Saudi Arabia hosts first-ever cards tournament

As a first, Saudi Arabia is currently hosting popular card game Baloot–playing tournament in its capital Riyadh.

The game is identical to the French game Belote and Rummy played in India and Pakistan.

The championship that started on the fourth of this month is scheduled to go on till the eighteenth at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre.

It will reward its top four players with more than SR 1 million ($270,000), the winner with SR 500,000.

According to some sources, more than 12,000 people are taking part in the unique championship.

Baleegh Abdullah, a participant, hopes to see women compete in this unique game and expects its popularity to grow.

“Baloot will definitely evolve through the championship. It’s a very competitive, clever game that relies on synchronicity between team members,” he said.

“Such prize money for a first-time championship is unprecedented. It was larger than expected, and I’m certain it will encourage people to develop an interest in the game,” he added.