The Bermuda Bowl

The Bermuda Bowl contest, the oldest WBF Championship, grew out of private initiatives principally by the late Norman Bach and took the name from Bermuda where the first World Championship was held in 1950, eight years before the World Bridge Federation itself was formed. The Bermuda Bridge Federation provided the trophy and generously provides the replicas for the winners on each occasion.

2025, Herning - DENMARK

2023, Marrakech - MOROCCO

2022, Salsomaggiore - ITALY

1.SWITZERLAND: Sjoert Brink, Bas Drijver, Piotr Gawryś, Michał Klukowski, Fernando Piedra, Pierre Zimmermann, Krzysztof Martens (coach).

2.NETHERLANDS: Simon de Wijs, Bauke Muller, Berend van den Bos, Joris van Lankveld, Ricco van Prooijen, Louk Verhees Jr, Gert-Jan Ros (npc), Ton Bakkeren (coach).

3.NORWAY: Terje Aa, Christian Bakke, Boye Brogeland, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Allan Livgård, Tolle Stabell (npc), Sten Bjertnes (coach).
3. USA1: Eric Greco, Geoff Hampson, Ralph Katz, Bobby Levin, Nick Nickell, Steve Weinstein, Jill Levin (npc), Eric O. Kokish (coach).

To find all the details of the Championship include results, bulletins, photographs etc. please click here.

The final was one of the most thrilling on record, with the lead repeatedly changing hands. The outcome was in doubt until the end, only being decided when the Netherlands stopped short of a makeable game on the last board leaving Switzerland ahead 167-164.

Of the 24 semi-finalist players this year, 13 had already won a Bermuda Bowl in the past, and 2 had won two, and Nick Nickell four. The final determined whether Piotr Gawryś or Bauke Muller would join the select club of 25 winners of three or more Bermuda Bowls.

Geir Helgemo is the recordholder among current players, with a total of 18 World Championship medals. Tor Helness only has 17 – he scored his first one in 1980, but Helgemo caught up with two Junior ones. Piotr Gawryś has 14 medals. Michał Klukowski already has 10, and that includes only three junior events. Pierre Zimmermann is also already up to a medal tally of ten. Bas Drijver now has 9 medals, 3 of them gold. All but one (the 2003 junior pairs) came with Sjoert Brink who consequently has 8 medals, 3 of them gold.

Nick Nickell won his eighth medal, all but one (silver in the Rosenblum) in the Bermuda Bowl. After his 4 golds and 2 silvers, he now has a complete set of Bermuda Bowl medals.

Boye Brogeland also has 8 world medals, three of them in junior play. Bauke Muller has eight medals, Simon de Wijs seven. Terje Aa has won his sixth medal, 5 in Bermuda Bowls, one in the World Games. He claims he has never finished lower than fourth, but then again, he has never been on a winning side. Eric Greco also has six medals, two of them in Junior teams. So has Geoff Hampson, but his Junior team medal came as a representative of Canada. Ralph Katz and Bobby Levin also have six medals. Ricco van Prooijen has won a gold and four silver medals. Louk Verhees also has 5, but there is a bronze next to his 1 gold and 3 silvers. Christian Bakke also has five medals, all previous ones from Junior events. Allan Livgård is up to his fourth bronze medal, two of them from Youth events. Berend van den Bos scored his first Medal at the senior level. He won three world titles in the Juniors, all together with Joris van Lankveld, who has an extra silver from the Junior teams in 2014. Strangely enough, this is Steve Weinstein’s first team medal, but he does have a gold and a silver from the World Open pairs.

These are not the first medals for Switzerland. Pierre Zimmermann himself scored his first two on Transnational teams while representing his native country, and Jean Besse played on the European Bermuda Bowl team of 1954.

2019, Wuhan - CHINA

1.POLAND: Krzysztof Buras, Bartosz Chmurski, Jacek Kalita, Grzegorz Narkiewicz, Michal Nowosadzki, Piotr Tuczynski, Marek Pietrasek (npc), Marek Wojcicki (coach).

