UK court asked: if darts is a sport, why not bridge?

Men play cards during a ceremony in Hanoi February 10, 2014. REUTERS/Kham

LONDON (Reuters) - Bridge enthusiasts began a court challenge in London on Tuesday against a decision by funding body Sport England to exclude the card game from a list of recognised sports that includes darts, model aircraft flying, hot air ballooning and angling.

At stake for bridge lovers is a potential source of funding as well as new opportunities to play, while for Sport England the risk if bridge succeeds is that the likes of chess, Scrabble and other "mind sports" will also want recognition and money.