Review WINS WORLD OLYMPIAD

• FOURTH OPEN SERIES GOLD MEDAL FOR FRANCE! • FOURTH USA VICTORY OF WOMEN’S SERIES OLYMPIAD

After a fine performance, FRANCE won the gold medal in the open series of the 10th . This is the fourth time France has taken the gold medal in this event, thus breaking ’s record of three gold medals. The only other countries who have won the open Olympic title are , and the USA. The took the gold medal in the women’s series thus recapturing it for the first time since 1984. With four gold medals in this series, the USA has just as spectacular a record, as France. The 10th World Bridge Team Olympiad, held in Rhodes, , October 19-November 2, 1996, was an unprecedented success, as 72 countries took part - 14 more than the previous record which has stood since Valkenbourg ’80.

• More on pages 6-7

43rd GENERALI EUROPEAN IN THIS ISSUE n Editorial ...... 2 n Interview with the Patrick TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Jourdain, President of the Tournament round-up . . 2 n . . . . . 8 Open - Ladies - Seniors 1997 European Open and n n France and top field Senior Pairs Championships 15-29 June 1997 in 1996 PHILIP MORRIS Euro- will take place in The Hague, March 17-22...... 3 pean Mixed Championships, held successfully in Monte 6th GENERALI EUROPEAN n Letter from the President 4 Carlo ...... 9 LADIES PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP n : interview n Bridge on the Internet: 15-17 June 1997 with the IBPA personality of launch of the WBF Internet 1996 ...... Ë. . . . 5 Server ...... 10 n France and USA win gold Centro Congressi n The 1996 EBL Bridge Pro- medals in attendance record- motion Week ...... 11 Montecatini Terme, Italy breaking 1996 World Team Olympiad ...... 6-7 n Competition Calendar. 12 While 1995 was a year of great changes in EBL administration, 1996 was The Carpathian Mountains Regional differently marked. The 1st Carpathian Mountains 5. 62 After two decades of con- Regional Championship was 6. 61 tinuous support, PHILIP organized by the Polish Bridge MORRIS decided not to Union (PBU), under the aus- The winning Polish team con- renew their sponsorship pices of the European Bridge sisted of the two top pairs: Balicki - Zmudzinski and contract with the EBL, and League and the Polish Foreign thus our cooperation was Martens - Szymanowski. Ministry. The event took place terminated. in Nowy Sacz, Poland, 19-21 The local MP and the Hungarian European bridge benefit- April 1996. The largest Polish Consul were among many VIPs ted greatly from PHILIP computer company OPTIMUS who attended the Closing Cere- MORRIS sponsorship, and S.A. was the main sponsor. mony. In his speech, the Mayor we regret this develop- of Nowy Sacz City stressed the Six teams took part in the tour- ment although it is well necessity of organizing such nament: , Hun- known that a sponsorship events in order to increase the agreement does not last gary, , Ukraine, Poland cooperation and friendship for ever. and the team representing the between neighboring countries. It is now up to us to show Nowy Sacz prefecture. Each He promised his continuing that our foundation is team played a 20- match support for the Championship strong enough to with- against the rest. After two days in the future. PBU Chairman stand any loss, and the of play, the final results were: Andrzej Orlow thanked the Nowy EBL has taken steps in Sacz City Council and the OPTI- 1. Poland 111 this direction. One such MUS S.A. company for their step is this issue of EBL 2. Czech Republic 80 hospitality and financial sup- Review; another, the 1997 3. Romania 68 port. edition of the EBL Competition Calendar. 4. Nowy Sacz 62 Radoslaw Kielbasinski Both publications came into existence with the support of PHILIP The International Festival MORRIS; without it, both publications not only con- The annual Israel Festival was attendance of more than 100 tinue to exist but now held in Tel Aviv, 15-24 February children, aged 7-12, who play- appear in full colour. 1996 with enormous success. ed in a special event. Players from more than 20 Among the foreign visitors were The situation is similar countries took part, and the total Geir Helgemo Geir-Olav with the European Pairs and attendance reached a record of Tislevoll of who won the Championships which will some 2,750 tables! be held in March in The Open Pairs and the Swiss Teams. Hague. PHILIP MORRIS Over 10 national teams partici- The overall winner was David was behind the large cash pated in the Festival, together Birman of Israel, who also prizes which made these with 10 world champions. How- received high credit as Chairman Championships attractive ever, the highlight was the of the Organizing Committee. to hundreds of players. Such prizes are not only to be retained, but they will The Forbo International be even larger this year. The 4th Forbo-Krommenie Inter- We still enjoy the support national Bridge Tournament took of GENERALI and look for- place in Scheveningen, The ward to other partner- , 9-11 February 1996. ships; however, it is posi- There were three events. tive to test our self- The Friendship Cup was a pairs reliance when necessary. WBF President José Damiani tournament for businessmen, poli- glorifies Haas, the team winners ticians and the parliamentary press. The Nations Cup was won in spec- In the Teams, the squad of Steve tacular fashion by Italy who did not Haas () finished ahead of lose any match! They were followed Modalfa (Netherlands) and Lavazza by an ‘Intercontinental’ combina- (Italy) in the 64-team field. tion, The Netherlands and France. The Hague

