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| Jeff Sarwer |
Jeff Sarwer (born May 14, 1978, in Kingston, Ontario) rose to fame as a child chess prodigy. At age 8, he claimed the World Under‑10 Chess Championship for Canada in Puerto Rico, and by age 9 was hailed as “stronger than Bobby Fischer was at 11”
A gifted tactician, Sarwer dazzled crowds with simultaneous exhibitions and blitz games in landmarks like Manhattan Chess Club and Washington Square Park.
His talent inspired the character “Jonathan Poe” in Searching for Bobby Fischer, though the film dramatized events—Sarwer actually drew his tournament game against Josh Waitzkin before they were named joint U.S. Primary School champions.
Despite a meteoric start, his chess career took a detour. His father pulled him out of competitive play, and after family struggles—including involvement with child welfare—Sarwer and his sister spent many years shuttered from the spotlight.
Return to Chess & Transition to Poker
In 2007, Sarwer re-emerged in Poland, placing third in a semi‑rapid tournament with a provisional 2250 FIDE rating. He earned the FIDE Master title in 2015, peaking at 2344 Elo
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Sarwer credits his success to the overlap between chess and poker—analytical thinking, reading opponents, and strategic foresight.