The individual world championships began on Sunday for the main draw. All the men’s 45, 50 and 55 players played and all the 35 and 40s men without byes. The mixed also started yesterday. Today all the women’s divisions begin play.

Yesterday, Sunday,My doubles partner, Pam Cooke, and I practiced in the early afternoon with Tracy Houk from the 50s team and Anne Kerwin-Payne from NorCal, her doubles partner.

In the late afternoon we went to the opening ceremony. It was Pam’s first opening ceremony. It was different from any opening ceremony I’d been to in past championships. It was in the middle of the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens. Food from sponsors, Brio and PF Changs was set up around the perimeter. Players chatted and ate, then volunteers carrying flags of participating countries (over 50 nations this week) walked quickly past, there were some speeches and a raffle and it was over.

I got a bye in singles and doubles. I think I will play singles tomorrow and doubles on Wednesday. The draw is very tough, but that’s why we play this event!

It’s still very very warm and muggy here.