India to host 2015 World Bridge Championship

Chennai: The biggest event of card games comes to India as the country will host the next World Bridge Championship for Bermuda Bowl (men) and Venice Cup (women) in October 2015.

Bridge Federation of India (BFI) President N R Kirubakara Moorthy on Sunday informed that the World Bridge Federation (WBF) has alloted the 2015 World Championship to India and "BFI are now in the process of finalising the event". Moorthy said that WBF President Gianrrigo Rona of Italy along with technical committee members and other WBF officials would be arriving in Chennai tonight to finalise the venue. He said that two cities, Chennai and Panaji in Goa, have been shortlisted to host the world meet. Rona and other officials, during their four-day stay in the country, will inspect here the various facilities including hotel accommodation and convention centres to hold the tournament then go to Goa before finalising the city to host the big event. This would be the first time that India would be hosting the biggest event of the card games. The WBF conducts the World Bridge Team Championships every two years. This is the premier tournament in international bridge and sees the top teams from each geographic region competing against one another for the Bermuda Bowl trophy. Additionally, there are separate trophies for the top women`s team as well as the top senior team (D`Orsi Trophy) globally. About 550 players from 66 countries are expected to be seen in action in this world meet. Moorthy, who has been working hard to bring these Championships to India said, "Two locations have been shortlisted - Chennai and Goa. Both of these have large convention spaces capable of hosting the tournament and a number of top hotels which can accommodate the over-thousand participants who will attend the tournament over a two-week period. This is the first time the tournament is being held in India and we want to put up a good show." Hosting a tournament of this scale is expected to provide a big boost to the popularity of the game in India, and aid the BFI in its efforts to attract newer players, Moorthy said.