2.NETHERLANDS: Simon De Wijs, Bob Drijver, Bauke Muller, Bart Nab, Ricco van Prooijen, Louk Verhees Jr., Anton Maas (npc), Ton Bakkeren (coach).

3.NORWAY: Terje Aa, Boye Brogeland, Nils Kare Kvangraven, Espen Lindqvist, Allan Livgard, Ulf Haakon Tundal, Christian Venneroed (npc), Sten Bjertnes (coach).

The Championship was a great success thanks to the excellent job done by the Chinese Contract Bridge Association and the Local Organising Committee. Wuhan welcomed and hosted the event in an excellent way: the playing conditions have been splendid and the participants have taken advantage of the services which were provided. This edition of the championship was more important than in the past, because the number of the qualified teams were increased from 22 to 24 for each category and because for the first time in addition to the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup and d’Orsi Trophy, the Wuhan Cup for the Mixed Teams was included: 96 teams, 24 per each category, representing 42 affiliated Federations competed for the titles of World Champions and for the Medals. Another reason to enjoy the championship was that, as President Thomas Bach remarked in his welcome message, in Wuhan the 20th anniversary of the recognition by the IOC of the WBF as International Federation was celebrated. Je Zhao (China), Grzegorg Narkiewicz & Krzysztof Buras (Poland) and Ulf Tundal (Norway) became World Grand Master. Poland and Netherlands played a terrific match, finally decided by a tough slam deal (board 27 reported inside) just six boards from the end. Norway defeated USA for the bronze medal.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2017, Lyon - FRANCE

1. USA2: Martin Fleisher, Joe Grue, Chip Martel, Brad Moss, Jacek Pszczola, Michael Rosenberg, Jan Martel (NPC)

2. FRANCE: Thomas Bessis, Francois Combescure, Cedric Lorenzini, Jean-Christophe Quantin, Jerome Rombaut, Frederic Volcker, Lionel Sebbane (NPC)

3. BULGARIA: Victor Aronov, Diana Damianova, Georgi Karakolev, Vladimir Mihov, Ivan Nanev, Julian Stefanov, Victor Aronov (PC), Marta Nikolova (coach)

Thanks to the excellent preparation and organisation provided by the French Bridge Federation and its President Patrick Grenthe, and a superb location at the Cite’ Centre de Congres, Lyon hosted a very successful championship that obtained the appreciation from all the participants. Chip Martel won his fourth Bermuda Bowl and Marty Fleisher became World Grand Master. After a wonderful match that contained many thrilling deals it was USA that emerged beating France for just 2 IMPs. Bulgaria defeated New Zealand in the Play-off for the bronze medal.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2015, Chennai - INDIA

1. POLAND: Piotr Gawrys, Krzysztof Jassem, Jacek Kalita, Michal Klukowski, Marcin Mazurkiewicz, Michal Nowosadzki, Piotr Walczak (NPC), Stanislaw Golebiowski (Coach).

2. SWEDEN: Tommy Bergdahl, Fredrik Nyström, Johan Sylvan, Johan Upmark, Niklas Warne, Frederic Wrang, Jan Lagerman (NPC).

3. USA: Vincent Demuy, Paul Fireman, John Hurd, John Kranyak, Gavin Wolpert, Joel Wooldridge, Shane Blanchard (NPC).

Chennai hosted one of the best World Championship in the history of the event, thanks to the impressive job done by the Bridge Federation of India in its preparation and organisation and thanks to the magnificent venue, the ITC Grand Chola. The championship will also be remembered for the withdrawal of three teams (Israel, Monaco and Germany) and the revocation of the invitation to one Polish pair (Balicki-Zmudzinski). These were brought about by a major cheating scandal that shocked the bridge world in the weeks immediately before the start of the event. However, despite the many issues at stake, the bridge was still excellent and in an exciting final Sweden charged into the lead with a huge seventh set, outscoring Poland 70-6 to take a 16.5 IMP lead. In the final set, the momentum swung the other way and Poland earned another title with a 307.5-293 victory. The Polish rising star Michal Klukowski (19 years old) won his second main World Title, after the Rosenblum Cup in Sanya, and is the youngest player ever in the history of bridge to achieve this and become a World Grand Master. The Polish victory also meant that Jacek Kalita and Marcin Mazurkiewicz became Grand Masters, as did Johan Upmark from Sweden.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2013, Nusa Dua, Bali - INDONESIA