The venue of the Championships is a green and leafy city by the sea - a sparkling government seat where culture, spectacle and events are all fight- ing for the visitor’s attention!

The city boasts a variety of attrac- tions, exciting places to visit, museums and an abundance of palaces and museums. The Hague is a great place for shopping, and has many good restaurants. Nearby is the resort of Scheveningen with many hotels, a casino and other seaside attractions.

• 9 sessions The Hague • 1st prize: SFr 10,000 The Netherlands • Fee: SFr 400 (per pair) EUROPEAN OPEN PAIRS PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIPS SENIOR PAIRS 17-22 March 1997 • 6 sessions (one a day) • 1st prize: SFr 2,500 • Entry Fee: SFr 300 (per pair)

The Netherlands Congress Centre Entries to the EBL An international Congress and Convention Centre with style. There are catering facilities on site where meals will be available between playing (through the Federations only) sessions; each evening the buffet will be of a different European cuisine. close on 16 February 1997 The Netherlands Congress Centre is an easy 15-minute journey on public transport from both the city centre and the seaside resort of Scheveningen. he structure of dupli- The Norwegian Team who won T cate bridge is like a the Junior Event in the Europe- huge pyramid. At the an Bridge League Youth Cham- bottom, and by far the most pionships, held in Cardiff in numerous, are the bridge August (with second clubs providing regular dupl- and third) and Germa- icate games for their mem- ny who won the Schools Event bers. The next step in the pyr- (with Israel second and Great amid are the local and region- Britain third). al organization. Above them the National Federation and And with pride of place going then finally the International to the French Open Team of organizations, which here in Christian Mari, Marc Bompis, LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Europe means the European Henri Szwarc, Frank Multon, Bridge League. Alain Levy and Hervé Mouiel, There is no doubt that the non playing captain Jean- International Bridge Cham- Louis Stoppa who won the pionships add lustre to the Gold Medal in the l0th World game. They are the beacons Bridge Team Olympiad that shining from the top of the was held in Rhodes in October/ November. (And pyramid. We can all aspire to we must not overlook the becoming top International Danish Open Team who bridge players. We can all secured the Bronze Medal.) admire the top players. But in reality it is only a few who France were of course the make it to the very top. holders of the World Bridge It gives me great pleasure to Team Olympiad and it is a be able to add my congratula- truly remarkable performance I mentioned at the beginning members. That provides the of this letter. It is the solid, solid base of the ‘huge pyra- tions to the European bridge to have won again. If they win reliable base of the pyramid, mid’ from which to launch players who achieved great- for a third time in the year comprising hundreds and international success of the ness in 1996. These include: 2000, I wonder if they will be allowed to keep the trophy! thousands of bridge players, few at the top. And, second, Veronique and Michel Bessis, which enables Federations to the bigger a Federation be- Catherine Saul and Paul The French Open Team re- promote and finance their comes the more it commands Chemla of France who won flects great credit on the Fed- International players. attention from both Govern- the European Mixed Teams eration Française de Bridge In January the EBL held its ments and commercial spon- held in in March and which is one of the largest third Bridge Promotion Week sors. and Fritz Kubak and most successful NCBOs in conjunction with the Feder- At the beginning of 1996 there of Austria who won the Euro- in Europe. It is an excellent azione Italiana Gioco Bridge. were 385,000 registered pean Mixed Pairs. example of the ‘huge pyramid’ 24 NCBOs were represented bridge players in Europe. By in a week of hard work for the time you read this letter presenters and delegates a- the number will have exceed- EBL Congress elects new like. I know that the exchange ed 400,000. It is the aim of of ideas has benefitted all who the EBL to have over 500,000 President and Treasurer attended and has positively registered bridge players by the end of 1999. For everyone A special meeting of the EBL Congress, held last March inspired some NCBOs who have already started to imple- in Europe – but in particular in Monte Carlo, elected Bill Pencharz of Great Britain ment improvements learnt in for the clubs, teachers and the new President of the . At Milan. Two clear messages administrators – our clarion the same meeting, Feijo Durksz of the Netherlands came out of Milan. These are, call must be, ‘half a million was voted the League’s new Treasurer. first, that a Bridge Federa- by the millennium!’. The elections became necessary following the death of tion is built from the bottom André Boekhorst who had been elected EBL President up and second that bigger is in June 1995. Standing to be elected as the League’s better. What do these two 10th President, Mr Pencharz resigned from the post of things mean? Treasurer which thus became vacant. A Federation grows by teach- ing, recruiting and keeping Bill Pencharz In 1990 Norway won the Junior Europeans in Neu- • 1970: Born münster. We went to the USA for the World Juniors 14 February in the following year, but didn’t reach the semifinals. Trondheim, Norway We were only third at the 1992 Junior Europeans • 1988: 3rd European but did better at the World Juniors in Denmark, los- Junior Teams, Plovdiv ing to Germany in the final. In Arnhem, at the 1994 Junior Europeans, Norway just missed a medal. As • 1990: 1st European Poland, third, could not go to Bali, Norway were Junior Teams, invited, but our Federation did not take up the invi- Neumünster tation. In 1995 Boye Brogeland and I won the first World Junior Pairs held at Ghent University. • 1991: Norwegian Open team at Did you go to University, and what about Killarney Europeans & jobs? World Juniors, USA I read computer science at the University of Trond- heim. Half-way through my last year I was offered the job of writing a daily bridge column in Norway’s leading Daily, VG, which has a circulation of 400,000, a job I still have. I decided to make bridge my fulltime career, so left University early. As a player, my first professional engagement in the USA, which allows one to earn a proper wage, came last year in New Orleans. This year I was in ’s team, partnering .

