The Card King From Kings

To be a poker champion is not in the cards for most players. Brooklyn’s Ylon Schwartz, 38, has proven to be an ace among jokers, however. He’s become a recognized and successful tournament player. A former chess master at 23, he did poorly in school. Yet, because of his "gambler’s" reputation, he received several lucrative Wall Street jobs offers; each of which he declined (I wonder if Wall Street institutions still like to hire gamblers after the stock market collapse.). In the 1990’s Schwartz took up and subsequently mastered poker too. This year alone, he’ll earn over $1 million. Not bad for the Park Slope native who once hustled chess games in Manhattan's Washington Square Park.

All Hail The Kings Of Kings And Queens

Congratulations to the renowned chess team of Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn. For the ninth year in a row, they won the New York state championship; this time, in dramatic comeback fashion. The team has already had a book written about them entitled “The Kings of New York.” Maybe Hollywood can figure out how to make a chess team as engrossing as a football squad.