1. ITALY: Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Lorenzo Lauria, Agustin Madala, Antonio Sementa, Alfredo Versace, Gianni Medugno (NPC), Giuseppe Failla (Coach).

2. MONACO: Fulvio Fantoni, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Franck Multon, Claudio Nunes, Pierre Zimmermann, Jean Charles Allavena (NPC), Krzysztof Martens (Coach).

3. POLAND: Cesary Balicki, Krzysztof Buras, Krzysztof Jassem, Marcin Mazurkiewicz, Grzegorz Narkiewicz, Adam Zmudzinski, Piotr Walczak (NPC), Marek Wojcicki (Coach).

Twelve years after 2001 when owing the sudden and unforeseen circumstances the WBF had been obliged to move the championship from Bali to Paris, the event finally came back to Bali. The WBF could not have made a better decision. The championship was a tremendous success and all the participants enjoyed an unforgettable event, thanks to the wonderful Indonesian hosts, the warmth of their hospitality, their kindness and organization. Bali will go down in the history of bridge as one of the great championships. After finishing second in the round robin, behind USA 1, Italy won its 15th Bermuda Bowl very easily defeating, with an impressive performance China (242/146) in quarterfinals, Poland (who withdrew after 4 of the 6 sessions when the score line was 201/79) in semifinal and Monaco (210/126) in the final. The new bridge star Agustin Madala won his first world title and became a World Grand Master. In a very close match (146/142) Poland defeated USA 1 for the bronze.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2011, Veldhoven - THE NETHERLANDS

1. THE NETHERLANDS: Sjoert Brink, Bas Drijver, Bauke Muller, Ricco van Prooijen, Louk Verhees Jr., Simon de Wijs, Eric Laurant (NPC), Anton Maas (Coach).

2. USA: Kevin Bathurst, Joe Grue, John Hurd, Justin Lall, Joel Wooldridge, Curtis Cheek (NPC), Daniel Zagorin (Coach).

3. ITALY: Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Lorenzo Lauria, Agustin Madala, Antonio Sementa, Alfredo Versace, Maria Teresa Lavazza (NPC), Massimo Ortensi (Coach).

The 2011 Championship, sponsored by B.C.’t Onstein and its Chairman Hans Melchers, was organized following the criteria of the highest standards for the comfort of the players and was characterized by the latest technology and media broadcasting. For the first time in a World Championship the Card Reader System was used, operating with cameras registering the bidding and play, thus capturing all the data and providing videorecords of the entire match. The Netherlands with an excellent performance won the title, for the second time, 18 years after they first won it in Santiago 1993. In the semi-final the young Dutch team defeated the favourites, the Italian team, 199 to 165 (with a 42-11 finishing stroke in the last 16 boards). Then in the final they had a comfortable win against USA 2, 300-225.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2009, São Paulo - BRAZIL

1. USA: Bob Hamman, Ralph Katz, Zia Mahmood, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Rodwell, Donna Compton (NPC), Eric Kokish (Coach).

2. ITALY: Giorgio Duboin, Fulvio Fantoni, Lorenzo Lauria, Claudio Nunes, Alfredo Versace, Maria Teresa Lavazza (NPC), Massimo Ortensi (Coach).

3. BULGARIA: Victor Aronov, Diyan Danailov, Kalin Karaivanov, Georgi Karakolev, Julian Stefanov, Roumen Trendafilov, Vladislav N. Isporski (NPC).

