On-line bridge looks to attract more fans

China's women's team poses on the podium after winning the runner-up place in Sanya. [Provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

Ourgame, China's leading on-line bridge game developer and operator, reported an eight-fold monthly increase in mobile subscribers during the first nine months of this year after the 14th Redbull World Bridge Series, sponsored and organized by the company, ended in Sanya, South China's Hainan province.

Focusing on bridge games on PC and mobile terminals and listed in Hong Kong in June, Ourgame reported a monthly increase of PC subscribers of 333,000 in the third quarter, marking an annual increase of 20.7 percent.

The company plans to expand to attract more high-end subscribers. "Hosting the World Bridge Series provided us with a good chance to promote our brand and China's bridge culture," said Yang Qing, Ourgame's chairman and CEO.

It was the first time a world bridge tournament had been held in Asia and Ourgame is considering a world mahjong tournament to be based permanently in China

China has a bridge population of 500,000 with some political leaders and sports elite playing the game. Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and China's Go chess master Nie Weiping are among bridge players.

China's women's team was runner-up in Sanya.