Bermuda Bowl Final
Transnational Teams Final
President's Closing address
USA1 v China Final Session 8
USA2 v France Final Session 9
The AXA French Team|
1997 World Bridge Championships DAILY BULLETIN Editor: Henry Francis • Assistant Editors: M. Horton - B. Senior •Web Editor: Th. Matziaris No.: 14 • Saturday, 1 November 1997 |
| Results | Contents |
|
Bermuda Bowl Final
Transnational Teams Final |
President's Closing address
USA1 v China Final Session 8
USA2 v France Final Session 9
The AXA French Team |
| France win Bermuda Bowl despite American rally |
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France held off a strong American rally over the last 16 boards to win the Bermuda Bowl, 328-301. This was France's second success in this event - their first victory came 41 years ago in 1956. They defeated the United States on that occasion also. France clearly was a team of destiny. This year for the first time five European teams were qualified at the Europeans to play in the Bermuda Bowl - the first time that the European allowance had been raised to five. And France finished fifth! Now they're world champions. The new champions are Paul Chemla, Christian Mari, Hervé Mouiel, Alain Lévy, Michel Perron and Frank Multon, with npc Jean-Louis Stoppa. That makes two consecutive world titles for France - they defeated Indonesia in the Olympiad final last year. Both teams appeared before the vugraph audience and they were greeted with thunderous applause. The French team arrived one by one, and each got a standing ovation. Chemla got a huge cheer when he kissed Omar Sharif on both cheeks - they have been frequent partners over the years. WBF President José Damiani translated the general feeling of the French players toward their American opponents: "They're happy you didn't play all the time the way you did in the last segment." Mari said that the Americans and French have played many times - sometimes they win and sometimes they lose - but the spirit and the sportsmanship is always top-grade. Walt Walvick, non-playing captain of the American team, congratulated the French and then yelled, "Vive la France!" On his team were Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Nick Nickell and Richard Freeman. This is the same team that won the Bermuda Bowl in China two years ago. France carried a 51-IMP lead into the final set - a huge amount of IMPs to pick up in only 32 boards. But the Americans earned several major swings so that a couple of game swings could have made the difference. But the game swings didn't come - the French were too steady - and the Bermuda Bowl mantle fell on French shoulders. Burgay win Transnational Open Teams The team captained by Leandro Burgay of Italy started fast and just kept going - after 32 boards of the 48-deal final they led 132-40. That seemed like too much for Krzysztof Jassem of Poland, and that team conceded without playing the last 32 boards. On the winning team were Burgay, Dano de Falco of Italy, Franco Mariani of Italy and Martens Lesniewski of Poland. The losing team: Jassem, Piotr Tuszynski, Ireneusz Kowalozyk and Marek Witek. |
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Press conference |
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Bowl returns to Bermuda after 50 years! |
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WBF President José Damiani and Sheena Rayner, president of the Bermuda Bridge Association, signed a Letter of Intent for the Bermuda Bowl to take place in Bermuda 8 January 2000 to 22 January 2000 yesterday. The letter was signed as journalists attending the press conference looked on. 2000 marks the 50th anniversary of the Bermuda Bowl - it was first played in Bermuda in 1950. The 25th anniversary Bowl also was played in Bermuda - in fact it was at the Southampton Princess, the same hotel that will be the 2000 host. "I'm so pleased," said Sheena. "We're looking forward to showing the world of bridge just how wonderful Bermuda hospitality is." Lynn Deas of the United States II team was presented with the Sporting Award sponsored by the International Bridge Press Association - the first time this award has been given in many years. IBPA President Henry Francis, who made the presentation, said this award is seldom given - only when there is a clear candidate. He told of the outstanding courage shown by Lynn in playing top-level bridge despite being confined to a wheelchair and being inflicted with myasthenia gravis, an incurable debilitating disease. Lynn thanked Damiani for making everything as accessible as possible during her stay here. Damiani told of the upcoming Super Bowl of bridge. "It won't be called that, but it will be something like that." The event will take place in China in December 2000 - perhaps it could be called the Millenium Games. The contestants will be the 1998 Rosenblum winner, the 2000 Olympiad winner and the Bermuda Bowl winner plus the Zonal champions - probably 10 teams. China plans to pick up the team expenses. The Par Contest in Lille next year will consist of 12 hands, with only outstanding stars invited to compete, just as in Geneva in 1990. A question was asked about the possibility of putting the hands on the Internet simultaneously. Damiani said this is possible if all necessary security measures are taken care of. Damiani believes a special area will be set up in Lille to take care of players wanting to use email facilities. Alan Truscott asked about the possibility of a World Junior Knockout Teams on Internet. Damiani called this a good idea. Truscott said that he understood that Microsoft might be interested in being a sponsor. However, Damiani had spoken to Fred Gitelman about this, and it is Gitelman's impression that Microsoft is not interested in such a sponsorship at this time. |
| Results | Contents |
|
Bermuda Bowl Final
Transnational Teams Final |
President's Closing address
USA1 v China Final Session 8
USA2 v France Final Session 9
The AXA French Team |
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