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COVID-19: the Bridge Empire Strikes Back

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COVID-19: the Bridge Empire Strikes Back BeBRIDGE №02 16 MAY.JUN. 2020 COVID-19: the bridge empire strikes back PANDEMIC Not spared by the health crisis that has affected the whole world for months, the bridge community is having to readjust at all levels. An overview of the game under lockdown, from the first difficulties to emerging solutions, to possible developments. BeBRIDGE №02 MAY.JUN. 2020 17 •LIVE by Gabriel Taïeb +15% increase in time spent on chat and video conferencing applications in the 1st quarter of 2020. The sequence of events is known to all: a heavy human toll, the expansion of containment measures, the closing of borders… In the face of this crisis, there have been many consequences. Among them, the sudden slowdown in the world of bridge, which has been forced e sounded the alarm, to follow established rules to stem the “ loud and clear. It’s not spread of the virus. At the start of the Wjust a public health year, competitions had to be canceled crisis: it’s a crisis that will affect all sectors.” in China and then around the world, It was with these words that the Director directly impacting professional players. General of WHO spoke on March 11, Quickly, amateurs were also affected. 2020, describing for the first time the Today, all bridge players are facing this situation related to COVID-19 pandemic. unprecedented situation. BeBRIDGE №02 18 MAY.JUN. 2020 “In this new context, the game has something reassuring. The share of usability and friendliness it provides is extremely important”. Monick Lebrun-Niesing, psychologist and researcher. International closure faced with the cessation of their activities. As a professional bridge player and “We are on stand-by. My whole team is member of the French team, Thomas on partial unemployment, and I an busy Bessis testifies on the phone informing and reassuring 25% to the difficulties customers”, explains the director of Bridge The Norwegian encountered by Plus, Euriell Queran. The family business, federation has champions who can specialising in the organisation of trips and decided to no longer travel. simultaneous pairs, concentrate its “I and one of my normally achieves efforts on the main partners were most of its sales for development of new quickly informed of summer holidays online activities. the seriousness of the during this period. “We In addition to an situation because we had a contract in organise by staying increasing number of free and paid China, where a championship was to be in contact with our tournaments on held in March. The next to be cancelled was service providers, but Funbridge and BBO the long awaited North American Spring we are very dependent the federation's Championship in Colombus. March-April on announcements from the government members are now is normally a important period for these and the way in which the relaxation of also offered online two countries. We professional players lockdown is organised. We try to postpone learning courses. live from sponsors, a maximum of our holidays to later dates, These efforts have and competitions. mostly in September-October. Fortunately, resulted in a 25% And all of these we have very loyal and understanding reduction in the annual contracts seem customers.” federation's deficit. compromised.” Asked about his current situation, Bessis The situation abroad said that he trained every Contacted by the editorial staff of day on BBO, but only BeBRIDGE, several representatives of received “around foreign federations were able to testify to 20% of (his) usual the situation in their remuneration respective countries. during this period”. “Faced with the He nevertheless virus, Sweden has underlines the taken a completely support of his different direction sponsors, who [from other European continue to countries]. Our accompany him as country has - for the best as possible in moment at least - decided not to impose online events. confinement and to keep schools open” The situation is say two representatives of the Swedish similar for tour federation. Aware of the emergency, and on operators, who are the recommendation of the federation, the BeBRIDGE №02 MAY.JUN. 2020 19 •LIVE vast majority of bridge clubs have nevertheless closed. “We have made the decision to cancel our most prestigious event, the Open Teams, and we are awaiting new information before deciding on the other major competitions. We encourage clubs to organise games on and employees BBO, but unfortunately their service only having tested positive accepts a limited number of new arrivals”, for COVID-19. Its deplores the president of the federation, director, Joseph Jones, Martin Lofgren. In Norway, the federation nevertheless wants 60 000 has decided to focus its efforts on the to be reassuring and players have connected development of new online activities. In indicates “the safety addition to a multiplication of free and paid and well-being of