Meet the Stars

Norway's Men Team

TOR HELNESS (1957) of Oslo, stockbroker, "Grand old man"of the succsessful Norwegian team . Married with Gunn (has also represented internationally for Norway). Two sons Jonas (15) and Fredrik (11), both with great interest in bridge.

Tor`s merits are: Bermuda Bowl: Silver in France 2001 and Chile 1993, bronze in 1997 and 4th in 1999. European championships: Silver 2001, bronze 1993, 1997 and 1999. He has also won several prestigious invitational events with Geir Helgemo.

GEIR HELGEMO (1970) of Trondheim, bridge professional, runs a daily column in Norways biggest newspaper "Verdens Gang".

Geir`s merits: World Individual Champion in Paris, France, 1995. Several North American titles and the same results as Tor in Bermuda Bowls and European championships. Several national triumfs. Co-author of several bridge books.

GLENN GROETHEIM (1959) of Trondheim, Engineer working as an electricity broker. Married to Vigdis, two sons Sindre (11) and Frode (13). Frode is playing bridge.

Glenn`s merits: Two silver medals in Bermuda Bowl (1993 and 2001), bronze in 1997. European championships: Silver 2001, bronze 1987, 1993 and 1997. European champion junior 1980, several national triumps. Glenn is founder and author of the system Viking Precision Club, a relay precision system which is available on net www.vikingclub.net

TERJE AA (1961) of Trondheim. Post office employee, married with Kristin, two daughters Hanne (11) and Ingrid (9). Partnership with Glenn since 1993.

Terje`s merits: Two silver in Bermuda Bowl 1993 and 2001, bronze in 1997. European championships: Silver 2001, bronze 1993 and 1997.

JON EGIL FURUNES (1957 ) of Oslo , mathematician. Regular partner with Tor in Norway.

Some of Jon Egil`s (nickname Turbo) merits: 4th in Bermuda Bowl 1999, bronze in European championships 1999.
He has won 4 Norwegian championships.

PER ERIK AUSTBERG (1968) of Trondheim , economist. Per Erik (nickname Pil) has one daughter Ida Marie (6)

Pil`s merits: 4th in Bermuda Bowl in Bermuda 1999. Bronze in European championships 1999. He has won 4 Norwegian championships with Geir Helgemo. Regular partner with Geir Helgemo in Norway.

Japanese Women's team

Makiko HAYASHI: Bridge teacher, one of the founding members of Japan Bridge Teachers' Association (JBTA), Editor of JBTA bulletin, author of introductory bridge books as well as manuals for bridge teachers. Represented Japan in Venice Cup twice (1991, 2001), Olympiad twice 1984, 1986, Pacific Asia Bridge Federation (PABF-Zone 6) Championship 5 times including the win in 1987 at Shanghai. Won National titles 3 times. She started her bridge career when she entered St. Paul University in Tokyo back in 19 sometime. She is a regular participant in international tournaments in Asia and Europe. In her spare time, she enjoys opera, traveling, reading and needlework.

Yuko YAMADA: Bridge teacher. Represented Japan in Venice Cup 2001, PABF 3 times 1993, 1994 and 2001. She dreamed of being a painter in her younger days but an encounter with bridge during her skiing trip some 30 years ago has destined her to devote herself to the game of bridge.

Megumi TAKASAKI: Lecturer of Social Anthropology on religions in Asia. This is her first appearance in international event. She started playing bridge in her university days because the bridge club was suffering from the shortage of members. She hopes that this event would contribute to the increase of bridge population in Japan.

Setsuko MORIYAMA: Manager of an advertisement company. She started bridge some 20 years ago and represented Japan in PABF twice in 1985 Sydney and 1998 Kobe. She also learnt bridge during her skiing trip and now she no longer goes for skiing but bridge sessions.

Natsuko NISHIDA: Bridge teacher and tournament director. She represented Japan in PABF 1999, and finalist in WBF women's pairs in Lille 1998. She is a frequent participant in ACBL Nationals and other international tournaments.

Midori SAKAMOTO: Besides playing bridge for pastime, she runs a bridge club for players in her community. Represented Japan in PABF 1991 in Guangzhou, China. This is her second appearance in international events.

Italian Juniors

Fabio Lo Presti
21 year-old from Bergamo who started playing when he was 14 years old. A student of Engineering Management. In the Italian Junior Team Championship he has won bronze, silver and gold medal (in '98 - '99 - 2001) and third place in the Italian Junior Pairs Championship. On an international level, he won bronze medal in 2001 at the World Junior Pairs Championship.

Francesco Mazzadi
24 year-old from Parma who started playing when he was 16 years old. Now an official Instructor of the Italian Bridge Federation. In 1996 he won his first Italian title in the Junior Pairs, and in '97 he won gold medal in the Italian Junior Teams and a silver in the Italian Mixed Teams; in '99 he won another two Italian gold medals - in the Junior Pairs and Teams Championships - and also bronze in the World Junior Pairs Championship; in 2000 he won the Italian Cup; in 2001 he won gold in the Italian Junior Teams, silver in the Italian Mixed Teams and bronze in the World Junior Pairs Championship.