What about your partnerships in Norway? In the Norwegian Open team I partnered Glen Grot- • 1992: 3rd European The IBPA Personality of 1996 heim until and I formed a partnership in Junior Teams, interviewed by 1993. Tor and I won the Cap Volmac Invitational, Palaiseau the major Dutch event, in 1994 and this year, and Congratulations on becoming World were in the Norwegian team which took silver the • 1993: 3rd Menton Individual Champion at the tender 1993 Bowl in Santiago, losing narrowly to Europeans; age of 26. It was only last year the Netherlands in the final. people were calling you the world’s 2nd World Junior best Junior player; they will have to As a Junior I remember you were Teams; upgrade that accolade now. Tell us overweight, but you have become slimmer 2nd , something first about your family. in the last year. Do you have sporting Santiago I have lived all my life in Trondheim, a interests? coastal town in Norway. My father is an My exercise is playing squash. My other main • 1994: 1st Cap Volmac electrician, and my mother works in the hobby is less energetic: I am a keen football sup- with Tor Helness; office of his business. I have two sisters, porter, following Liverpool. Yes, I enjoy my food, but one older and one younger than me. 4th European Juniors, I don’t smoke. When did you start bridge? Arnhem If you had a magic wand to change Both my parents played bridge, and I something about bridge, what would it be? • 1995: 1st World Junior learned at the age of 12, playing at the Pairs, Ghent, nearby bridge club. I read books by I would like bridge to be popular on television, with Boye Brogeland Charles Goren, then Reese and Kelsey. because more TV coverage would solve other prob- lems too. Which was your first serious • 1996: 1st Cap Volmac event? Have you any advice you would like to give Pairs with Tor Helness; I played in the 1987 Nordic Champion- the readers of EBL Review, for their bridge? ships in the under 20s team, but the first Winner Generali Read more. Masters Individual, real test was the following year at the Paris; European Junior Teams in Plovdiv when We have known you since 1988 in Plovdiv. we won the bronze medal. IBPA Personality It is rare for a successful bridge player to of the Year What were the highlights of your be so modest. Good luck with your future Junior career? career, and thank you for your time. Bompis Levy Mari Mouiel Multon Szwarc FRANCE GETS THE GOLD! The fourth French victory in ten Olympiads OPEN SERIES sets a new record - as does the unprecedented 10th WORLD TEAM OLYMPIAD attendance in Rhodes of 72 countries!

