Dear Bridge Friends ,

Here is a news which may interest most of the bridge players world wide. The Indian Software company HCL Technologies Ltd. is one of the largest in India with operations spread across more than 20 countries. They sponsored the world championships in 2015 which were held successfully in Chennai.

Mrs.Kiran Nadar is the captain of team FORMIDABLES in India which has represented India in many championships. Her Husband , Mr.Shiv Nadar , Chairman HCL , decided to organize an annual prize money tournament in Delhi in 2003 and it has become most popular tournament in India , attracting more than 70 teams every year with a prize money ranging between US$25000 to 30000.

Starting this year, HCL is keen to make this event an International one and has announced a total prize money of US$180000 ( one hundred and eighty thousand US dollars ) in TEAMS and PAIRS to be played over 5-days in a 5-star hotel near the International airport in Delhi. Basically the teams will be divided in GOLD category ( Foreign teams Plus good Indian teams ) and SILVER which will include the rest. The NON Qualifiers play the pairs .

We hope to attract as many as 100 or more teams from India and from other countries to make this event truly successful and make it an annual event on the world bridge calendar.

Tentative dates are November 2-6,2016 and the venue is likely to be some 5-star hotel .

A brochure with details of the format and break up of prizes will be circulated within next two weeks or so. Top prize in GOLD will be $30000.

We hope to be able to provide free accommodation/food and no entry fee to few deserving foreign teams but everybody else will get to taste the Indian hospitality at its best.

So friends , please mark the dates on your calendar and start planning . Weather in November is quite pleasant and TAJ MAHAL is only 3-4 hours away from Delhi.

Website ( www.hcl-bridge.com ) will be updated as soon as hotel is booked and IBPA has promised to publicize this event. I expect other bridge federations will also help in promoting this event. We will do our best to ensure that every body goes back with fond memories and return in bigger numbers over years to come.

With warm regards

Subhash Gupta

( Mobile : +91-9811079843 )

April 20,2016