KARACHI, March 27: Six top players of Pakistan have confirmed their participation in the Candyland Bridge Tournament which commences from Friday, at the National Stadium.

The national players will take this tournament as a warm up session for the Baliji Memorial which is due to commence next month.

According to a format announced by the President of the Karachi Bridge Association and Tournament Director Mohammad Azwerul Haque, two rounds in the Swiss Movement will be played on the inauguration day beginning at 6.00 p.m. The next day three rounds will be played beginning at 3.00 p.m., while on the final day, the remaining two rounds will begin at 11.00 a.m.

After the conclusion of the Swiss Movement, the four top teams will contest in the semi-finals and the final. The consolation rounds for the other players will be played side by side of the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the last pair event was announced. Forty pairs contested in the weekly pair event and were placed in two houses.

In the Red House, M.A. Ansari-Masood Mazhar topped with a handsome score of 61 percent, closely followed by team-mates Nasir Reza Khan-Abdul Khaliq with 60.38 percent.

The third berth was occupied by Gulzar Bilal-Pervaiz Mirza securing 55.33 percent.

In the other house, Wazir Durrani-Shahab Saeed once again displayed their artistry, heading the bunch with a score of 60.78 percent. Dr. Sarfraz-Azwerul Haque finished second with 58% followed by another veteran pair of M.G. Siddiqui-S.P. Jamal with 57%.—APP