Peek Freans 3^rd SAARC Bridge Championship

May 24th to May 28th 2000 at Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi

 

 Introduction.

 

Ø     SAARC Bridge Association - a sub-zone of Bridge Federation of Asia, Africa and Middle East (BFAAME), Zone-4 of WBF.

 

BFAAME comprises of 22 member countries ranging from Bangladesh in South Asia, in the East to Morocco by the Atlantic coast in the West, Middle East and South Africa in the southern most tip of Africa. It represents Zone-4 of World Bridge Federation (WBF), the international controlling body of the intellectual game of bridge. In its executive council’s meeting held during the 8^th BFAAME Championships held in Amman, Jordan in 1995, it was decided to sub divide the vast geographical region of Zone-4 into three sub-zones namely: South Asia (SAARC), Africa and Middle East. This would facilitate them in holding their own championships annually, instead of waiting to travel vast distances for their biennial meet.

Mr. Mazhar Jafri, Vice President of WBF since long, was elected President of BFAAME, a post to which he was re-elected for another term, during the 10^th BFAAME Championships in Colombo, last year.

Bridge was also formally recognized as a sport by International Olympic Committee in 1995, mainly due to the efforts of Mr. Mazhar Jafri, who has been awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, a civil award by the President of Pakistan, in 1999.

The Head quarters of SAARC Bridge Association is presently at Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the last championship was held.

Mr.Farooq Sobhan, Advisor to the P.M. of Bangladesh, is the current President and would be handing over the charge to Mr. Khurshid Hadi, President Pakistan Bridge Federation by virtue of being the host nation. Next year’s venue would be decided upon conclusion of this championship.

 

Ø     SAARC Bridge Championships

 

The inaugural SAARC Bridge Championship was held in the seaside resort of Madh Island, Mumbai, India from 15^th to 16^th November 1997, in which India won both the open and ladies titles. 

 

The second was held at Sheraton Hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 4^th to 9^th February 1999, where Pakistan won the Open Championship while India won the Ladies.

 

The third edition is being hosted by Pakistan at Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi, from 24^th May to 28^th May, 00 and is named “Peek Freans 3^rd SAARC Bridge Championships, 2000”. The main sponsors being the English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt) Ltd., who have always contributed towards the promotion of Bridge in Pakistan in a big way.

 

 

 

q       Details of the Event:

 

The championships will commence on Wednesday 24^th May 2000 morning and conclude on 28^th May 2000 evening over a victory banquet gala dinner.

 

 

The Championships will comprise of the following events:

 

a.      Peek Freans Friendship Open Pairs Event

b.     Peek Freans 3rd SAARC Bridge Championships – Open & Ladies

c.     Peek Freans Friendship Open Teams Event.

 

 

a.      Peek Freans Friendship Open Pairs Event:

 

Starting at 9.30A.M. On Wednesday morning May 24^th 2000 and spread over three sessions till evening. Winning pair will get a cash prize of Rs.40,000/- followed by other cash prizes up to 8^th place from a pool of Rs.100,000/-.

 

 

Participating Countries:

Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

 

¨     Number of Teams:

Country	Open	Ladies
Pakistan	4	2
India	4	2
Bangladesh	2	1
Sri Lanka	1	1
Nepal	1	0

 

Any team, which fails to show up, would be replaced locally in order to even the format.

 

¨     Open Teams Championship

 

The 12 teams will be divided into two Houses of six teams each. Open House-1 and Open House-2. Four 16 board matches of the single round robin would be played on Thursday 25^th May and the remaining last match on Friday 26^th May, 00.

Thereafter, the top two teams in House-1 will play the two 48 board knock out semi-finals cross wise against the top two teams in House-2. Two matches of 16 boards each will be played on Friday 26^th May and the remaining on Saturday 27^th May, 00. The winners will play the 64 board finals. Two matches of 16 boards each will be played on Saturday and the remaining two on Sunday 28^th May, 00.

 

¨     Ladies Teams Championship

 

Ladies Team championship will also be held on a single round robin league basis of 16 boards each and two top teams will play the 64 board Finals on Sunday 28^th May 2000 along side the Open Teams Finals.

 

 

 

 

This will be an Open Swiss Teams Event in which everyone can participate including those local players who are not part of the championship. Even the participants of the championship could take part if they so desire, as play would commence every evening after conclusion of the days matches of the championship. The timings would enable the local players to enter the competition without missing out their office or business commitments. The winners will be determined on the teams standing after completion of nine rounds. Cash prizes up to eight places from a pool of Rs. 200,000/-. The details of the event are as follows:

 

 

 

ABOUT SPONSORS – PEEK FREANS

 

Our sponsors of this mega event are the English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt) Ltd. Their famous brand of biscuits Peek Freans needs no formal introduction. EBM have been our sponsors for the past couple of decades. True to their slogan “The Legend leads …….  the rest follow”, Peek Freans has been the leader not only in the marketing of quality biscuits but also in the patronage of a variety of sports in Pakistan - especially Bridge.  Peek Freans and PBF have been working together since 1979 for the promotion of this “Rolls Royce” of Card Games.  Peek Freans, besides contributing regularly towards holding of national championship, has also sponsored the following major bridge events in Pakistan:

 

·        3^rd  BFAME Championships held at Taj Mahal Hotel from 21^st April to May 2^nd 1985 in Karachi.

·        Peek Freans Golden Jubilee Bridge Championship held at Pearl Continental from 9^th to 13^th August 1997 in Karachi.

 

 

In view of Pakistan Bridge Federation’s long association with EBM, they were approached to sponsor the 3^rd SAARC Bridge Championship that was awarded to Pakistan for hosting in the year 2000. EBM obliged by becoming the sole sponsors of Peek Freans 3^rd SAARC Bridge Championship being held at Pearl Continental Hotel from May 24^th to 28^th 2000.

 

 

Tournament Organization

The Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Khurshid Hadi, President Pakistan Bridge Federation would oversee the entire arrangement. Mr. Ihasan Qadir, Senior Vice President PBF is the chief of the Technical Committee responsible for Tournament Direction and other technical aspects while Mrs. Rehana Saigol is heading the Hospitality and would be responsible for the gala victory dinner in which the Chief Executive, General Pervaiz Musharaf is likely to attend. Mr. Azwerul Haque, Secretary PBF and Mr. Ashfaque Tola are coordinating and can be contacted for any assistance.

 

 

Pakistan Bridge Federation

 http://pbf.port5.com   or   http://surf.to/pbf

 

 

Citizens Enclosure-2, Block M, National Stadium,Karachi-75300

Phone:+92-21-476247, Fax:+92-21-4988196, E-mail: pbf@pienet.net

 

Mr. M. Azwerul Haque

Phone:+92-21-5870846,Fax:+92-21-571247,Mobile:+92-320-220735

E-mail: azwer@khi.comsats.net.pk

 

Mr. Ashfaque Tola

Phone:+92-21-5672425,Mobile:+92-300-224244

E-mail: tola@cyber.net.pk