Meet The Unexpected First King of the Bridge Points Circuit

Funbridge’s new Bridge Points Circuit, launched on November 1st, has quickly become a popular success, drawing players from around the world to compete for top rankings and titles. After a thrilling first weekend of tournaments, a king has emerged—unexpected, perhaps, but undisputed: Roelof van Lopik. With an already comfortable lead over his rivals in the Live rankings, Roelof had plenty of time to give Funbridge his first interview! Here is the story of the Circuit’s first world number one, a player who has captured the top spot with both skill and humility.

The Consistency Champion

At 65, Roelof van Lopik may not have expected to become the first world number one on Funbridge’s newly launched Bridge Points Circuit, but his humble and pragmatic approach to the game has nonetheless earned him the inaugural top spot. A retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Dutch Infantry, Roelof brings both discipline and dedication to his love for bridge—a passion that started back in 1997.

His strategy? Play a lot of instant tournaments to accumulate points right from the start. Of course, other players applied this tactic during the first weekend, but the difference lies in Roelof’s performance. Not only did he play a lot, but it was by scoring an average of over 60% in each of his tournaments that he secured the throne.

A Humble Ascent to the Top

Reflecting on his recent ascent, Roelof admits he finds it “funny” to be at the top of the ladder, though he’s quick to downplay his achievement. “I’m convinced it won’t last long,” he says. Rather than considering himself the best, he sticks to a personal motto: “It’s better to play often good than occasionally fantastic.” His rise in the rankings was more about achieving a level that he feels reflects his capabilities, and he set a goal of reaching level 40, which would mean earning the title of Master (read more about levels and titles here!). Starting at level 14, he impressively climbed to level 27 within just four days.

Although he enjoys the number one ranking, Roelof has no plans to defend the top spot. He anticipates that when higher-value tournaments—the BP200 and BP500—come into play, new challengers will rise and take the lead. For him, it’s less about holding onto a fleeting title and more about finding joy and personal achievement within the game itself.

Breaking Records? Just Another Day for Roelof

While his success on the Bridge Points Circuit is noteworthy, Roelof is no stranger to holding records. In fact, he holds an impressive one with the Dutch Masterpoints. “In 2021, when the Dutch Bridge Association (NBB) started collaborating with Funbridge, I challenged myself to break some records in my 25th season,” he explains. His goal led him to play at least 100 hands every day, ultimately surpassing 100,000 Masterpoints in less than three years. “That’s a record that probably will never be broken again,” he adds, a testament to his endurance and passion for the game. Currently, Roelof ranks 26th in the Dutch Masterpoints standings.

The Dog behind the Man

Apart from bridge, Roelof finds joy in his other passion: his dog, Yuki. A stunning Labrador with a flair for social media, Yuki has amassed a following of over 27,000 fans on Twitter under the handle @LabradorYuki. The account began as a lighthearted project but has since become a regular hobby for Roelof, who shares daily photos and videos of Yuki, often accompanied by music he composes on GarageBand. Living in a home adjacent to a dog park, he captures Yuki’s antics and shares them with fans worldwide, creating a wholesome distraction from everyday worries.

As the Bridge Points Circuit’s first world #1, Roelof van Lopik brings a refreshing perspective to the game—one grounded in consistent play, personal enjoyment, and a sense of humor about his own accomplishments. His story reminds us that sometimes, it’s the unexpected achievements that resonate the most, especially when they’re achieved with humility and an eye toward the simple pleasures in life.

Who knows when Roelof will pass the torch to another king? In any case, his legacy as the first world number one on the new Funbridge circuit will remain an inspiring chapter in the history of Bridge Points.

Some thoughts from the Funbridge Team on this first weekend

First of all, congratulations to Roelof Van Lopik on his well-deserved world number one ranking! Also, thank you to all the players who turned out for the opening of the Bridge Points Circuit. What a pleasure to see so many players enjoying the tournaments every day!

We’ve designed the Bridge Points Circuit’s Live rankings in the hope of seeing the best players at the top. Roelof’s performance has naturally led to him taking the crown, but his lead over the rest of the field is down to the relentless pace he has set himself by playing a huge number of instant tournaments. To make sure that the rankings reflect the level of players and not just their regular attendance, we will be taking measures on Bridge Points instant tournaments over the next few days. This will probably take the form of limiting the number of instant tournaments you can play each day.

We’re only at the beginning of the adventure, as the Live ranking is a 365-day rolling ranking. There are plenty of twists and turns in store, particularly with the arrival of BP200 and BP500 tournaments, which offer 2 times and 5 times more Bridge Points respectively than BP100 tournaments. Stay tuned!

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