High Court judge to rule whether card game bridge is a sport

Read more: Some facts you didn't know about Bridge

A High Court judge is to rule whether bridge is a sport after a legal challenge by the English Bridge Union.

The case was brought after Sport England refused to recognise the card game as a sport.

Mr Justice Dove is expected to spend the next two days analysing arguments at a hearing in London.

Union officials say having bridge recognised as a sport will benefit the game.

"Sport England refused to recognise bridge as a sport, a position which the EBU believes to be inconsistent with both the wishes of Parliament, and the opinion of significant international sporting organisations," said an EBU spokesman.

The EBU says it has the definition of sport in the 2011 Charities Act on its side - activities "which promote health involving physical or mental skill or exertion" - as well as the International Olympic Committee, which said in 1999 that bridge and chess should be considered "mind sports".

Omar Sharif was a keen bridge player. Credit: PA

"When ruling on what constituted a sport in the 2011 Charities Act, Parliament specifically included 'mind sports', stating that sport comprised 'activities which promote health involving physical or mental skill or exertion'."

He said bridge required "undoubted levels of mental skill" and had "known health benefits".

Around 300,000 people in the UK play bridge, which was popular with prominent figures includiung Winston Churchill and Omar Sharif.