FRANCE 358 230 FRANCE - RUSSIA 203 - 128 INDONESIA 269 DENMARK 226 FINAL DENMARK - ITALY 161 - 134 DENMARK 84 CHINESE TAIPEI 190 - INDONESIA 115 - 180 SEMIFINALS

CHINESE TAIPEI 71 FRANCE 209 QUARTERFINALS POLAND - CHINESE TAIPEI 122 - 132 PLAYOFF

t was the Roman writer Virgil who four and thereby advance to the 1 FRANCE 691 1 ITALY 692 penned the phrase ‘timeo knockout rounds. 2 INDONESIA 676 2 CHINESE TAIPEI 659 I Danaos et dona ferentes’ - ‘I fear In the Open series, France would 3 POLAND 642 3 ICELAND 652 the Greeks, even when bearing gifts.’ be trying to retain the title it had cap- 4 DENMARK 633 4 RUSSIA 645 What a pity he could not be trans- tured in 1992 in Salsomaggiore, and 5 632 5 ISRAEL 643 ported to the present to realise his Austria be trying to retain their hold 6 615 6 GREAT BRITAIN 636 error by witnessing the outstanding on the women’s trophy and so make 7 607 7 NETHERLANDS 633 efforts of the Hellenic Bridge Federa- it a double European repeat. 8 602 8 NORWAY 629 tion, the hosts of the greatest ever The competitors would all be play- 9 AUSTRIA 593 9 USA 620 gathering of national bridge teams. ing the same hands. The spectators 10 586 10 BRAZIL 608 For two weeks, the eyes of bridge could listen to expert and often hu- 11 580 11 601 players across the globe were focus- morous commentary and follow the 12 577 12 572 ed on the island of Rhodes, the venue play on Bridge Vision. Those who 13 574 13 559 wanted to play as well as watch could for the 10th World Team Olympiad. It 14 569 14 HUNGARY 544 would be difficult to imagine a more participate in the Olympic Festival. The Championships had its own 15 PAKISTAN 552 15 539 appropriate choice of venue, on the 16 IRELAND 539 16 GREECE 536 100th anniversary of the revival of the newspaper, the Daily News, and this was available via the Internet. 17 532 17 YUGOSLAVIA 533 Olympic games, which were born in The spirit of Olympic competition 18 CZECH REP. 531 18 530 Greece. was never more aptly illustrated when 19 526 19 518 The world’s finest players and Italy’s Andrea Buratti, saw his Bulgar- 20 ROMANIA 525 20 512 administrators travelled from every

ian opponent inadvertently pass his QUALIFIER 21 GERMANY 513 21 512 corner of the globe, from countries partner’s forcing opening bid of 1Ê. 22 UKRAINE 508 22 512 great and small, to participate in the He turned to his opponent and said: Olympiad. 23 492 23 GUADELOUPE 508 ‘Feel free to change your call if you 24 485 24 503 With 71 teams contesting the wish.’ The Bulgarian pair promptly Open event and 43 the Women’s, the 25 485 25 501 bid to a slam (!) but when declarer 26 476 26 MONACO 486 tournament set a new record for the mistimed the play, Buratti was 27 474 27 440 number of competing countries, con- rewarded for his gallantry. firmation that the popularity of bridge As the round-robins drew to a 28 466 28 434 worldwide is being increasingly close, , the vice presi- 29 457 29 411 recognised. dent of the International Olympic 30 414 30 406 After being divided into four Committee visited the Olympiad, 31 399 31 FR. POLYNESIA 400 groups, two in each event, these meeting with members of the WBF 32 394 32 385 countries had to compete for nine Executive. 33 359 33 376 successive days in a gruelling round- Sixteen teams had fought their way 34 BERMUDA 352 34 366 robin, playing every other team in its into the quarterfinals, but no country 35 PALESTINE 171 35 KENYA 296 group. The aim: to finish in the top was represented in both the Open and 36 278 WOMEN’S SERIES USA WINS

