18 Facts About Jeff Sarwer

Jeffrey William Sarwer was born on 14 May 1978 and is a Canadian-Finnish former child chess prodigy whose charismatic personality and chess talent made him a well-known media figure.

Jeff Sarwer won the under-10 World Youth Chess Championship in Puerto Rico in 1986 representing Canada.

When Jeff Sarwer was 8, he was believed by many to be one of the strongest prodigies in the history of the game.

Jeff Sarwer used to entertain large crowds by playing 40 people at the same time known as simultaneous chess, every Canada Day from the age of 7 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Jeff Sarwer used to show up and play speed chess at Washington Square Park in New York City, where large numbers of people gathered to watch his games.

Jeff Sarwer's father did not allow him to continue his chess career when it became apparent that he would not be able to keep full control over Jeff Sarwer's life.

Jeff Sarwer moved the family away from New York City and ran into trouble with The Children's Aid Society of Ontario.

In 1993 the film Searching for Bobby Fischer was released and Jeff Sarwer's character was portrayed as "Jonathan Poe".

In reality, Jeff Sarwer declined the draw offer by Josh Waitzkin, but the game ended in a draw a few moves later.

At the time that the game was played, Jeff Sarwer was seven and Waitzkin nine years old.

In January 2010 Jeff Sarwer gave a long interview to Chess Life Online detailing his experiences from that tournament and talking about his current life in Europe.

Jeff Sarwer says that if he decided to make chess a priority, he would do so to become a grandmaster.

In summer 2015 Jeff Sarwer participated in VI Shakkinet tournament in Finland.

Since December 2008, Jeff Sarwer has been playing on the European Poker Tour.

Jeff Sarwer has had two final table appearances and earned about $500,000.

Jeff Sarwer is represented by the player agency Poker Icons.

Jeff Sarwer was the subject of BBC World Service's programme The Interview on 19 December 2010, in which he candidly recounted his life and his childhood experiences and his relationship with his abusive father.

Jeff Sarwer spoke of successful years in United States real estate in his 20s and his current success on the professional poker circuit in Europe in his 30s.