10-day National Bridge Championship in M’luru from June 4

Mangaluru: The Mavericks Summer Nationals 2026, a 10-day National Bridge Championship, will be held at the St Sebastian Hall, Bendur, from June 4. The city is hosting the event for the second time. The tournament is being organised by the Karavali Bridge Association, Mangaluru, under the aegis of the Bridge Federation of India and the Karnataka State Bridge Association.

Karavali Bridge Association president Marjorie Texeira said the initiative is aimed at reviving and popularising bridge in the city, particularly among younger players. She noted that while bridge has been played in India for about a century, and in Mangaluru for over 60 years, national-level annual events were rarely hosted in southern states. By bringing the championship back to Mangaluru, we hope to widen exposure to the mind sport, which features in the Commonwealth and Asian Games, and is being pursued for inclusion in the Olympic programme.

Texeira said Mangaluru once had around 100 bridge players, but participation has steadily declined due to limited youth interest, leaving fewer than 20 active players today. She said the championship is being positioned as a catalyst to rebuild local participation by showcasing high-level competition and creating renewed visibility for the game.

Organising secretary Derek Rego is overseeing arrangements for the event, with the association focusing on logistics and player experience to match national championship standards. The tournament is expected to draw around 450 participants from across India and overseas, including a contingent from Poland featuring world champion Buras Krzysztof Jerzy, along with Dominic Filopowicz, Jakob Pathrehua and Patrik Pathrehua.

Texeira said the presence of international players and a large national field has strengthened Mangaluru’s standing on the bridge circuit. She attributed the selection of Mangaluru to its airport and rail connectivity and its reputation for hospitality and cuisine, factors that helped the Bridge Federation of India return the event to the city after it hosted a similar national tournament two years ago.