Poker's faces: Are the British about to invade?

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Gordon Cadden
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Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:57 pm

Re: Poker's faces: Are the British about to invade?

Post by Gordon Cadden » Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:32 pm

Stewart Reuben's memoirs remind me of the wonderful En Passant Chess and Poker Rooms, in London's Strand. The famous Islington Open Swiss Tournament was established here, in 1965.
The manager was Ted Isles, a former police sergeant, who spent time in jail, for keeping an underage girl at his home. Ted was strong at chess and poker. He competed in the 1950 British Chess Championship, and shared 10th. to 16th. places with Gerald Abrahams, Victor Berger, Harry Golombek, David Hooper, Alan Phillips, and William Winter. The chess rooms were on the first floor, above a camping and lost property shop. Police visiting the premises, would be confronted by a peaceful scene, with chessplayers quietly making their moves. The real action took place via a concealed door, gaining access to the 3rd. and 4th. floors. This was the site of Europe's only non-stop poker school. Professional players would sometimes spend weeks at the tables, pausing only for a brief break on a bunk bed. Boys would be on 24 hour duty, making shopping errands. I used to visit the chess rooms on week-ends, playing in tournaments. Ted Isles would often be on duty, a large and not suprisingly, unkempt man. During the 1960's, many Islington players enjoyed a game of chess and poker, and this venue must have seemed like heaven. Ted Isles lost his licence in the late 1960's, when Westminster City Council discovered that he had a criminal record. During this period, I remember the "Daily Telegraph" describing a mysterious fire at the En Passant Chess Rooms. Fire fighters were seen on cherry pickers, smashing the first floor windows, and entering the premises wearing oxygen cylinders and smoke masks. They were later seen at the windows with indignant chessplayers over their shoulders. The players were furious that they were prevented from finishing their games.

Phil Makepeace
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Re: Poker's faces: Are the British about to invade?

Post by Phil Makepeace » Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:58 pm

John Upham wrote:
Phil Makepeace wrote:It's fairly ludicrous that Rupert Elder isn't mentioned in that article.

Phil, Did he really win $54,851 for coming 132nd in a tournament? That is some prize fund!
That was the World Series of Poker Main Event which will conclude tomorrow. Sam Holden finished 9th.

Rup's big win (€930k) was from the Main Event of the San Remo European Poker Tour.

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: Poker's faces: Are the British about to invade?

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:24 pm

Gordon Cadden wrote:During this period, I remember the "Daily Telegraph" describing a mysterious fire at the En Passant Chess Rooms. Fire fighters were seen on cherry pickers, smashing the first floor windows, and entering the premises wearing oxygen cylinders and smoke masks. They were later seen at the windows with indignant chessplayers over their shoulders. The players were furious that they were prevented from finishing their games.
That must be an apocryphal story, surely?

Gordon Cadden
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Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:57 pm

Re: Poker's faces: Are the British about to invade?

Post by Gordon Cadden » Tue Nov 08, 2011 6:48 am

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:
Gordon Cadden wrote:During this period, I remember the "Daily Telegraph" describing a mysterious fire at the En Passant Chess Rooms. Fire fighters were seen on cherry pickers, smashing the first floor windows, and entering the premises wearing oxygen cylinders and smoke masks. They were later seen at the windows with indignant chessplayers over their shoulders. The players were furious that they were prevented from finishing their games.
That must be an apocryphal story, surely?
As reported in the colour supplement of the Daily Telegraph.

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