Bermuda's bridge players are busy gearing up for the Island's annual regional bridge tournament which kicks off on Saturday at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

The week-long tournament, now in its 47th year, is one of the longest-established tournaments in the American Contract Bridge League region, which encompasses the US, Canada and Bermuda. Tournament chairman Lynanne Bolton said that around 250 visitors are booked to arrive on the Island for this year's event. They will join an estimated 100 local bridge players.