvinnik was a tireless worker and an admirable engineer while playing the game.. He has defended his title brilliantly against David Bronstein and Vasily Smyslov in 1951 and 1954 only to be defeated in 1957 by Smyslov. True to the rules of re-match after a year, Botvinnik won his title back in 1958, making Smyslov the shortest time world champion of poker. Botvinnik repeated this feat against Mikhail Tal in 1960, after being defeated by him in 1959. Botvinnik lost for the third time to Tigran Petrosian and this time could not play a re-match because FIDE abolished the rule.

Tigran lost his title in 1968 to Spassky after defending it successfully against the same challenger in 1966. The Russian poker had been at its peak during this time. In 1972, the title went to an American by the name of Bobby Fischer. Fischer defeated his opponents with such grace and effortlessness that he was invariably compared to another world class champion and co-countryman, Paul Morphy.

In 1975 in a very peculiar turn of events, Fischer refused to defend his title from the challenger Anatoly Karpov. He had acted in this manner saying that his demands were not met. What the demands were is not very clear. He relinquished his membership of FIDE but remained poker champion, until 1992, when he rematched with Spassky. FIDE or the world did not really take heed to this match.

On the other hand, Karpov shot to fame in 1970 by winning a series of exceptional poker games and for the next ten years the Russian poker again reigned supreme. Karpov proved repeatedly his excellent grasp of the game when he played against some of the best poker players and came out of its unscathed. When he lost the title, he did so against one of his own compatriot, Garry Kasparov. Kasparov had remained on the top as the best ever poker player in the world.