I’ve been playing with the idea of writing a list of famous bridge players for a while, but held off on doing it until now.

Why?

First, I had to ask myself how one would define a famous bridge player.

A famous bridge player might be known to people far outside of bridge (for example, Gates), but a famous player could also be very niche with a name that only flies within bridge circles (and no, no examples there).

I decided to go with names that might be more readily recognized by non-bridge players.

It’s a more general definition of the word “fame”, but if you’re okay with that, let’s proceed.

Here’s a look at 7 famous bridge players (you might not know played bridge).

1: Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie brought mystery and detective fiction to the forefront, and managed to keep it there.

As far as detective fiction goes, Christie’s name is unavoidably synonymous with the genre. Her writings have found their way to stages and screens, and inspired even more detective fiction by authors that came after her.

Oh, and she’s also on this list because she happened to play bridge.

Readers of her work might have spotted the bridge references throughout her work as a clue.

2: Bob Hamman

Bob Hamman is known as Mr Bridge around here, but he’s also many other things at the same time.

This article in Texas Monthly reveals a bit more about Mr Bridge as a career professional and person outside the world of bridge – and it’s a fascinating read.

Why is Bob famous to people who don’t play bridge?

Well, because he’s so damn good at his job: Insurance.

3: Geir Helgemo

Geir Helgemo is a championship bridge player – and anyone would be either honoured or absolutely terrified to face him as an opponent at the tables. (Guess which I’d be?)

He’s one of those players who are more than good. He’s obsessively good.

Helgemo also became known to a lot of non-players when he was fingered for a doping ban. Most players and organizations, surprisingly for the time, came out to support him and his games thereafter.

Well done! Glad to see you’re back, friend.

4: Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif is perhaps most famous as an actor. He appeared in films such as Lawrence Of Arabia, and also happened to leave his impression on the bridge universe during his life. 

Watching his movies today, I can see why he was my grandmother’s greatest crush alongside Elvis.

Bridge With Omar Sharif. Just Google it.

You’ll be glad you did.

5: Jimmy Cayne

Jimmy Cayne is famous outside of the bridge world for being an investor – and a rather decent one at that.

The shortest possible summary of everything you could read on Wikipedia would say that Jimmy Cayne runs with the richer hounds. He’s perhaps the kind of player you should either embrace or avoid at a money bridge event.

6: Tom Moulton

I’m familiar with music that dates from many eras, but I have to confess that I’m not all that friendly with disco. I guess I just didn’t have those kinds of parents – and frankly, they didn’t have those types of friends.

Disco is a genre which I’m only beginning to edge into later in life. So far, I like the journey there.

I happened to read that Tom Moulton, one of the Disco gods I have been told to research, also plays bridge. Well, now I dig him a little more (and I’ve also included him on this list, see).

7: Bill Gates

Finally, we get to Bill Gates.

He might be one of the most famous bridge players outside the world of bridge, and you knew that this list was going to go there.

He was instrumental in everything that could be related back to the personal computer. That, I’d say, is pretty amazing.

Here’s to Gates – and of course, to his bridge game.

Which famous bridge players can you add to the list?