A brief history of WWBC

This was an annual event, born in 1986, with no limit to the number of centres, all playing the same boards across the world. It was last held in 2019.

The contest was open to clubs and other organisations in the territory of every National Bridge Organisation invited by the WBF to participate. Established bridge organisations in territories not yet affiliated to the WBF may be considered for invitation under special conditions.

WBF Year Points were awarded to the leading pairs in the rankings, both overall and for zonal and national rankings. Most NBOs also award their own Master points, usually on a scale appropriate to a national simultaneous Pairs.

Epson sponsored the event from 1986 to 1995. In 1996 Alcatel was the official sponsor.

In 1987, the Epson World Wide Bridge Contest was recognised as the biggest sporting event of all time and, as such, was published in the Guinness Book of Records. It was mentioned again in both 1988 and 1989.

The poster for the third Epson World-wide Bridge Contest won the first prize in a major sponsorship competition, poster section, in March 1988.