GM Walter Browne giving a simul at the National Open
GM Walter Browne has won the National Open way too many times to count. And he was scheduled to play again this year. But as the first round came around, there was no sign of him. He missed the entire National Open.
He did show up to conduct a simul at the same time as GM Victor Korchnoi. However, he tried to finish the simul as fast as possible to rush out of the hotel. This was very unusual.
I later found out that he was busy earning $191,490 at the Rio Casino! And he is still not done. He came in 7th and 2nd in 2 separate poker events and that was his prizes.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!
congrats!
That simul was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. He was literally running from board to board.
I am happy for him. That is a great payday!
He was bluffing…
We need to develop the big money in chess somehow. Maybe the points assigned to pieces could equal dollars or something, where a game payout is equal to points.
Chess will never see that kind of money because no normal person would believe he has any shot against a pro player. That’s exactly what many average joe believe they can do in a poker game against the pros, and if he is lucky enough to get the card, he could actually knock out a pro!
lots of opportunity for luck in gambling, little opportunity for luck in chess (vs. a pro that is really giving it his/her best effort)