There’s a $100,000 prize pool up for grabs in Solitaire right now

One of the oldest and most popular card games is the star of a mobile esports tournament

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There’s a $100,000 prize pool up for grabs in Solitaire right now

Esther Pang

Published: 7:15pm, 9 Aug 2018Updated: 8:35am, 20 Sep 2019

This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Most esports require quick reflexes and instantaneous decision making, which means mostly people in their late teens and early 20s get to make it to the competitive scene.

But this upcoming esports tournament is for a game that’s played by people of all ages, from kids to the elderly. It’s the iconic card game: solitaire.

Mobile esports company Skillz is organizing what it calls “the largest solitaire tournament in history” through Tether Studios’ Solitaire Cube mobile app. The event, which kicks off on Thursday August 9, will feature a US$100,000 prize pool. Skillz expects there will be over 40,000 competitors.

Skillz said the event is designed to be as inclusive as possible, and that’s also reflected in the prize system. Instead of only the top couple of players in the tournament taking away the majority of the prize pool, the top 1,000 contestants will get a share. First place will take home US$10,000.

Solitaire may not be flashy or action-packed, but the simple game has been a staple of bored students, workers, and commuters for years.