"بريدج المغرب" يتألق في الأرجنتين

"Bridge Morocco" Shines in Argentina

The Moroccan Bridge team has achieved an unprecedented feat by qualifying for the Round of 16 in the World Bridge Games, currently being held in Argentina. This marks the first time a Moroccan team has reached this stage of the prestigious tournament.

A Historic Milestone

Abdallatif Belkouche, President of the Royal Moroccan Bridge Federation, expressed his pride and admiration for the team's remarkable performance and the commendable level displayed by the Moroccan players. The team, composed of the pairs Abdallah Gharari and Tekinte Pierre Seboni Jean Haï, and Mohammed Benali and Chouki Bensaid, triumphed over formidable teams like the United States and France during the qualifying rounds.

Promoting Bridge in Morocco

Belkouche emphasized that Morocco has consistently participated in international bridge competitions, often qualifying alongside Egypt and South Africa as Africa's representatives. He highlighted the mental aspect of bridge, stating that it demands focus, perseverance, and strategic thinking. The President also noted the intensive nature of the game, with each round lasting 84 minutes, divided into 12 segments of 7 minutes each, excluding breaks.

Bridge's Journey in Morocco

Bridge was introduced to Morocco before independence, and the Royal Moroccan Bridge Federation was established in 1959. Currently, 350 players are actively involved in bridge clubs located in major Moroccan cities like Casablanca, Rabat, Oujda, Agadir, and Marrakech, the latter of which hosted the 2023 World Bridge Championship organized by the World Bridge Federation.

Future Prospects

The Royal Moroccan Bridge Federation has signed an agreement with the Ministry of National Education, Pre-primary Education and Sports to promote this mental sport among students in Moroccan middle and high schools. The Federation, represented by its President, actively participated in the World Bridge Federation's meeting held last Sunday on the sidelines of the World Bridge Championship. The meeting, attended by delegates from 83 countries, saw a strong emphasis on encouraging youth involvement in bridge. Participants agreed to establish a dedicated fund to support the development of the sport, acknowledging the transformative role of technology in changing the way bridge is played. They also discussed ongoing medical research investigating the potential benefits of bridge in preventing conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.