Review EUROPEAN MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS The 5TH EUROPEAN MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS, held in Aachen, Germa- ny, March 28 to April 3, 1998, was a tremendous success. Entries reached record levels with nearly 400 pairs and 100 teams taking part. Aachen, a historic town in the vicinity of Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands, provided a wonderful setting for the tournament. Eurogress Aachen, the Championships venue, was spacious and con- GOLD IN PAIRS venient - and the organization SWEDEN of a high standard. FRANCE, the traditional strongholder of the Mix- ed, lived up to expecta- tion collecting half the medals. But SWEDEN deprived them of the Pairs gold, and THE NETHERLANDS of the Teams silver. How- ever, the sensation came from CROATIA who won their first GOLD IN TEAMS FRANCE bridge medal. PROKOM SOFTWARE IN THIS ISSUE 10th EUROPEAN PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIPS n Editorial . .2 n Interview with Andrej Orlow, Open & Seniors President of the Polish Bridge n Gianarrigo Rona takes over Union . .5 15-20 March 1999 EBL finances . .2 n Sweden & France share Palace of Culture & Science n Warsaw and Malta to host gold medals in 1998 European Warsaw, Poland 1999 EBL Championships . .2 Mixed Championships . .6-7 n European Union Bridge n Omar Sharif, famous film League dissolved . .2 star and top bridge player 44th GENERALI EUROPEAN interviewed . .8-9 n European bridge gets n Senior bridge to be boosted TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIPS smoke-free . .2 Ëin near future . .10 Open - Ladies - Seniors n 1998 World Champion- n European Ladies had a won- ships in Lille, France, August derful time at 1998 Bridge 13-27 June 1999 21-September 4 . .3 Jamboree . .11 Malta n Letter from the President .4 n Competition Calendar .12 Gianarrigo Rona This issue of EBL Review is particularly rich in takes over as material regarding activi- ties for special categories EBL Acting of players. Treasurer The report on the Ladies Jamboree reveals that The Daily Bulletin at Aachen many Lady players had a wonderful time in Buda- carried the following an- pest, in a combination of nouncement: bridge, tourism and social By a 10-0 vote (with one activities. What is most abstention), the EBL Execu- important, however, is that tive Committee resolved, on It should be noted that: this was an event for the 26th March 1998, to relieve common mortal - the Mr Feijo Durksz of all finan- 1. Mr Feijo Durksz retains average player who is not the title of Treasurer. destined to represent her cial duties. Dr Gianarrigo country internationally. Rona has been appointed 2. The decision of the Exec- The Jamboree shows that Acting Treasurer of the utive Committee does not organized bridge exists League, with full financial re- reflect any question of Mr also for her; not only for sponsibility. Durksz financial integrity. the top players. The equivalent for the youth is the Junior Camp. Warsaw and Malta to welcome EBL Here too we show that we care for the non-privi- The 1999 European Champion- The 44th GENERALI European leged. We take advantage ships will be held in two attractive Teams Championships, compris- of the social element of venues. ing Open, Ladies and Senior series bridge to support the In March, Warsaw will welcome for national teams, will be held, young people socially. In European players taking part in the June 13-27, at Maltas Corinthia this way we help bridge, European Open Pairs and Senior St. Gorg and Radisson Hotels. but - even more -we help Pairs Championships society. We are very glad . The tourna- Before the Ladies teams, the 7th that the concept is spread- ment will be held in the Palace of European Ladies Pairs Champion- ing, as Camps are held Culture & Science, March 15-20, ship will take place, also in Malta, today by individual coun- sponsored by Prokom Software. June 13-15. tries, as well as outside Europe. Bridge can and should be European Union Bridge League dissolved useful also to the Seniors The European Union Bridge Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, who comprise a very League, an organization con- Sweden) and 2 against (Great strong part of todays soci- sisting of the NCBOs of the Eu- Britain, Luxembourg). Austria ety. The Seniors have ropean Union (EU) member abstained, while Greece did not time, money and the countries, will conclude its ac- take part. desire to do something tivities at the end of this year. worthwhile efficiently and The EUBL has been serving systematically. As an intel- The decision for the dissolution European Union countries since lectual sport, bridge can was taken at a delegates meet- the early days when EU had only help them to combat social ing held on 21 April, in Salso- 6 members. Today, there are 15 isolation, keep their mind maggiore, Italy. 