19 OCTOBEROCTOBER 19- 2 -NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 1996 2, RHODES1996 - GREECE WOMEN’S OLYMPIAD

FINAL the Women’s event, the first time this The advance made by countries from has happened in Olympiad history. the far eastern zone in recent years was CHINA - USA 198 - 268 Every Olympiad has had its dramatic further demonstrated by the respective moments, but perhaps none have 3rd PLACE PLAYOFF appearances of Indonesia and China in equalled the excitement of the Open the Open and Women’s finals. CANADA - AUSTRIA 133 - 67 semifinal between Indonesia and In the latter competition, the experi- Denmark. With just three hands left to ence of the USA team proved to be a SEMI FINALS play, Indonesia enjoyed a substantial significant factor, but it is surely only a lead. Then along came a deal which will AUSTRIA - USA 223 - 264 matter of time before some gold medals take its place in the history books. find their way to the Peoples Republic. CHINA - CANADA 306 - 106 Denmark bid and made 7Í. This was a The victorious American team giant 16-IMP gain because Indonesia included a mother and daughter combi- QUARTER FINALS didn’t even smell the slam – they nation in , winning her stopped in 3NT, making seven. ISRAEL - CHINA 86 - 151 third Olympiad title, and Jill Blan- When Denmark picked up another 11 chard. Jill partnered , a NETHERLANDS - USA 107 - 151 IMPs, it appeared to the hundreds of Russian now resident in New York. She CANADA - GERMANY 140 -112½ spectators that Denmark had reached becomes the first person in history to the final. They and the huge number of GREAT BRITAIN - AUSTRIA 108 - 134 win gold medals in a world champion- Danish supporters who greeted their ship for both and bridge, having QUALIFIER heroes at the conclusion of the match been on the winning Russian Women’s were not aware that the scores being team in 3 Chess Olympiads. 1 CHINA 414 1 USA 407 transmitted to the audience included an It was also a first Olympiad victory for 2 GERMANY 406 2 AUSTRIA 407 error - a swing to Denmark that hadn’t , Juanita Chambers and 3 NETHERLANDS 379 3 CANADA 399 really happened! 4 GREAT BRITAIN 374 4 ISRAEL 384 Danish elation turned to frustration as Shawn Quinn. 5 SWEDEN 360 5 POLAND 365 they discovered that the scores were The French Open team, whom many 6 SOUTH AFRICA 357 6 FRANCE 353 exactly level. Extra time would be requir- experienced commentators had not even 7 DENMARK 353 7 ITALY 349 ed in the shape of eight extra boards - at expected to survive to the knockout stages, had retained their title, the first 8 NEW ZEALAND 346 8 INDIA 322 least they would not have to endure a country to do so since the fabled Italian 9 SPAIN 340 9 FINLAND 315 penalty shoot-out! had completed a hat trick of 10 MEXICO 332 10 AUSTRALIA 314 It was standing room only in the the- atre and many could hardly dare to victories in Miami in 1972. 11 BRAZIL 323 11 BELGIUM 311 Christian Mari, Henri Szwarc, 12 HUNGARY 309 12 CHINESE TAIPEI 297 watch. When the last board settled on the table, Denmark led 9-1. The Danish Alain Levy and Hervé Mouiel were all 13 GREECE 295 13 ARGENTINA 289 pair bid a slam, the Indonesians stopped capturing the title for the second time, 14 RUSSIA 294 14 CROATIA 289 in game. The slam failed and the scenes whilst it was a first success for Frank 15 INDONESIA 290 15 THAILAND 287 of joy made the eruption of Krakatoa Multon and Marc Bompis. 16 MONACO 277 16 JAPAN 280 appear insignificant! It was France’s fourth Open Olympiad 17 SAN MARINO 273 17 TURKEY 275 The behaviour of the gallant Danes, title, and who will dare to bet against 18 MOROCCO 269 18 JORDAN 264 who were the first to congratulate their them winning again in 2000, when the 19 VENEZUELA 253 19 COLOMBIA 258 opponents, epitomised the words of championships will be hosted in the 20 HONG KONG 242 20 MALAYSIA 230 Rudyard Kipling, ‘If you can meet with picturesque Dutch town of Maastricht. 21 PHILIPPINES 201 21 JAMAICA 208 Triumph and Disaster, and treat those 22 PAKISTAN 187 two impostors just the same.’ Our reporter, Patrick Jourdain, inter- views the President of the British Bridge League (BBL), .... Patrick Jourdain!

