No 17 January - July 1995 Editor: Panos Gerontopoulos EUROPE & USA SHARE MEDALS IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Europe and the United States monopolized success at the 1994 World Bridge Championships, winning all medals in all tournaments. Europe was more successful in pairs competitions, and won the Open, Womens and Mixed Pairs titles, as well as the Senior Teams. USA won the Open and Womens Teams, as well as the Senior Pairs. The worlds biggest Cham- pionship was held in Albu- querque, NM, USA, September 17 - October 1, and attracted a large entry from all geographi- cal zones. DAMIANI ELECTED WBF PRESIDENT José Damiani of France is the new President of the World Bridge Federation. IN THIS ISSUE Damiani, whose term as n Editorial . 2 n Europe and USA took all EBL President expires in medals of 1994 World Bridge June, has succeeded Bobby n Damiani elected President of Championships . 6-7 Wolff of USA in the highest the World Bridge Federation . 2 office of organized bridge. n Meet Enri Leufkens and Berry n 1995 PHILIP MORRIS Europe- Westra - Hollands young world an Open and Senior Pairs Cham- pionships will take place in champions. 8 Rome, March 21-26 . 3 n 1995 GENERALI European PORTUGAL TO HOST GENERALI n Ernesto dOrsi is 1994 Bridge Championships will take place in EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Personality of the Year . 3 Portugal, June 17-July 1. 9 n Letter from the President . 4 n Master Points . 10 The 42nd GENERALI European Championships will be held in Algavre, Portugal, June 17 - July 1, 1995. n Dutch and French players win n Jean Besse dies . 10 20th PHILIP MORRIS European The Championships contain four series: National Open Teams, Simultaneous. 4 n New Books. 10 National Ladies Teams, Ladies Pairs and - for the first time - n Italian Bridge on the rise . 5 n Competition Calendar . 11 Senior Teams. The National Team Championships are Europes qualifiers for the World events Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup. JOSÉ DAMIANI, the EBL President, is the new leader of the There are several World Bridge Federation. Damiani, who steps down from his changes in this issue, EBL position at the end of his sec- both in appearance and ond 4-year term in June, was elect- in content. NEW ed to the presidency of the WBF in EBL Review has a new September. The look, thanks to an im- election was u- proved design suggested LEADER nanimous and by the professional staff took place in Al- of our sponsor, PHILIP buquerque, at the end of President MORRIS. IN Bobby Wolffs term. Damiani, 55, is It is very positive indeed the 9th President in the 36-year old to have a close working history of the organization - and the relationship with our second from France, following sponsor. Bridge players WBF Baron Robert de Nexon, the first and administrators have WBF President (1958-1964). Wolff been benefiting from this was elected to the WBF Committee of Honour. for many years now; the new look of our magazine is yet another step in the right direction. The second change is that there is nothing about Junior Bridge in this issue. No, the EBL has not decided to drop young people from its agenda. On the contrary, Junior Bridge has be- come so important in re- cent years, that we are starting a separate newsletter dedicated ex- clusively to young peo- ple. EBL Junior Review will also be published twice a year, at the same time as EBL Review. It will be distributed, together with EBL Review, free of charge, and through the same channels. If you get only one publication, please ask for the other. The more casual charac- DAMIANI ELECTED PRESIDENT ter of EBL Junior Review will reflect better the The new President believes that the WBF should focus on two world it pictures; and we main areas: tournament organization and bridge promotion. hope that it will help us WBF Championships should be high quality events in order to to keep closer to the satisfy the players and appeal to the media which are very im- young people. portant for the sponsors. There are plans for three new events. Bridge promotion mainly depends on education. The stage has been set with the WBF Educational Foundation which will help NCBOs to expand their membership through various means and with emphasis on the young people. Damianis target is to reach 1.5 million registered players throughout the world in five years. Today, the WBF has 600,000 members. EUROPEAN PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIPS ERGIFE PALACE HOTEL ROME, ITALY 21-26 MARCH 1995 he 8th PHILIP MORRIS ries, from which the top com- will be no carry over from the T European Pairs Cham- petitors will be allowed back qualifying stage to the semifi- pionships will be played under into the main tournament! nals; and 50% of the score a new, fairly extended, format. 