Texas old'em - 100-year-old reckons that playing cards is what allowed him to remain sharp

Centurion Ivor Parker explained that playing regular poker kept his brain young as youre constantly using your brain.

11:00, 26 Jul 2026

Britains oldest poker player reckons that playing cards is whats allowed him to remain as sharp as a tack

Britains oldest poker player reckons that playing cards is whats allowed him to remain as sharp as a tack, and is encouraging fellow oldies to take up the game too.

Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday at a GG poker event for the launch of the Goliath 2026 tournament, 100-year-old Ivor Parker explained that playing regular poker was definitely what had kept him so sharp, as youre constantly using your brain.

He said: Youve got to work out percentages, odds, studying your opponents. These are all things to take into consideration.

The centenarian card shark even gave some tips as to how best to read other players, saying he looks out for things little habits that can give information away.

He revealed: Sometimes youll see someone sitting back, and theyll suddenly sit forward, and you know their cards are very good because theyve taken an interest

Ivor started playing poker with pals at a pub in Boston, Lincolnshire back in 1940 when he was 14, and says he uses all 86 years of experience to give him the best chance of victory.

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100-year-old Ivor Parker explained that playing regular poker was definitely what had kept him so sharp

He is concerned that too many of elderly people are not keeping their brain active and hopes more of Britain's oldies will take up the game.

He is adamant that relaxed, low-stakes poker with friends can really improve your quality of life.

Ivor said: People retire and just sit at home. Theyre not going out, theyre not meeting people, theyre not using their brains. Poker allows them to be active

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Ivor is adamant that relaxed, low-stakes poker with friends can really improve your quality of life.(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

And for those that do get started, Ivor has one piece of advice: keep a cool head.

He explained If you've had a bad hand or you got beat, forget it. The secret is to learn to live with your bad things and just wipe them out completely."

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