President: Estoril Possibly Best Ever

One day from the end of the World Championships in Estoril, WBF President José Damiani had nothing but praise for all who have helped make the two-week tournament possibly ‘the best championship we have ever had.

In a wide-ranging press conference for bridge journalists attending the tournament, Damiani said feedback he has received from the players, reporters and officials has been completely positive. He said he was extremely pleased with the new scoring technology - the Bridgemate devices used at every table - with software developed by Tomas Brenning.

Other highlights of the tournament, according to the president:

The continued presence of the Generali Group as a sponsor of the WBF for more than a decade.

A ‘totally amazing’ turnout of 134 squads for the Transnational Open Teams, handled very deftly by the tournament staff.

The sizeable number of champions from the U.S. and other nations who came for the Transnational.

The exciting rematches of USA1 and Italy in the Bermuda Bowl (2003) and France and Germany (from 2001) in the Venice Cup. "It is very exciting," said Damiani.

Positive reaction to the schedule from the players.

The complete lack of appeals in the Transnational Open Teams, which Damiani attributed to sportsmanship by the players and the quality of the tournament directors and their decisions. In response to a question later, Damiani said the code of practice promulgated by the WBF has provided for consultations by directors with each other and with champion players in many cases. "We have made a lot of progress in this area," he said.

The excellent coverage of the Championships by the bridge press and the Portuguese news media during the fortnight.

There was other news from the session, including Damiani's announcement that the next Bermuda Bowl (and accompanying championships) will take place in Shanghai, China, in 2007. In 2009, the WBF will travel to São Paulo, Brazil, for the Bermuda Bowl.

The 8th World Bridge Championships in Verona has already been widely publicized for 2006, but Damiani said it is important to emphasize several points about that tournament:

All events will be transnational.

No brown sticker conventions will be permitted.

There will be a new world championship - the IMP Pairs, which will follow the qualifying stages of the Open Pairs.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is expected to attend for the Mixed Pairs with Sharon Osberg.

Omar Sharif is also planning to visit Verona.

Damiani said the tournament venue for 2008 is undecided at this point, although Beijing, China, is a possibility if a tournament of mindsports - the Intellympiad - can be arranged. If not, the 2008 tournament probably will be in Europe.

Responding to a question about a case involving two Italian players that came up during the European Open Championships in Tenerife this past summer, Damiani noted that all WBF events are invitational. Therefore, even if a pair or player is nominated by his or her bridge organization for participation, the WBF can decline to issue an invitation.

Updating the status of bridge in the Olympic Games, Damiani noted that the WBF is a member of the International Olympic Committee. He said, however, that bridge will not be part of the Winter or Summer Games, so the best option is the formation of a mindsports association under the auspices of the IOC.

On drug testing for players in Estoril, Damiani said four players each in the Bermuda Bowl and in the Venice Cup have been tested. There have been no problems since a player refused a test in Montreal.

Panos Gerontopoulos, WBF vice-president, responded to questions about efforts to get more young people involved in bridge. He outlined the various existing championships and events, including bridge camps, for young players, and he said there are efforts underway to try to have schools in various locations include bridge classes. Damiani noted that Indonesia has been highly successful in this area with 27,000 children learning bridge in schools in that nation.