Can you tell us something about the structure of the British Bridge League? The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain and . Great Britain consists of , and . The BBL has the four ‘Home Unions’ of the United Kingdom as its main members, but in international events, Northern Ireland joins with the to field an all-Ireland team. The other three Home Unions are the source of the international teams correctly called Great Britain. The BBL has a Council, with delegates from each of the four Home Unions, which meets three times a year. It has an Executive of four people, a Laws Commission and sub- committees to run its tournaments, and select British teams. What events does the BBL run? There are home internationals for Open, Women, Juniors and Under 20s. The Open series, for the , was launched in 1937, and has completed 52 seasons. Wales and Northern Ireland have never won the Camrose, but have come very close on a few occasions .... INTERVIEW WITH The main British championship is the knockout teams for the , the most & BY PATRICK sought after trophy in Britain. It was launched in 1931 and, in 1996, is in its 59th season. I have competed in just over half these, but won it only once. The BBL also JOURDAIN runs a Mixed Pairs and a British Schools Cup. We have many other events whose This was the most important bridge which is a club of 500 of the world’s main purpose is to raise money to fund championship ever held in Wales, and it bridge journalists. I am bridge corre- British teams. is described in EBL Junior Review. The spondent of the Daily Telegraph, which British Junior team went to the event as sells a million copies, where I handle the What is the staff of the British reigning European and World champi- bridge news, and my colleague Tony Bridge League? ons, but, with only two members of the Forrester supplies bridge hands. I am Anna Gudge! The bulk of bridge administra- previous team still young enough to also Principal of the Cardiff School of tion within Britain rests with the Home play, they failed to qualify for next year’s Bridge, a one-man business which has Unions. The , for World Junior Team Championship. That a hundred students learning bridge. I am example, has a headquarters with a dozen is the way of Junior bridge. Wales’s most capped player, with 59 fulltime staff. The BBL has its office in a for- Camrose appearances for Wales in Tell us something about mer railway station in Sudbury where Anna addition to the two for Scotland. yourself. What is your job? Gudge and her assistant work. From Cambridge University I joined the My pastimes are golf, at which I am a The Home Unions have over a thousand steel industry in Cardiff. I had four years keen incompetent, and tennis. I travel affiliated clubs, with a combined member- in Glasgow when I was in the Scottish the world for bridge, but believe there ship of some 60,000 people, of which team which won the Gold Cup, and the is no more pleasant place to be than 30,000 are registered as individual mem- Camrose. The next season I gave up my on the golf course or tennis court of bers of the Home Unions. career in steel to return to Cardiff to go my two Cardiff clubs. into bridge full-time. The BBL hosted the 1996 European Thank you for your time. Youth Bridge Championships in I am Editor of the Monthly Bulletin of the Thank you. You were much less awk- Cardiff, in July. Tell us about it. International Bridge Press Association ward than I was expecting! ÍÌPAIRS 1 Erhart - Kubak AUT 2 Tomaszewska - Puczynski POL 3 Willard - Mouiell FRA 4 Scaufelberger - Nahmias FRA 5 Kitabgi - Maurin FRA 6 Tockan - Assael TUR 7 Chauvire - Jeanneteau FRA 8 Mouttet - Mouttet FRA 9 Kowalska - Stepinski POL 10 Auken - Nippgen GER 11 Yanir - Katz ISR 12 Guillaumin - Vives FRA AUSTRIA WINS PAIRS MIXED he 4th PHILIP MOR- while Nippgen had the better bronze medal, as the Poles lowed by Auken-Nippgen, the T RIS European Mixed run against Kowalski, 45-35. succumbed, 5-71. title holders, and Chemla- Championships, held This led to an exciting final The Mixed Pairs attracted Saul, winners of the first event in Monte Carlo, Monaco, 18- between a strong French team 320 combinations from 22 in 1990. 23 March 1996, was a very (Bessis, Bessis, Chemla, countries. They played two Nothing was determined until successful tournament. As Saul) and a German combina- qualifying sessions, after the very end when Erhart- usual, there were two main tion of World and European which the top 120 pairs Kubak managed to retain their events: the Mixed Teams and champions (Auken, Nippgen, advanced to the final while the lead and win the gold medal. the Mixed Pairs. Reps, von Arnim). The match rest could play in a consola- The Polish pair Mariusz Puc- 84 teams from 19 countries zynski-Wieslawa Tomaszews- lined up for the first event ka finished in second place which started as a swiss tour- while the French champions nament. After 12 rounds, four Hervé Mouiel- very strong combinations placed third. qualified for the semifinals: In the consolation tournament Bessis (France), Nippgen the winners were Carmignani- (Germany), Kowalski (Poland) lived up to expectation, as tion event - all two sessions Monari of Italy who finished and Blakset (Denmark). The there was plenty of action. long. just ahead of Kowalska- rest continued for three more The Germans were leading at Not surprisingly, many of the Starkowski of Poland and the rounds, to determine the half time, but at the end the Mixed Teams protagonists Polet couple of Belgium. rankings from fifth place French prevailed and won the played a key role also in the The Championships ended downwards. title, 73-55. This was the third Pairs. Austria’s Maria Erhart with a wonderful prize-giving The semifinals were short but victory for France in four and Fritz Kubak enjoyed a dinner which reflected accu- tough matches. Bessis did competitions! At the same small lead at the beginning of rately the high quality of the well to beat Blakset, 37-23, time, Denmark took the the final, but were closely fol- organization. MIXED 1 Bessis FRA TEAMS GO TO FRANCE 2 Nippgen GER 3 Blakset DEN 4 Kowalski POL 5 Vives FRA 6 Quantin FRA 7 Kremer FRA 8 Rey FRA 9 Maurin FRA 10 Bernes DEN 11 Fucik AUT 12 Levit ISR TEAMSÊË BRIDGE ON THE INTERNET OFFICIAL WBF SERVER LAUNCHED IN THE INFORMATION ‘SUPER HIGHWAY’

