TWO boys who play bridge, a trick-taking card game, have beaten their senior peers and won the Oxford Times Cup for less experienced bridge players.

Freddie Beneat, 13, from Abingdon and Zane Soonawalla,14, from Oxford, have been playing the game for almost five years now at Oxford Junior Bridge Club which was set up in 2014.

The teenagers were 'surprised' to win the Cup last month and are the first junior bridge players to win since it was donated by the Oxford Times in 2002.

Bridge, which is commonly played amongst older people, is a game that involves four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table.

Using a standard 52-card deck, each partnership attempts to score points by making its bid, or by defeating the opposing partnership’s bid.

At the end of play, the side with the most points wins.

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Zane said he started playing when he saw his dad playing the game on his iPad, and said he would rather play the card game than computer games.

He said: “My dad played it but not properly as he would play it on his iPad. I found it interesting, so I started to get involved.

“I love playing it because it feels empowering. I definitely prefer this than playing computer games.”

Freddie stumbled across a bridge book which sparked his curiosity into the game.

He said: “I found a book at a car boot sale about it and decided to start playing. I’ve always loved playing chess and board games and I like numbers so I enjoy it. I do still love playing computer games though - I balance the two.”

Bridge is more commonly played by older people and there is even a World Bridge Federation.

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The game is also played in Parliament with an annual game between the House of Lords and The House of Commons which Oxford Junior Bridge Club members get to watch.

The club, based on 147 Banbury Road, Oxford, was set up by Holly Kilpatrick.

She said: “No one else would do it and everyone asked me when I would set it up. Everyone was looking to me to do it.

"One thing for sure was that it had to be done well to appeal to children.”

There are 16 children between the ages of 8 and 18 who play at the club, and both Freddie and Zane have been selected to train with the England Under 16 coach, Giorgio Provenza.

Freddie is also a member of the England Under 16 team who have won the heat of World Bridge Federation Under 16 online championships, beating favourites, the U.S.A. and China.

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Zane and his father, Zahir, also won the Sandra Landy Trophy at the Oxfordshire Congress on Sunday June 9, another cup for less experienced players but never before won by a junior.

His father is proud of Zane’s achievements so far.

The 52-year-old said: “I love how involved he is with the game. It gives me someone to play it with and we can learn from each other.”

To join the club, email juniorbridgeoxford@gmail.com.