Kolkata set to host 9th All India Bridge Championship 2026
Top Indian Bridge players are set to compete at the 9th All India Bridge Championship in Kolkata between 30 April and 3 May, 2026.
Indian Bridge Team at the 2023 Asian Games
(Credit: Hangzhou2022.cn)
The 9th All India Bridge Championship is set to be held from 30 April 3 May, 2026. The four-day event will bring together top Bridge players from across the country.
It will be held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Kolkata and is organised by the Contract Bridge Association of India, in association with the West Bengal Bridge Association.
The championship will follow a multi-stage format, starting with a Swiss League phase, before moving into knockout rounds.
Matches will also be available for live viewing on Bridge Base Online (BBO) - Vugraph. The schedule and viewing links will be provided on the official website of the Bridge Federation of India.
Key players to watch in this edition of the championship are Sumit Mukherjee and his team members Sayantan Kushari, Sagnik Roy, Rajeshwar Tiwari, Sandip Dutta, Kaustubh Bendre & Kaustabh Nandi.Winning Team at the Tolani Open National Masters Bridge Championship 2026
(Credit: Bridge Federation of India)
India is one of the leading countries in Bridge as a sport and has achieved success at the international level, including two gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games and strong performances in the 2023 Asian Games. Players like Pranab Bardhan and Shibhnath Sarkar, who won gold in 2018, have played a key role in bringing recognition to the sport in India.
Bridge is now increasingly seen as a serious mind sport, similar to chess, because it requires deep strategy, logic, memory, and quick decision-making. It is played between four players in two partnerships, and depends on analysing situations, predicting opponents’ moves, and working closely with the partner. It is a game of skill, probability, and communication, as well as strong analytical thinking.
India is expected to further strengthen its position in Bridge as a sport with improved training systems and greater institutional support. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), through the Sports Authority of India (SAI), has recognised Bridge as a sport in the “Priority” category, which will help increase official support for the game.
The Bridge Federation of India (BFI), which is recognised by the ministry, receives assistance for international competitions, especially since Bridge is now included as a medal event in major multi-sport events like the Asian Games.
Moreover, India is set to host the 5th Asia Cup Bridge Championship in June 2026 in Goa, which shows the country’s commitment to the growth of the game.
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