he Internet, the world- The T wide computer network quickly followed suit. The which has opened new hori- WBF Internet Server came zons in communication, could into life with the posting of the not leave bridge indifferent. Daily Bulletins from the Euro- Bridge players who were also pean Mixed Championships computer enthusiasts intro- last March, and continued duced the game in the net- covering the Youth Europeans work and provided informa- from Cardiff and the World tion on bridge activities. Team Olympiad from Rhodes. As from the beginning of 1997, the WBF electronic ser- vices are expanded to include many areas of interest, as information on bridge admin- istration, the WBF zones and their structure, departments, competitions, a special area HOW TO ACCESS for Juniors, etc. Naturally, this is only the beginning, as new THE INTERNET services will be introduced with time, as required. Communication through the The electronic address of the computer has been recently WBF Internet Server is: simplified so much that everybody is now able to benefit from the Information www.bridge.gr Super Highway without any special knowledge or sophis- ticated equipment. To connect, one needs a per- sonal computer (PC) with modem, an ordinary tele- phone line, an account with an Internet provider and a computer programme for browsing the network. net for a small fee, either Today, almost everybody has according to connection time access to a PC, either at or at a flat monthly rate. home or in the office. The Once you subscribe to such a modem is a cheap device provider, an account is estab- which allows computers to communicate through the lished in your name and you telephone. The computer pro- are given a local telephone gramme for browsing the net- number. Calling this number work (browser) is available, with your PC, you connect to usually free of charge, from the Internet through the competing software compa- modem. nies. The total cost of the Internet To open an Internet account, connection varies from place you need to contact a local to place; however, in most provider. These are compa- cases, it is from very little to nies which give access to the negligible. or one week, last January, Milan be- F came the centre of the European bridge development effort when experts in all fields gathered to present

G.Rona methods and discuss plans leading to the expansion of the game. After Amsterdam ’89 and ’93, Pupils who attend bridge classes in their high school explain this was the third Promotion what the game means to them after a demonstration lecture Week organized by the League. The original idea was Although there are certain dif- the development of bridge the brainchild of the late ferences in the various ap- among school children. This André Boekhorst, the former proaches, the basic principles was not easy as ordinary EBL President who had remain the same. To develop

J.Damiani school teachers had to be- noticed that although bridge in the game, a NCBO needs one Europe is expanding continu- single bridge teaching method come bridge teachers too. ously, much of the progress is which will be followed by all With much effort, success achieved in the bridge-devel- teachers. Play should taught came along, and some 500 PURSUING THE CAUSE OF BRIDGE P.Gerontopoulos E.Cagner

