An oddity but in what sense?

[MJMcCready]

If you've already read what is revealed in the link below you may have been as puzzled as I was. To claim that those who earn a living from e-sports are being overtaken by those who earn from chess on-line, and then claim they are rather displeased is a bit odd. I couldn't take it seriously at first and jokingly replied the real reason e-sports pros are unhappy is because they had a meeting with the top chess players. It became heated and ended with the chess players getting up out of their chairs and beating the crap out of the e-sports pros. But the thing is, why is on-line poker left unmentioned. Surely no one makes more when they go on-line than texas hold-em poker players? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But it's hard to believe anyone comes near them in terms on on-line earnings. So is poor research the reason why something isn't quite right with this article or is it just not worth reporting?

https://twitter.com/LeonWatson/status/1 ... 32801?s=20

[Tim Spanton]

If you've already read what is revealed in the link below you may have been as puzzled as I was. To claim that those who earn a living from e-sports are being overtaken by those who earn from chess on-line, and then claim they are rather displeased is a bit odd. I couldn't take it seriously at first and jokingly replied the real reason e-sports pros are unhappy is because they had a meeting with the top chess players. It became heated and ended with the chess players getting up out of their chairs and beating the crap out of the e-sports pros. But the thing is, why is on-line poker left unmentioned. Surely no one makes more when they go on-line than texas hold-em poker players? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But it's hard to believe anyone comes near them in terms on on-line earnings. So is poor research the reason why something isn't quite right with this article or is it just not worth reporting?

https://twitter.com/LeonWatson/status/1 ... 32801?s=20

But presumably poker players, on average, do not make money. In most tournaments, as I understand it, players stake a certain amount, and all the stakes are played for, minus a small commission to the site. If this is right, then poker players, on average, lose money.

[NickFaulks]

But presumably poker players, on average, do not make money.

Anecdotally, some professionals make fat livings fleecing the great mass of casual players.

Of course, poker players are not noted for always telling the truth.

[Neil Graham]

If you've already read what is revealed in the link below you may have been as puzzled as I was. To claim that those who earn a living from e-sports are being overtaken by those who earn from chess on-line, and then claim they are rather displeased is a bit odd. I couldn't take it seriously at first and jokingly replied the real reason e-sports pros are unhappy is because they had a meeting with the top chess players. It became heated and ended with the chess players getting up out of their chairs and beating the crap out of the e-sports pros. But the thing is, why is on-line poker left unmentioned. Surely no one makes more when they go on-line than texas hold-em poker players? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But it's hard to believe anyone comes near them in terms on on-line earnings. So is poor research the reason why something isn't quite right with this article or is it just not worth reporting?

https://twitter.com/LeonWatson/status/1 ... 32801?s=20

But presumably poker players, on average, do not make money. In most tournaments, as I understand it, players stake a certain amount, and all the stakes are played for, minus a small commission to the site. If this is right, then poker players, on average, lose money.

I'm sure dedicated professional poker players must make substantial sums - most chess players, on average, lose money.

One ex-chess player who makes money here:-

https://www.onlineunitedstatescasinos.c ... omaha-pro/

[NickFaulks]

One ex-chess player who makes money here:-

https://www.onlineunitedstatescasinos.c ... omaha-pro/

"This Statistics major quit his job as a derivates trader because it wasn’t challenging enough."

Yeah, right.

[MJMcCready]

Well professional poker players are almost always sponsored and rarely playing with their own money, which is why they are a lot easier to beat than you might think. But those who make it on-line I don't know. They are often looked down upon by the big names or looked upon as unknown factors. I don't think that would be the case if they were sponsored also but I don't know.

[John Upham]

Camberley Chess Club had a new member this year who told me that he played a little poker.

I checked his winnings and they totalled £11m

[Michael Farthing]

One ex-chess player who makes money here:-

https://www.onlineunitedstatescasinos.c ... omaha-pro/

"This Statistics major quit his job as a derivates trader because it wasn’t challenging enough."

Yeah, right.

Lets be clear about this bit of cynicism. The comment came from the journalist - not the derivatives trader. He just says he didn't find that job interesting.

[JustinHorton]

In fact it's not clear that the comment came from "the journalist" as we can't be sure that's who wrote the intro.

[Joey Stewart]

15 years ago poker was defintely THE game to play to make money online but now has fallen into decline and lost credibility among sponsors as, surprise surprise, it too has been ruined by engines ( https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washin ... utType=amp )

I can believe that eSports players are among the best paid now - it is well on the rise, and during lockdown bookies were even highlighting game tournaments to bet on.

[NickFaulks]

In fact it's not clear that the comment came from "the journalist" as we can't be sure that's who wrote the intro.

I doesn't really matter who said it. The reader was expected to believe it.

[David Sedgwick]

It doesn't really matter who said it. The reader was expected to believe it.

It may not matter who said it, but it matters who didn't say it. It was not said by Ankush Khandelwal.

[Richard Bates]

In fact it's not clear that the comment came from "the journalist" as we can't be sure that's who wrote the intro.

I doesn't really matter who said it. The reader was expected to believe it.

Given that something different is stated in the body of the report, is the reader “expected to believe” two contradictory things simultaneously?

[Chris Rice]

Leon Watson who wrote the article is watching the Carlsen-Nakamura battle and is clearly impressed tweeting out:

"This is the first ultra-serious online super-tournament and it has been EPIC already.

When was the last time chess fans were this engaged in an event???"

There is also another couple of points I wanted to make regarding the fact that the event is supporting Kiva and I'm not sure many of these other online gaming sites support charities or good causes so that's a plus point for online chess. Finally, I play on Poker Stars and they are always advertising tournaments where you can win literally millions of dollars though I think Poker is officially defined as a Mind Sport rather than gaming.

[Neil Graham]

Ankush used to play for my chess club - he is a player certainly of FIDE master standard and had he decided that chess would be his game he would have reached the IM title at least. As it is he has turned to other things; he is of national standard at Bridge and has been selected to represent England and has won the Bridge pairs section of the Minds Sport Olympiad in the last week. He has won World Pentamind Championship in 2013 and in both 2018 & 2019. He leads at present and I expect him to retain the title in the next week.