Once again USA and Italy played the final and USA defeated Italy 285-248. Bulgaria for the first time achieved a medal in the Bermuda Bowl, defeating China for the bronze.
Bob Hamman (picture) won the tenth Bermuda Bowl of his exceptional career, while Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell captured their fifth.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2007, Shanghai - CHINA

1. NORWAY: Boye Brogeland, Glenn Grøtheim, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Erik Sælensminde, Ulf Tundal, Sten Bjertnes (NPC), Vegard Brekke (Coach).

2. USA: Steve Garner, George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Howard Weinstein,
Jan Martel (NPC), Chip Martel (Coach).

3. THE NETHERLANDS: Tom Bakkeren, Huub Bertens, Sjoert Brink, Bas Drijver, Bauke Muller, Simon de Wijs, Eric Laurant (NPC), Anton Maas (Coach).

Norway became World Champions for the first time in Shanghai. with an impressive performance, defeating USA I 334-245.5 to win the Bermuda Bowl.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2005, Estoril - PORTUGAL

1. ITALY: Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Fulvio Fantoni, Lorenzo Lauria, Claudio Nunes, Alfredo Versace, Massimo Ortensi (Coach), Maria Teresa Lavazza (NPC)

2. USA I: Dick Freeman, Bob Hamman, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Rodwell, Paul Soloway, Sydney Lazard (NPC), Eric Kokish (Coach).

3. USA II: Russ Ekeblad, Fred Gitelman, Eric Greco, Geoff Hampson, Brad Moss, Ron Rubin, Stephen Landen (NPC), Sheri Winestock (Coach).

In Estoril, for the first time in a World Championship, all scores were entered directly from the tables using the new Bridgemate machines. This made the scores posted on the side Vu-graph screens much more reliable and cohesive than in the past. Italy won its first Bermuda Bowl title since 1975 with an outstanding performance and during this period held all three of the World Open Team titles: the Bermuda Bowl, the Olympiad and the Rosenblum Cup. The late Paul Soloway played his last Bermuda Bowl with a record of 5 Gold and 2 Silver medals.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

2003, Monte Carlo - MONACO

2001, Paris - FRANCE

1. USA: Kyle Larsen, Chip Martel, Rose Meltzer, Alan Sontag, Lew Stansby, Peter Weichsel, Jan Martel (NPC), Fred Gitelman (Coach).

2. NORWAY: Terje Aa, Boye Brogeland, Glenn Grøtheim, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Erik Sælensminde, Einar Asbjørn Brenne (NPC), Rolf E. Olsen (Coach).

3. POLAND: Cesary Balicki, Michal Kwiecien, Marcin Lesniewski, Krzysztof Martens, Jacek Pszczola, Adam Zmudzinski, Boguslav Skuza (NPC), Wojtek Siwiec (Coach).

This event was scheduled initially in Bali (Indonesia), but after the terrorist attack in New York on 11 September, the Championship was moved to Paris in what can only be described as a triumph of organization by the WBF President, José Damiani. Rose Meltzer was the first woman to win the Bermuda Bowl, a feat she achieved on her own birthday. Robert Wolff played his last Bermuda Bowl,
with a remarkable record of seven victories.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

1999 Hamilton - BERMUDA

1. USA I: Robert Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Dick Freeman, Nick Nickell, Sidney Lazard (NPC).

2. BRAZIL: Marcelo Branco, Gabriel Chagas, Miguel Villas-Boas, João-Paulo Campos, Roberto Mello, Ricardo Janz, Pedro P. Assumpção (NPC).

