BAMSA has just published a new academic paper on bridge sponsors. The paper is titled: “Paying to be at the Bridge Table: An exploration of the playing-sponsor experience in mindsport”. BAMSA’s thirteenth peer-reviewed paper features in the journal: Sociological Research Online.

The paper is based on in-depth interviews with elite-level bridge sponsors. Some of the world’s top sponsors share their views of what it is like to pay to play with professional players. Insights are shared from well-known sponsors including Nick Nickell, Marty Fleisher, Alex Allfrey, Janet de Botton, Lynn Baker, Vinita Gupta, Geeske Joel and Simon Gillis.  It also includes the views of two sponsors who have more recently made the unusual transition of becoming a professional player themselves: Roy Welland and Susanna Gross.

The playing-sponsor is important for the financing of elite bridge but occupies an, often awkward, role as both a sponsor/employer and a player. The paper discusses three key themes: the negotiation of combining identities as an employer, friend and bridge partner; the power dynamics between sponsor and bridge pro; and the tensions and stigma of bridge sponsorship. In particular, it explores how the sponsor has to navigate being a relatively powerful financial benefactor whilst simultaneously being widely regarded as the weaker player in the bridge partnership.

A two-page summary and the full paper can be accessed via the links below.

Paying to be at the Bridge Table: Full Paper

Paying to be at the Bridge Table: Summary

Thanks to Francesca Canali for the photo of Nick Nickell.