Bermuda?s bridge community is busy gearing up for its annual Regional Bridge Tournament which gets underway on Saturday at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel.

The designation ?regional? refers to the geographic zone, administered by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), which incorporates the United States, Canada and Bermuda. The week-long Bermuda tournament, now in its 48th year, is one of the longest-established tournaments in the entire zone.

Tournament chairman Lynanne Bolton said that around 250 visitors are expected to arrive on the Island for this year?s event.

They will join over 100 local bridge players, who always look forward to the opportunity of playing against top North American players. The reputation of the Bermuda Regional is such that the president of the ACBL, Sharon Fairchild, will be attending and playing during the whole week.

Many overseas bridge players with family or friends living in Bermuda plan their visits here to coincide with the Regional.

For this year?s tournament, the organisers are offering a comprehensive programme of bridge events every morning, afternoon and evening.

The week culminates with a prize giving and farewell dinner dance on Saturday, January 27 at which David Ezekiel will officiate.

For more information, please contact Wendy Gray at 236-7897 (mailrwgray.net) Lynanne Bolton at 236-6466 (boltonlmlogic.bm).