12 pairs of Grand Masters will carry over from the semifinals to the finals. The Open Pairs will comprise enter the Open series at the a total of 9 sessions (3 quali- semifinals; during the qualify- There are no restrictive quo- fying, 3 semifinal and 3 final), ing stage, they will play a tas, but no NCBO may enter while the Senior Pairs will be round robin of short matches more than one third of the field played in 6 sessions (3 quali- between them. in any tournament. Entries fying and 3 final) - one every In general, one third of the should reach the EBL office in SFr 120,000 SFr day. Players failing to qualify field will be advancing from Paris no later than 10 CASH PRIZES may enter the Consolation se- one stage to the next. There February 1995. Masters Seniors Open Consolation Tue March 21 19:00 hrs Matches 1-4 Qualifier 1 Qualifier 1 Wed March 22 14:00 hrs Matches 5-8 Qualifier 2 Qualifier 2 20:30 hrs Matches 9-11 Qualifier 3 Thu March 23 20:00 hrs Qualifier 3 Semifinal 1 Semifinal 1 Fri March 24 14:00 hrs Final 1 Semifinal 2 Semifinal 2 20:30 hrs Semifinal 3 Semifinal 3 Sat March 25 14:00 hrs Final 1 Final 1 20:00 hrs Final 2 Final 2 20:30 hrs Final 2 Sun March 26 10:30 hrs Final 3 Final 3 Final 3 PROGRAMME PHILIP MORRIS Ernesto d Orsi Ernesto d Orsi of Brazil was was Vice President from 1986 to all future WBF championship named Bridge Personality of 1994 1990 and served as President events. by the International Bridge Press from 1991 to 1992. He is a mem- But managing major tournaments Association (IBPA). ber of the WBF Management is old hat for d Orsi. He was tour- Committee, the group that meets Ernesto d Orsi is a monumental nament manager for all three once a year to formulate policy for world championships staged in figure in world bridge. He makes world bridge. He is a member of major contributions at all levels - Brazil: 1973, 1979 and 1985. D the WBF Committee of Honour, Orsi also was the prime manager world, continental, national and the highest tribute given to world local. for the world championship in officials. Santiago, Chile, last year. Current- D Orsi has been a major power in The new task assigned to him by ly, he is working hard making world bridge for almost 15 years. incoming WBF President José preparations for next years He became a member of the WBF Damiani will be a major chal- Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup Executive Council in 1980. He lenge: to supervise and manage championships in Beijing, China. his is my last letter as rubber bridge at home and T President of the Europe- are not interested in joining an Bridge League. Indeed, a us. I have explained many new President will be elected times various ways I see to in June in Portugal, and will attract at least some of them. sign this letter in the next We just have to think more issue. about it in order to serve We have spent eight years bridge with increasing effi- together, trying to improve ciency. the quality of our events and However, thanks to our LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT help the NCBOs to promote Officers ability and capability our game throughout Europe. of our staff, our champion- We have achieved some of ships are dedicated to the our goals, if not all of them. pleasure of the players and are the best in the World. When I took office, 26 coun- tries belonged to the League This has been possible with 220,000 registered through our partners, PHILIP players. More than 42 are MORRIS and GENERALI, members today, with a total whom I would like to thank close to 400,000 ranked most warmly. players in the NCBOs. Thanks to our champions, My own belief is that we have the European Bridge League my term as President; espe- all the best for the future that certainly more than 600,000 has won all the World events cially, our best friend and I hope to share with you in a people playing duplicate at least once in the past eight Treasurer Karl Rohan for his different capacity. bridge in our clubs and festi- years, with the exception of remarkable contribution. And even before that, very vals. This discrepancy gives the Venice Cup, although we Bridge is a partnership game, happy new year and best me some sadness for not retained this in 1985. a game of communications, wishes for 1995. having been able to convince I am very pleased to thank all we prove that again all to- the NCBOs administrators to of you who participated in gether.