The Railway European Team Championship, which has recently been opened to some non-European teams as well, was launched in early 1950s and has been organised by Union Sportive Internationale des Cheminots (International Railwaymen Sports Association). It is being held in four year cycles and only prior to the 1968 gaps between consecutive events was as small as three years. The event was heavily dominated by Eastern European nations, mainly by the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Poland. The standards of play are mediocre. The championship sees many expert and master class players, but rarely titled ones. The next edition is scheduled for 2008.