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Negreanu notes Russia's poker surge

2008-08-06 15:43:30

Daniel Negreanu has observed that Russia is producing an increasing number of top poker players - and chess could be the reason why.

In an article which appeared in the Houston Chronicle, the Card Shark Media representative suggested that the country's long history of dominating the traditional board game could be what is fuelling recent successes.

He referred to the backgammon background of three-time World Poker Tour titlist Gus Hansen as an example of how similar games to chess have aided the rise of card players in the past.

In recent years, Russian poker players have taken down World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments and also had successes on the European Poker Tour.

Alexander Kostritsyn is the latest to rise to prominence.

The Moscow man took down the Aussie Millions in January and followed it up by cashing in six WSOP competitions.

He is currently 22nd in Card Player's player of the year rankings.

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