simultaneously to tournaments on Funbridge and BBO, the our employees and Funbridge and BBO teachers of the federation continue their our members are courses at a distance. These efforts made it our main concern”. to play online. possible to reduce the federation’s deficit by The ACBL was forced 25%. “But that's not to cancel major events, all! Members of our including the national national team were kind enough to test our idea ‘play with a star online’, which allows amateur players to team up with a champion. The concept appealed to many, and I think it has great potential. Maybe that will give BBO the idea of hiring professional players”, enthuses Kari-Anne Opsal, president of the www.bridge-academy.com Norwegian federation.The online approach is shared in particular by the Polish and Israeli federations, which are moving towards new solutions to maintain their activities and continue to support their national clubs. The largest representative of bridge organisations in North America, the American Contract Bridge League www.bridgebase.com (ACBL) has been directly impacted by the pandemic, with several of its players www.funbridge.com BeBRIDGE №02 20 MAY.JUN. 2020 “Faced with the massive influx of players, we have worked with federations around the world to offer alternatives”. Olivier Comte, président of 52 Entertainment. spring and summer championships, Bringing together more than 50 Ile-de- without the certainty of being able to France clubs and 6,000 licensees, the postpone them. However, the organisation Paris Bridge Committee focuses all of its remains active “at a distance”, with daily energy on support. Its “Support Your Club” tournaments on president, Dominique BBO. In China, there are many online Portal, details the © Caroline Moreau © Caroline tournaments, and many platforms are used, actions carried out: but the federation has decided to make all “We have started to these services free to allow everyone to play. relay information allowing independent A world of solutions professionals to benefit In France, clubs – whose activities from the aid put in have ceased since March 13 on the place. We also help clubs on all technical recommendation of the FFB – are also aspects of launching tournaments remotely. evolving. Finally, we list all these tournaments, with Ever more inventive players If Funbridge and BBO are like behemoths – all the more so today –, their limitations encourage others to be creative. Indispensable in this period of lockdown, chat and video conferencing applications such as WhatsApp, Zoom and Discord are also booming. Mobile market analysis company App Annie has also seen a 15% increase in the time spent on applications in the first quarter of 2020, with an increase in downloads of games and communication applications. It is therefore quite natural that players begin to turn to these solutions which allow them, on a private server, to chat with their playing friends and to film a game. The most experienced even turn to scripts that allow you to recreate a game directly on the chat service, or even to the Tabletop Simulator software which, as the name suggests, allows you to simulate almost any board game with the ability to configure each detail as desired. Enthusiastic spectators can also find many games broadcast live on the Twitch streaming platform. BeBRIDGE №02 MAY.JUN. 2020 21 85% •LIVE Information sites have never seen such an increase in traffic. The demand has been so great that A solidarity sites have been forced to close fund for temporarily. weakened clubs In partnership with the world federations, Funbridge and BBO quickly decided to create an aid fund for clubs, to help them get through the crisis. “As companies in the business of playing games online, our support for clubs may seem their contradictory”, confesses timetables Olivier Comte, and access president of 52 methods, Entertainment to allow our (group owner licensees to of Funbridge, BBO play quickly and Le Bridgeur), and simply.” “however, we are only On the Bridge a complementary Academy site, the service, which will never students of Alain Levy replace the real social and Michel Bessis can experience of bridge. continue their distance This is why we believe it learning, and keep in is essential to support the community”. To touch with their teachers feed this fund, the via email. Other national president of the group owner of BBO and platforms now offer clubs, such as that of Olivier Funbridge. Previously, the two sites used to special tournaments, Giard in Toulouse, host 25,000 players simultaneously. Today, as well as a new also continue their nearly 60,000 players are connected at the mode of virtual clubs, educational mission, same time. allowing the vast but they note that majority of the benefits some members have Think about the future to go to professionals difficulties in using However, for Olivier Comte, it is urgent in difficult situations. computers and online to come to the aid of the clubs, which are Building on their tools.
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