One month to go for World University Championship Mind Sports Online

Bydgoszcz, POLAND – In exactly one month from now, some of the best university-level Chess and Bridge players from the world over will get a chance to compete in the World University Mind Sports Championship, from 26-30 October 2020. The Championship was to be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, but has been switched to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Organising Committee of the Championship had prepared for and was looking forward to hosting the event in their city, but have now decided to ensure the online event is equally exciting. Ms. Katarzyna Domańska from the Organising Committee says they are putting in the preparation to make sure the online event is a success.

“There is a big difference between organising an event online and in a traditional way,” says Domańska. “Switching the Championship to an online version posed completely new challenges for the members of the Organising Committee. However, despite the event being held online, we will do our best to make participants and supporters come together and feel the spirit of sportsmanship – as if they were all sitting in the same sporting venue.”

Unlike many of the other World University Championships that had to be cancelled in 2020, Mind Sports had the advantage of at least having the option to hold the event online. The nature of Chess and Bridge is such that it can easily be played online and fans all around the world can tune in. The platforms that will be used for the competitions are Bridge Base Online and Chess.com.

Marcin Wasłowicz from the Organising Committee says, “The chosen platforms are widely used and known among the bridge and chess players. Many of the participants of the Championship would already play bridge and chess on the internet, and they woud have used these platforms.”   

The competition schedule for the event will be finalised through this weekend, while registrations for the event close on 11 October. National University Sports Federations (NUSFs) may enter their teams on the . Eligibility and other regulations can be found here. 

To ensure fans of both sports can follow the action, one highlight match of the day in each discipline will be livestreamed on Twitch and You Tube. The plans are falling in place and the 2020 World University Championship Mind Sports is gearing up to bring some action to university sports fans.