The Executive Board of the Indonesian Bridge Association (PB Gabsi) is being urged to take immediate, concrete steps to resolve a dispute over prize money payments at a bridge tournament held in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. This urge comes after the Bridge Tournament Center (BTC) felt aggrieved by not receiving the promised prize money.
Thoriq Alkatiri, CEO and owner of BTC, emphasized the vital role of PB Gabsi as the governing body to act as a mediator. This intervention is considered crucial to guarantee the protection of rights for participating athletes, coaches, and clubs, while also maintaining the integrity and dignity of national bridge tournament organizing.
The issue stems from a tournament held from June 12 to 14, 2026. The event attracted great interest with a total prize pool of Rp250 million and even featured international participants from Singapore and the Philippines. However, up to now, BTC reports that they have not received the remaining prize payment of Rp30 million as the second-place winners.
Furthermore, Thoriq stressed that resolving this issue is urgent. He expressed concern that if left unaddressed, the incident could damage the trust of the bridge community across various regions, particularly in Kalimantan, regarding future tournament organization. It is hoped that firm action by PB Gabsi can minimize similar risks in the future.
