The ninth edition of the World University Bridge Championships is due to begin tomorrow in Chinese city Xuzhou ©FISU

The ninth edition of the World University Bridge Championships is due to begin tomorrow in Chinese city Xuzhou.

Four days of playing card action are scheduled at the Wyndham East Hotel.

Student players of the mind sport from all around the world will be in action with clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades set to take centre stage. 

The venue will also serve as the athletes' accommodation.

Belgian city Bruges hosted the first World University Bridge Championships in 2002.

The Wyndham East Hotel will stage the competition ©FISU
The Wyndham East Hotel will stage the competition ©FISU

Further editions followed in Istanbul in Turkey, Tianjin in China, Lodz in Poland, Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Reims in France and Opatja in Croatia.

Lodz then hosted for a second time in 2016, the last edition of the event before the flag was passed to Xuzhou.

Poland topped the medal table on home soil.