Ivor Parker, from Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, has been playing poker for 86 years and has now become the world's oldest paid professionalKathryn Chatfield14:38, 30 Jul 2026A lifelong poker enthusiast has become the world's oldest paid professional at the remarkable age of 100. Ivor Parker, from Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire, has dedicated his life to playing poker, having first picked up a deck of cards at just 14 years old.‌Starting at a young age, he played his very first hand in a pub in Boston, Lincolnshire in 1940, giving him an extraordinary 86 years' worth of experience at the tables. Throughout the decades, he has built an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game. He believes that every successful player needs patience, resilience, strategy and a genuine love of competition.‌‌Unlike many sports where careers span just a handful of years, poker remains one of the rare competitive pursuits where experience, composure and sharp decision-making continue to count regardless of age.Ivor has now been signed by GGPoker as a full-time ambassador, and is launching his new role at a VIP event with Grosvenor Casinos on the eve of the Goliath 2026.He said: "I've loved poker for as long as I can remember. I loved the game straight away and I've never really looked back.‌"I've played poker all over the world, especially during the war. Every game is different, every table has its own stories and you're always learning something new."Alongside his passion for poker, Ivor - who has been married twice and has five children - worked as a production operative for East Midlands Farmer until he was 98 years old.‌His signing celebrates a century of dedication, showing how the game continues to captivate players at every stage of life playing alongside the next generation of professional talent emerging within the game.Ivor Parker, added: "Poker today is so different to when I started, it's so much more strategic now and there are so many brilliant players, especially here today."If I think about it, I've played poker with hundreds of people, some of them my really good friends, who sadly have all gone now. I think poker has kept me sharp and I'm thankful for that."‌Leah Hauer, an ambassador for the brand, said: "Poker rewards patience, discipline and good decision-making, and those are qualities that anyone can develop.“Sharing the table with Ivor has been incredibly inspiring, and it shows exactly why Poker is such a unique game, there's always something to learn from the people sitting around you."Article continues belowAngela Martin, a spokesperson for UK & Ireland at GGPoker, said: “Poker has always been about much more than cards.“It's about bringing people together, continually learning and challenging yourself.“Ivor perfectly embodies everything we love about the game, and we're incredibly proud to welcome him to Team GGPoker as we head into Goliath."