We believe that nine-year-old Jonathan Miller set a new world record during the London Lowball tournament held Tuesday, 22 August 2000. Jonathan, who is going into Year Five in school at Bristol, is, most likely, the youngest person ever to reach the finals in a Poker Tournament.

Out of a field of forty players, Jonathan reached seventh place before being eliminated. In an interesting coincidence, Jonathan and his father, George, were both eliminated on the same hand, but Jonathan beat George by having a lower hand. George finished in eighth place. Jonathan was greeting by a round of applause from spectators who were all hoping that he would win.

Before parents around the world get upset that a nine-year-old reached the finals in a Poker tournament, I should probably point out that British Law forbids gambling outside of licensed locations, so there was no gambling. All players played with chips provided by the Mind Sports Organisation, and played merely for position and for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Jonathan learned to play Poker about ten months ago. He just learned to play Lowball Poker last week. He also plays Chess, Checkers, and Fantasy Battles, but the last is by far his favorite game. He has even taught his five-year-old sister to play Fantasy Battles, and beats his 18-year-old cousin at Poker about 75% of the time. He said, "She wins hands, but I win overall".

Jonathan Miller and father George. MSO 4 Poker Lowball.

Jonathan was also happy because, before the tournament, his dad promised him "ten quid" if he beat his dad in the tournament. Since there was no opposite "bet", it was not gambling, but merely a "family bet" or reward. Since I didn't know what London Lowball Poker was, Jonathan explained the game to me. In simplest terms, the object is to lose, or get the worst possible hand, with Ace considered to be the lowest card. I expected that Mathematics might be Jonathan's favourite subject, since there is so much probability in the game, but was surprised to find out that his favourite subject is History, and specifically, he's fascinated by the Egyptian period of our history.

Up to this time, Jonathan and I had been wandering around Alexandra Palace and talking while occasionally getting interrupted for picture and so on. George, his dad, joined us for the last part of the interview and gave me a few extra details.

George is proud of his son, and was happy to be "trounced". He assured me that he did not throw the game to his son, and in fact, said he "took 800 off him two rounds earlier in the game" which Jonathan remembered. By the way, the fact that his son beat over 80% of the adults in the game tends to reinforce the fact that George did not throw the game.

At home, Jonathan beats his father about 25% of the time.

Jonathan is not sure what he wants to spend his "ten quid" on, but since ten quid is equal to about US$15, it is sure to be something he wants. He did say, though, that he intends to enter all of the Poker tournaments next year, and if he does, I know he will have a full cheering section as he did today, and I will certainly root for him.