Kyambogo University maintained its lead in the University Bridge Tours with 151 International Match Points (IMPs) after the UCU tour on Saturday.

Peterson Ntanzi and Michael Mwesigwa are the stars for Kyambogo, who collected 83 IMPs from Mukono, in the North-South League ahead of Andrew Sebuufu and Joseph Genza of Ndejje University who are on 124 IMPs having added 69 from Mukono leg.

UCU’s Joy Florence Awor/Rachael Ainamaani are placed third with 118 points, having collected 74 at home.

Another ladies' pair of Justine Moni/Rebecca Mirembe of Ndejje University are also still in the running for the final slots on Team Uganda having collected 115 IMPs to date.

Aruho Nabimanya/Prize Muhwezi of Makerere University who are on 114 points make the top five from the North-South League.

Students engage in Bridge during the UCU Bridge Tour in Mukono. Courtesy photo

In the East-West League, Uganda Christian University’s Uganda Christian University’s Jacob Shiisha and Morgan Wasswa are still top with 91 IMPs, ten ahead of Makerere University’s Emmy Masereka Rujumba/Asiimwe Kiiza Muhimbise who are second on 81 IMPs.

Kyambogo University’s Enock Kasibante/Collin Arinaitwe are on 75 points while Nkumba University’s Samuel Kuyu/Arnold Kigundu and Makerere University’s Isabella Namata/Agnes Anita Nakyazze are on 74 and 71 IMPs respectively.

The IUIU University Bridge Tour provided the first points accumulation qualification Circuit at IUIU Kabojja Campus on March 8 before the just-ended one at UCU.

After the next tour at Kyambogo University on April 6, the top five pairs from the N-S and E-W leagues shall qualify for the final tour at Makerere University on April 23. From the ten pairs at the Final Bridge Tour, 9 pairs shall qualify to represent Uganda at the FISU World University Mind Championship in June.

Bridge is a mind game played by four people (two-a-side) using a deck of 52 cards. The four people sit in a compass direction format (East-West versus North and South).

The deck of 52 cards is spread out to the four players meaning each gets 13 cards before the players go into what is known as the bidding process. The dealer guides on the bidding process with the person making the highest bid getting the contract, which is either to win a specific number of tricks.

In bridge, the one with the highest number of tricks wins the match. The total number of tricks that can be played in Bridge is 13. So the contract guides on how many tricks can be won from the cards in one’s hands.

The game has different versions that can be played including rubber bridge and contract bridge but for sport it is the duplicate bridge that is spread on the different tables during competitions.