Santo Domingo Bridge Club honors international leaders

Santo Domingo.- The Santo Domingo Bridge Club hosted a special tournament and ceremony to honor two influential figures in the world of bridge: Douglas Rotchell (Kip), President of the Central American and Caribbean Bridge Federation (CACBF) and member of the World Bridge Federation’s Executive Council, and José Miguel Martínez García (Fito), President of the Vergara Bridge Club in Madrid and academic collaborator with Spain’s National University of Distance Education (UNED). Fito is recognized for promoting intelligence development programs through bridge.

Held at St. Michael’s School, the event brought together bridge enthusiasts, media, and cultural and sports personalities, aiming to strengthen international ties and promote bridge in the Dominican Republic as a tool for enhancing cognitive and social skills.

Sonia Villanueva de Brouwer, president of the Santo Domingo Bridge Club, emphasized the importance of collaboration to expand the sport’s reach. She highlighted bridge as a lifelong investment in mental and social development. Founded in 1979 by Wilhelm Brouwer and other enthusiasts, the Santo Domingo Bridge Club has spent over four decades promoting bridge as a “gym for the mind,” helping players build memory, logic, strategic thinking, and concentration.

Affiliated with both the World Bridge Federation and the CACBF, the club plays a key role in regional bridge development. The sport is recognized globally for its mental benefits and is supported by notable advocates like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who encourage its inclusion in educational settings.