Zia Mahmood

Who is Zia Mahmood?

Zia Mahmood is a Pakistani professional bridge player. He is a World Bridge Federation and American Contract Bridge League Grand Life Master. He has a knack for bringing out the best in his partners and is regarded as one of the greatest players of the game. As of April 2011 he ranks number 10 among Open World Grand Masters.

Zia achieved international bridge fame practically overnight when he led Pakistan to second place in the 1981 Bermuda Bowl tournament. The Bermuda Bowl is the most important open world championship and that was the first participation by anyone from the current geographic zone "Asia and the Middle East", also tie for the best finish by anyone from outside Europe and the United States.

Five years later, Zia led a short-handed team from Pakistan to second place in the Rosenblum Cup tournament, which is the open world championship in even-number non-Olympic years. That remains tie for best finish by anyone from the outskirts. The event is transnational, but none of the nine winning teams has included a single player from outside Europe and the United States.