Maurice Weissberger had been one of Great Britain’s finest players both in domestic and international competitions.

Internationally, his best result was finishing second with the late Joan Durran in the World Mixed Pairs in 1966. This, along with numerous other good performances, helped him become one of the very few British players ever to achieve the World Bridge Federation’s rank of World Master.

The pinnacle of his outstanding domestic record was achieving back to back wins in the Lederer Trophy in 1966/67.

As a bridge theorist, Maurice invented the convention known as Extended Stayman, where, if the auction begins 1nt-2c-2d, then a bid of 3d asks the 1nt opener to show if he has one or both 3 card majors.

Maurice was still playing rubber bridge at the Avenue Bridge Club in Hove shortly before his death 2009, March 3, just short of his 90th birthday.

After the death of his partner the famous Joan Durran with whom he won the aforementioned world silver, Maurice donated a cup to remember her name.

The Durran Weissberger Cup is awarded annually to the winners of the first division of the County League. It is fitting that the County should have this permanent reminder of two of its most talented and successful players.