 By
Rab MacWilliam
Paul Lamford is a man of extraordinary intellectual abilities.
As well as, under the pseudonym Gap, being the setter of N16’s
crossword puzzle, he has twice won the British backgammon championship,
was British bridge champion in 1997 and he has claimed the Welsh
chess championship on several occasions. He has also played four
games (scrabble, chess bridge and backgammon) at the same time against
a school class. While blindfolded. And he won, with the proceeds
going to the RNIB. Phew.
Born in Carmarthen, the 52-year-old Stoke Newington resident (coming
up to his 21st anniversary in N16) gained a maths degree at Imperial
College, worked for Racal in the early days of computers and then
moved on to become chess editor at publisher Batsford. The company
was bought by Pergamon Press which, unfortunately, was owned by
Robert Maxwell. When Cap’n Bob jumped ship, the company crashed,
leaving Paul with a paper loss of £100,000 within 24 hours.
Undeterred by this misfortune, Paul raised money to start up ‘Games
and Puzzles’ magazine, which he sold two years later, in 1993.
He then set up a company called Rating Report, which he continues
to run from his office in Kynaston Road. It’s all a bit complicated
for a man of simple brain, like I, but apparently it’s an
internet statistical forecasting company – concentrating on
football, golf and cricket – which identifies trends using
scientifically based mathematical modelling techniques. Eh? Anyway,
he sells this information to his syndicate who use this information
for betting purposes. ‘The more complicated the game, the
better we do’, he says.
What else does he do? Oh, yes, he has written over a dozen books
on games and gambling, writes regular columns for several magazines,
and he has designed online games for internet bookmaking companies,
such as Victor Chandler and Stan James. He also qualified for the
World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, winning $10,000, which offers
$8 million for first prize. I’m only surprised he didn’t
win, given that he seems to be a gambling expert. ‘I only
play for low stakes in casinos, as I have an advantage and am likely
to win. If I played for high stakes I’d be asked to leave’.
How does he do it? ‘I’ve always liked juggling lots
of things at the same time. If it’s boring, I lose interest.
Challenges tax the mind, and I’m not content with mental mediocrity’.
Clearly.
I recall being in a pub watching a game involving the Irish Republic
against Germany during the 1992 World Cup. Paul walked in and announced
that some internet bookie had put 160-1 against a goal being scored
with three minutes to go, Knowing that, statistically, goals are
more common towards the end of football matches, Paul put on a fiver.
Robbie Keane scored virtually with the last kick of the game and
Paul pocketed £800. A rare and profitable talent, indeed.
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