Apple Camera AirPods at the Poker Table: The Cheat Code That Is About To Become a Reality
11 May 2026Read More
James Bord bids for Sheffield Wednesday FC
- James Bord is the preferred bidder for Sheffield Wednesday.
- The club is in financial crisis, needing stability.
- Bord's consortium includes interests in various football clubs.
James Bord, best known in poker for winning the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event, has been named the preferred bidder to take over Sheffield Wednesday, the historic English football club currently operating under administration.
From bracelet winner to would-be club owner
Bord, an English poker pro turned entrepreneur, has more than $3.8 million in live tournament cashes, highlighted by his WSOPE Main Event title in London, where he banked £830,401 for the win.
Now, a consortium led by Bord is attempting to pull off a very different kind of high-stakes comeback, stabilizing Sheffield Wednesday at a time when the club’s finances have spiraled into crisis and
its on-pitch situation has deteriorated alongside it.
its on-pitch situation has deteriorated alongside it.
Why Sheffield Wednesday is in trouble
According to Sky Sports, Sheffield Wednesday filed for administration in October and immediately received a 12-point deduction, with the club sitting at the bottom of the Championship table in the aftermath.
Reports around the filing cited issues including repeated delays in paying players and staff, plus roughly £1 million owed to HMRC in unpaid tax.
Reports around the filing cited issues including repeated delays in paying players and staff, plus roughly £1 million owed to HMRC in unpaid tax.
Administrators were appointed to keep the club operating while a buyer is found, and the English Football League (EFL) must ultimately approve any takeover.
Bord’s growing football portfolio
While, some, poker fans will always associate Bord with that WSOPE bracelet run, he has spent years building a career away from the felt.
Reports suggests that he founded Short Circuit Science in 2016 and has already been active in football ownership, including Scotland’s Dunfermline Athletic.
Reports suggests that he founded Short Circuit Science in 2016 and has already been active in football ownership, including Scotland’s Dunfermline Athletic.
His group’s wider multi-club interests reportedly include involvement with Spain’s Córdoba CF and a 25% stake in Bulgaria’s Septemvri Sofia, adding to the sense that this bid is part of a broader sports-business strategy rather than a one-off impulse buy.
What happens next
Even as “preferred bidder,” Bord still has hurdles to clear, most importantly EFL approval and the closing mechanics that come with buying a club out of administration.
For Sheffield Wednesday supporters, the immediate hope is simple: that a funded deal gets done quickly enough to end months of uncertainty and prevent additional footballing penalties from compounding the club’s already brutal league position.
For poker fans, it’s another example of a familiar arc: a player who thrived in high-pressure decision-making moving into an arena where the swings are bigger, the timelines are longer, and the “chip stack” is measured in payroll, creditors, and regulatory sign-off - not tournament blinds.
Upcoming Events
27 May 2026
Triton Montenegro 2026 Poker
The "Yacht Week of Poker" Returns: Your Guide to Triton Montenegro 2026
WSOP Circuit Tallin 2026 Poker
The WSOP Circuit Returns to Estonia: Inside the 2026 Tallinn Summer Festival
WPT Australia 2026 Poker
The World Poker Tour Returns Down Under: A Look at the WPT Australia 2026 Festival
28 May 2026
WPT Global $250 Freebuy Poker
PokerWired x WPT Global $250 GTD Freebuy: Thursday Bankroll Booster is Here!
