poker is a mind sport
In November 2024, poker was recognized as a mind sport by the International Mind Sport Association.
Pokahnights represents Belgium at the World Poker Federation.
After exploratory talks in 2024, the World Poker Federation and Pokahnights decided to join hands. Pokahnights will become the unique Belgian partner of the WPF.
Over the next few years, we will write together a Sportify Poker story to once and for all give poker the place it deserves. It's a mind sport!
IMSA recognizes poker as a mind sport
On November 16, 2024, IMSA, the International Mind Sport Association, recognized poker as an official mind sport. The WPF has been building intensively on this since 2022, with this fine result.
The International Olympic Committee recognizes IMSA, thus the way is immediately open to recognize poker as an Olympic discipline. Pokahnights is enormously pleased with this news, it is another step in the correct positioning of Poker as a sport.
What is IMSA?
The International Mind Sports Association(IMSA) is the global platform for mind sports, such as chess, bridge, checkers and Go. Founded in 2005 and officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee(IOC), IMSA works to promote and recognize mind sports as sports disciplines in their own right.
By collaborating with international federations and organizing major events such as the World Mind Games, IMSA emphasizes the strategic and intellectual depth of mind sports. The organization follows Olympic values such as sportsmanship, fair play and global connection, and encourages the use of mind sports in education and cognitive development.
IMSA proves: mind sports are not only a challenge to the mind, but deserve their place on the world stage.
Read more about it at Poker.org and Pokernews.com
What is WPF?
The World Poker Federation (WPF) is an international organization dedicated to the recognition of poker as a strategic thinking sport. The WPF works to increase poker's visibility and prestige by positioning the game as a mental challenge similar to chess or bridge.
With initiatives such as international tournaments and collaborations, the WPF strives to emphasize the strategic and social aspects of poker. The organization supports competition structures that reward consistency and skill, which aligns with their mission to promote poker as a serious sport worldwide.
Pokah x WPF
poker as a mind sport
Pokahnights shares the WPF's vision that poker is more than a game; it is a strategic and intellectual discipline. By working together, we can strengthen our common vision and further position poker as a thinking sport.
international growth
By partnering with the WPF, we can not only grow locally, but also represent Belgian players internationally and contribute to the international Sportify Poker story.
strong community
Pokahnights has the most experience in the Belgian poker sector as well as an active and growing community, an ideal basis to represent the values of the WPF in Belgium. We are honored with our selection as official member of the WPF.
recognition and professionalization
As an official partner of the WPF, Pokahnights gains access to a global network and support in professionalizing and legitimizing poker in Belgium.
innovative competitions
Pokahnights has always been a pioneer in innovative tournament structures, the best example of course being the upcoming Pokahnights Elite Series. This aligns perfectly with the WPF's focus on performance and consistent competition.
Discover your favorite mind sport
The landscape of mind sports, or mindsports for the insiders, is bursting with action and challenge! Forget boring definitions; these are the arenas where your brain will really pop. Each game has its own vibe, its own rules and its own way of pushing your gray cells to the limit. Wondering which discipline is calling your name? Check out some of the top games from the world of strategic thinking below - all of them more than worth a deeper dive!
Chess
Fancy a direct duel without luck or hidden tricks? Then chess is your discipline! This is the classic, the archetypal sports game where pure strategy, razor-sharp tactics and deep calculation make the difference. With 16 pieces per side, your mission is to mercilessly checkmate that enemy king on a board of 64 squares. Every piece is visible, every move counts. This is all about thinking ahead, strengthening your position, dropping tactical bombs like forks and tokens, and rock-solid math. The complexity? Immense! The satisfaction when your plan succeeds? Priceless!
Checkers
Think checkers is simple? Think again! International checkers, played on a challenging 10x10 board, is a mind sport full of hidden depths and spectacular twists. Yes, it's perfect information, but that mandatory hitting rule turns everything upside down and forces you to do insane calculations. Here you need a keen eye for geometry and tactics. Build strong structures, conquer that crucial "Dam" and show your opponent every corner of the board!
Bridge
Are you a team player with a sharp brain? Then Contract Bridge might be your thing! This fascinating card game you play in pairs. The uniqueness? The constant interaction between two crucial phases: the 'bidding', a kind of secret code in which you communicate with your partner about the strength of your cards, and the 'playing', where together you must win the bid contract (or let the opponent fail). Bridge is a cocktail of logic, ironclad memory, clever deduction, strategic planning and, above all, seamless cooperation. It is the ultimate social thinking sport where teamwork really makes the difference.
Mahjong
Indulge in the clicking stones and strategic depth of Mahjong! This originally Chinese game, usually with four players, uses a set of beautifully decorated stones (tiles) instead of cards. The goal? To be the first to complete a winning hand by cleverly drawing, passing and making combinations (Pungs, Chows, Kongs). Mahjong is an engaging mix of skill, strategy, a dose of probability and, above all, keen observation. You must not only build your own hand, but also constantly "read" your opponents by analyzing their discarded tiles. Ready for an exotic mental challenge with countless variants?
E-sports
Digital Battlefields full of Speed and Strategy! Enter the fast-paced world of Esports, where competitive gaming has become a global spectacle! This is the modern arena where lightning-fast reflexes, razor-sharp precision, deep strategic insight, split-second decisions, perfect teamwork and iron nerves come together. Depending on your game - whether it is a strategic RTS, a team-based MOBA or a tactical FPS - you will be constantly challenged. Esports prove that gaming is much more than a hobby; it is a serious mental challenge (and often a physical one) that demands the utmost from players.
Poker
The game that makes hearts beat faster and where strategy, psychology and guts come together. Especially Texas Hold'em has conquered the world and is rightfully a recognized thinking sport. Forget chess or checkers with their perfect information; here you dive into the exciting world of incomplete information. You know only your own cards and the community cards. The rest? That's a mix of probability, risk management and pure psychology. Read your opponents, place that perfectly timed bluff, and extract maximum value from your strong hands. Poker is a roller coaster of logic and guts at the poker table. Do you dare?