World Youth Champion Anshul Bhatt Introduces Bridge to Chennai Audience at Rotary Club Event Chennai

March 13, 2026
World Youth Bridge Champion Anshul Bhatt conducted a special introductory session on the game of Bridge at the Madras Cricket Club, hosted by the Rotary Club of Madras, bringing together Rotarians, families, students, and Bridge enthusiasts for an engaging exploration of the classic mindsport.
Bhatt, one of India’s youngest world champions in Bridge and founder of the youth initiative BridgeBlitz, has been working to expand the reach of the game among younger players and new audiences across India.
Through BridgeBlitz, Bhatt has already trained more than 500 students directly, with an outreach of over 20,000 people through workshops, school clubs, bootcamps, and talks. His initiative aims to reintroduce Bridge as a modern, intellectually stimulating mindsport that develops strategic thinking, probability, teamwork, and decision-making.
Interactive Bridge Primer 
The Chennai event featured an interactive Bridge primer, where Bhatt shared his journey in the game, from learning Bridge as a child to winning three gold medals at the Under-16 World Youth Bridge Championships, before introducing the fundamentals of the game in a simple and engaging way.
The session included:
•    A talk on Bhatt’s journey in Bridge
•    A beginner-friendly introduction to the basic concepts of the game
•    Interactive demonstrations illustrating strategy and partnership
•    A fun mini-tournament where participants applied what they learned
Bhatt’s teaching approach combines storytelling, strategic insights, and hands-on play to make the game approachable for beginners.
Several students he has trained through BridgeBlitz have already gone on to represent India internationally, including a team that finished fourth at the World Youth Bridge Championships in 2025.
Strong Potential for Bridge in Chennai
Bhatt noted that Chennai, with its strong culture of intellectual games such as chess, has tremendous potential to develop a vibrant Bridge community.
He recalled a remark from World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, who once told him that Bridge today is roughly where chess was twenty years ago in terms of its growth trajectory.
“Bridge is not only a challenging mindsport but also a wonderful social game that brings people together across generations,” Bhatt said after the session.
“I was deeply impressed by the warmth and hospitality we experienced in Chennai. What stood out was the genuine curiosity people had about the game and how quickly they connected with it. With Chennai’s strong culture of intellectual games, I believe the potential for Bridge to grow here is tremendous, and through BridgeBlitz we hope to continue creating opportunities for more people to discover and enjoy the game.”
Bhatt also emphasised that beyond competitive play, Bridge has enormous potential as a recreational activity played in homes and communities, bringing families together across generations.
Distinguished Guests Praise Initiative
In his opening remarks, noted investor Govind Parekh highlighted Bhatt’s diverse achievements across multiple fields. He spoke about Bhatt’s accomplishments in bridge, his efforts to expand the reach of the game through initiatives like BridgeBlitz, his research on the effects of Bridge on cognition, and his technology-driven project aimed at improving canine health and mobility. 
Parekh said, “Anshul’s work reflects a rare combination of intellectual curiosity, competitive excellence, and a commitment to applying knowledge to real-world problems.”
Accomplished Chennai Bridge player Mukund Subramaniam praised Bhatt’s teaching ability. “What Anshul is doing for Indian Bridge is truly commendable. He is not only mentoring the next generation of Indian Bridge players but also helping mould future world champions. In the session, he explained concepts that normally take eight to ten sessions to learn within a single sitting, while still making the game accessible and engaging for newcomers. That reflects both a deep understanding of the game and a maturity that usually comes only from long experience. He is not only his family’s pride but India’s as well.”
Chartered Accountant Chellakrishna Gangadharan highlighted the intellectual appeal of the game that the session brought out.
“In just one session, Anshul helped me understand why Bridge becomes a lifelong passion for so many people. The game brings together mathematics, strategic thinking, and partnership in a way that makes it endlessly fascinating.”

BridgeBlitz: Bringing Bridge to All 

Bhatt sees such these BridgeBlitz outreach sessions as part of a larger vision to build a stronger youth bridge ecosystem in India through school clubs, training programs, and national-level youth participation.
Speaking about his mission, Bhatt said Bridge is one of the most powerful cognitive games ever created, combining mathematics, probability, psychology, and partnership strategy. However, he believes the game is often misunderstood as old-fashioned or inaccessible to younger audiences.
Through BridgeBlitz, he hopes to change that perception by introducing Bridge in schools, youth clubs, and community groups, building a new generation of players who see the game as intellectually rich like chess but uniquely collaborative.
Beyond competition, Bhatt is also interested in the cognitive benefits of Bridge, including its potential role in improving memory, decision-making, and long-term cognitive health.