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  • James Bond

    Special Agent 007 chalked up 7C redoubled in Ian Fleming's novel "Moonraker."

  • Warren Buffett

    (b. 1930) - Billionaire investor and philanthropist. Buffett has a reputation of a die-hard player, having been quoted as saying, "If I'm playing bridge and a naked woman walks by, I don't even see her.

  • Deng Xiaoping

    (1904 - 1997) - Deng Xiaoping, the renowned Chinese leader who steered China into an era of reform and modernization, was not only a political mastermind but also a devoted bridge player.

  • Dwight Eisenhower

    Dwight Eisenhower

    (1890 - 1969) - WWII General and 34th President of the United States. Eisenhower had a reputation as an excellent bridge player in a 2009 NY Times article.

  • Bill Gates

    (b. 1955) - Billionaire businessman and philanthropist. Gates reportedly got addicted to bridge through Warren Buffett

  • Isaac Mizrahi

    (b. 1961) - Isaac Mizrahi is a well-known fashion designer, TV personality, and performer, but few people know about his passion for bridge. He has played regularly for 30 years and counting.

  • Martina Navratilova

    (b. 1956) - Tennis legend and winner of 59 Grand Slam titles. On the topic of bridge, she has been quoted as saying "No matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table."

  • Omar Sharif

    (1932 - 2015) - Charismatic star of "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago", Omar Sharif has also enjoyed a long career as an expert bridge player and columnist.

  • Snoopy

    Yes, Snoopy is a bridge player too. Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz, a long-time player, occasionally penned comic strips in which Snoopy, Woodstock (and Woodstock's buddies) play bridge. Alan Truscott once wrote an article about Snoopy's bridge game for the New York Times.

  • Giorgio Belladonna

    ( 1923 - 1995) - Member of the Italian Blue Team that won 13 Bermuda Bowl world championships and three World Olympiads.

  • Pietro Forquet

    (b. 1925) - Well-known in international play for his unflappable countenance, Forquet won 15 world championships while a member of the Italian Blue Team.

  • Benito Garozzo

    (b. 1927) - One of the world's best players for decades, Garozzo won 13 world championships, including the Bermuda Bowl 10 times.

  • Charles Goren

    (1901 - 1991) - "Mr. Bridge," as millions knew him, was a renowned player, writer and teacher.

  • Robert (Bob) Hamman

    C (b. 1938) - Considered by many to be the best player in the world, Hamman was a member of the famous Dallas Aces that trained as full-time bridge players in the '60s.

  • Oswald (Ozzie) Jacoby

    (1902 - 1984) - Ozzie Jacoby was one of the world's best players and writers for fifty years. In the '30s, Jacoby played on the famous Four Aces Team that won several national events.

  • Terence Reese

    (1913 - 1996) - Terence Reese was England's greatest bridge player and writer. He won the 1955 Bermuda Bowl world championship as well as 4 European titles and 20 national events.

  • Helen Sobel Smith

    (1910 - 1969) - When once asked how it felt to play with a great expert, Helen Sobel Smith pointed to longtime partner Charles Goren and said, "Ask him."

Photo credits: Blue Team: Federation Monegasque de Bridge, Warren Buffett: Wallpapers Junction, Dwight Eisenhower: wikia.com, Bill Gates: Huffington Post, Oswald Jacoby: Conde Nast Archive, Isaac Mizrahi: Getty Images, Martina Navratilova: Getty Images, Omar Sharif: gdefon.com, Snoopy: Charles Schulz