Page 5 - ABF Newsletter April 2025

On the 17th March, I received the sad news of the passing of the President of the World Bridge Feder- ation, Jan Kamras. Jan passed away peacefully, after a period of illness. On behalf of the Australian bridge community, the ABF Board sent our condolences to his family and friends.
One of Jan’s initiatives was to introduce the WBF World Tour, a ranking system based on cumulative performances at Bridge Championships. The Trophy for the winners is named after Jan and this year the winners were our very own Sartaj Hans and Andy Hung, with Nabil Edgtton and Michael Whibley in second place. An amazing achievement from the boys from down under and across the ditch.
I congratulate the QBA, Kim and Ray Ellaway, Tim Runting, Richard Ward and the rest of the Gold Coast Congress staff and helpers on another highly successful Gold Coast Congress. The GCC is widely acknowledged as one of the finest bridge events in the world and is part of the World Bridge Federa- tion’s World Tour. There is still a glimmer of hope
WBF 1st VP Ben Thompson, Andy Hung, Sartaj Hans, WBF 2nd VP Eric Laurant
that the ABF will run the event in 2026, while the QBA has a well-earned rest.
Click here to meet the four teams will represent Australia in the 54th Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships to be held in Hefei Anhui, China from 17-25 May. I wish them every success and en- courage you to join me in following their progress.
On my recent train journey in Queensland, I was fortunate to play a session at the Townsville Bridge Club. Thank you to the President, Wilfred Tapiolas, and all the players for making me feel so welcome. I will be playing the Barrier Reef in Yeppoon and the River City Gold in May and the ANC in Brisbane, in July. I look forward to talking to players and officials and hearing their suggestions on matters relating to the ABF. If encourage players to take the plunge and play in a Licensed event in 2025.
The best of bridge to you all.
WBF World Tour Final photos courtesy of WBF
Ben Thompson with runners-up Nabil Edgtton and Michael Whibley
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: April 2025
Page: 5