A children’s choir performs Highly successful bridge promotion ‘Teach me Bridge’ - a promotion song developed by FIGB for methods presented in week-long seminar Italy’s School programme. R.Beurtey oped countries, instead of before the bidding and stu- pupils, together with their where it is mostly needed. dents should play a lot from teachers, represented 96 Indeed, about half of the Euro- the very beginning. Novices schools from all over Italy in should only face hands which pean NCBOs have less than the annual School Camp and 1,000 members, while The they are able to handle. While Championship held last June. Netherlands and France the educational process is account for 50% of the EBL’s lasting, students should not The Promotion Week was at- registered players! mix with established players. tended by many officials and U.Saibante In the first EBL Promotion To develop bridge, it is neces- NCBO representatives. Unfortu- Week, the emphasis was on sary to teach people how to nately, some of the smaller the Dutch programme; the play the game - and to do Federations did not send any that, teachers are needed. It is second focused on the French delegates, but it is hoped that methods. This year, most of very important to teach the seminar Proceedings which the seminar was devoted to teachers how to teach, and all the exposition of the Italian systems pay special attention are about to appear in a handy system, which is responsible to this department. volume, will provide valuable

R.Grazioli for doubling FIGB member- Like France, Italy has develop- tools for the development of the ship in five years! ed a particular programme for game across Europe. JANUARY MAY

13-24 International Winter 1-4 30th Tallinn Interna- 16 Bonn Cup / Bonn, ÍÌ Bridge Tournament / St. Moritz, tional Bridge Festival / Tallinn, Germany ÊË Switzerland Estonia 23-25 10th International • This is an abridged list of the tour- 17-19 EBU Swiss Teams 2-6 EBU Spring Four- Bridge Tournament ‘Costa naments scheduled to take place in Congress / Leeds, Great Britain somes / Stratford-upon-Avon, Calida’ / Murcia, Spain Europe in the first half of 1997. More Great Britain information is contained in the com- 19-25 20th Budapest Inter- 26-June 1 12th International prehensive publication 1997 EBL national Bridge Festival / 2-11 Ceahlau Trophy / Bridge Festival ‘Locomotiva’ / Competition Calendar. Budapest, Hungary Piatra Neamt, Romania Bucharest, Romania 31-June 1 11th International Amsterdam Airport Schiphol COMPETITION Bridge Tournament / Amster- dam Airport, The Netherlands CALENDAR ÍÌÊË 24-25 25th Carnival Interna- JUNE tional Tournament / Forte dei Marmi, Italy EBL FEBRUARY

13-22 31st Israel Internation- 21-23 13th International al Bridge Festival / Tel Aviv, Tournament ‘Copa Giralda’ / Israel Sevilla, Spain 15-21 3rd International 28-March 2 Città di Abano Bridge Festival / Malta International Tournament / Abano Terme, Italy MARCH 15-18 6th GENERALI European 15-29 43rd GENERALI Euro- 7-9 Sopron Pairs Tourna- Ladies Pairs Championship / pean Teams Championships / ment / Sopron, Hungary Montecatini, Italy Montecatini, Italy 8-15 St. Petersburg Interna- tional Bridge Tournament / St. Petersburg, Russia 9-15 10th Island of Tenerife Festival / Canary Islands, Spain 17-22 9th European Pairs Championships / The Hague, The Netherlands 28-31 Easter Festival of Bridge / London, Great Britain

Publicizing your events EBL Review

The European Bridge League provides the best media for advertising EBL Review, published bian- All correspondence should be your tournaments. nually, is the official medium of addressed to: The EBL Competition Calendar, published annually, contains con- the European Bridge League. cise information for some 100 tournaments organized across EBL Review It is distributed free of charge Europe. 4,000 copies are distributed, free of charge, to all NCBOs P. Gerontopoulos, Editor and the Press, reaching hundreds of bridge clubs and thousands of to all National 154 Patission Street, individuals interested in international events. Organizations, Bridge Clubs, GR-112 57 Athens, EBL Review, is published twice a year and provides global informa- Tournament Directors, Journal- Greece. tion about what is happening in the world of bridge. It has a circula- ists, Bridge Teachers and Offi- tion of 10,000 and is also distributed free of charge to all NCBOs, cials of the 43 EBL member 2 30-1-861 3740 administrators, teachers and the Press. countries. 7 [email protected]