Have convention card, will travel

[I have both poker and bridge content. Look on the right side under labels and click on whichever of the two games (or photos) you want to read about.]

The World Bridge Federation has announced that the next World Bridge Series will be held in the U.S. October 1 – 16, 2010, in Philadelphia. The last time a world championship was held in the U.S. was 1994 in Albuquerque NM, although bridge was staged as a demonstration sport at the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002.

Thousands of the world’s best bridge players will compete for world titles, with events offered for players of varied skill levels. A special program for young players will be included. Bridge is perceived as a game for old people, so maybe that will help to discourage that thinking.

Players from about 100 different nations are expected to participate in this exciting event. A special invitation is being planned for bridge players from Cuba, with the very real possibility that an official Cuban delegation may visit the U.S. for the first time in 50 years.

José Damiani, WBF President, says, “Philadelphia will be an ideal location for the 2010 World Bridge Series. My warm personal thanks go to the ACBL, the United States Bridge Federation (USBF), and officials and players from Philadelphia, for their support and encouragement.”