12 countries member countries in EU, com- alert and avoid boredom. voted in favour (Belgium, Den- prising nearly 90% of the EBL This is the idea behind mark, Finland, France, Germa- registered players. This overlap EBLs Senior program. ny, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, The led to the dissolution decision. Bridge can indeed serve all people. Bridge is really universal. Bridge goes no smoking Smoking is over at all Euro- World Bridge Federation which pean Championships as from has taken a similar decision. 1 January 1999. Smoking has already been The EBL Executive Committee banned by most European took this decision at its meet- Federations, including the ings in March, following the larger ones. Competitions Registration Par Contest: Aug 21-22 A brand new invitational event set to Registration for all events demonstrate that bridge follows and (except the Continuous Pairs) benefits from todays technology. must be made through the Mixed Pairs: Aug 21-23 Transnational event. National Federations (NCBOs) in advance. There are no restric- Knockout Teams: Aug 24 - Sep 1 Rosenblum Cup (open) & tive quotas on the number of McConnell Cup (women). Teams entrants from any NCBO. will be divided in groups and a round robin will first be played within each group. The qualifiers Hotel Reservation will advance to the knockout stage. Open Pairs: Aug 29 - Sep 4 4 qualifying sessions, followed by All reservations must be made 4 semifinal and 5 final sessions. through the Women Pairs: Aug 29 - Sep 4 4 qualifying sessions, followed by Office du Tourisme de Lille 4 semifinal and 4-5 final sessions. Tel.: 33-3-20 21 94 31 Junior Triathlon: Aug 24-28 4 team sessions, 4 pairs sessions Fax: 33-3-20 21 94 20 and 2 individual sessions with independent and overall ranking. For players born in 1973 or later. Lille Transnational event. No entry fee. Lille is the fourth largest city in Senior Swiss Teams: Aug 27-30 Transnational event. For players France, offering visitors an born before 1944. astonishing diversity of experi- Senior Pairs: Aug 31 - Sep 3 Transnational event. For players ence. The Championships will born before 1944. be played in the Grand Palais, Continuous Pairs: Aug 22 - Sep 1 2 sessions every day (total 22). a unique feat of architectural Independent and overall rankings. ingenuity, situated a short walk To be classified overall, a player from the old city. needs to play at least 4 sessions; the three best results will count, provided they have been achieved Official Carrier with two different partners. AIR FRANCE, the official carri- Transnational event. er, offers discounts and special IMP Pairs: Sep 2-3 Transnational event. rates to tournament participants. Now, here is the dilemma: ments. One suggestion to the one of the possible qualifiers problem that arose in Aachen was the holders, léquipe for- is that a team that is guaran- midable of Michel and teed to qualify should not Veronique Bessis, Paul play the final round of the Chemla and Catherine Saul Swiss. I must say that I do dOvidio. If the Serf team did not think that this is the cor- well in their twelfth round rect solution because it match the Bessis team (who removes, for one round, the were playing at another table) basic principle of the Swiss would probably qualify. If movement - namely that the they did badly Bessis would leading teams play against LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT probably not and a less for- each other. However there midable team would. It is will definitely be one small quite a temptation to dump improvement for the next your last match! In the event, Championship. Namely the the Serf team drew its last leading team will have the match and Bessis qualified in choice of opponents for the fourth position. Serfs reward semifinal, rather than auto- for its impeccable ethics was matically drawing against the to play, and lose, to Bessis in team in fourth position. the semifinal. I send my heartiest congrat- The argument advanced by ulations to all participants The Bridge World is that and medal winners in the 5th he 5th European which deserves some careful match dumping is perfectly European Mixed Champion- Mixed Championships thought. It is in the area of legitimate if it is for the ulti- ships. In particular my con- T mate benefit of your team. gratulations go to Pia An- took place in Aachen, match dumping which has dersson and Arne Larsson Germany between the 28th been debated at length in the And it is the Bridge adminis- from Sweden who won the March and the 3rd April. 398 pages of the late Edgar trators who are at fault for Pairs and the Bessis équipe Kaplans American magazine devising Championships pairs entered, which was a formidable who retained the The Bridge World and, as where dumping pays. record, and 98 teams. Teams Championship. My recently as this May, in the My response, as an adminis- lasting memory, and greatest The European Bridge League French magazine Le Bridgeur.