3. USA II: Zia Mahmood, Chip Martel, Michael Rosenberg, Neil Silverman, Lew Stansby, Jeff Wolfson, Michael Becker (NPC).

The 1999 Bermuda Bowl was held in January 2000, in Hamilton Bermuda, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Championship and was sponsored by Orbis Investment Management Ltd. The venue was unsurpassed and the hospitality of the Bermuda Bridge Federation unrivalled. Brazil reached the final to face a very strong challenge from the USA, who won by a large margin, 506-288.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

1997, Hammamet - TUNISIA

1. FRANCE: Paul Chemla, Alain Levy, Christian Mari, Hervé Mouiel, Frank Multon, Michel Perron, Jean-Louis Stoppa (NPC).

2. USA II: Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Rodwell, Robert S Wolff, Walter Walvick (NPC).

3. NORWAY: Terje Aa, Boye Brogeland, Glenn Grøtheim, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Erik Sælensminde, Rolf E. Olsen, Einar Asbjørn Brenne (NPC).

This was the first time the Championship had been hosted in Africa. France, who had won the Teams Olympiad the year before, confirmed its supremacy defeating USA in the final and winning the Bowl.

To check all the information of this championship, please click here.

1995, Beijing - CHINA

1. USA: Dick Freeman, Robert Hamman, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Rodwell, Robert S. Wolff, Edgar Kaplan (NPC).

2. CANADA: Boris Baran, Fred Gitelman, Eric Kokish, George Mittelman, Mark Molson, Joseph Silver, Litvak Irving (NPC).

3. FRANCE: Paul Chemla, Philippe Cronier, Michel Lebel, Michel Perron, Robert Reiplinger, Philippe Soulet, Jean-Paul Meyer (NPC).

This event, which was very well organized and hosted by the Chinese Contract Bridge Association, was sponsored by Marlboro. The final was played by two North American teams and USA defeated Canada.

1993, Santiago - CHILE

1. THE NETHERLANDS: Wubbo de Boer, Piet Jansen, Enri Leufkens, Bauke Muller, Jan Westerhof, Berri Westra, Jan Trouwborst (NPC).

2. NORWAY: Terje Aa, Glenn Grøtheim, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Arild Rasmussen, Jon Sveindal, Runar Lillevik (NPC).

3. BRAZIL: Marcelo Amaral, Jose Barbosa, Pedro Paulo Castello Branco, Carlos Camacho, Gabriel Chagas, Roberto De Mello. Pedro Paulo Assumpção (NPC).

The Championship in Santiago reflected the surprise results seen in Yokohama, with the youngest competing teams in Santiago reaching the final where the Dutch Team defeated Norway.

1991, Yokohama - JAPAN

1. ICELAND: Jon Baldursson, A alsteinn Jörgensen, Orn Arnthorsson, Gudlaugur Johansson, orlákur Jonsson, Gudmundur Arnson, Bjorn Eysteinsson (NPC).

2. POLAND: Cesary Balicki, Piotr Gawrys, Krysztof Lasocki, Krysztof Martens, Marek Szymanowski, Adam Zmudzinski, Andrej Orlow (NPC).

3. SWEDEN: Sven-Åke Bjerregard, Björn Fallenius, Tommy Gullberg, Anders Morath, Mats Nilsland, Per-Olov
Sundelin, Svante Ryman (NPC).

Over the years, there have been many changes in the format of the Bermuda Bowl. The latest philosophy held is that each of the WBF Zones should participate as of right, and that plural representation should be accorded to Zones 1 and 2, which have many more players. However, the seeding of a team from each of these Zones was not universally popular, so the WBF Executive Council approved a new format for use in the NEC Bermuda Bowl staged in Yokohama in 1991. Under the new format (which applied equally to the Venice Cup) Zone 1 was allowed to enter four teams, Zone 2 three teams, Zones 3-6 two teams and Zone 7 (which has only three NBOs) one team. The 16 teams were split into two groups of eight with the top four teams from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals after a double round robin. In one of the most surprising tournaments ever, for the first time the final was played by two teams which had never before achieved the finals. Iceland squeezed through their semi-final against Sweden and then beat Poland fairly comfortably 415-376 in the final. Sweden beat Brazil in the bronze medal play-off.

1989, Perth - AUSTRALIA

1987, Ochos Rios - JAMAICA

1985, São Paulo - BRAZIL

1. USA: Robert Hamman, Chip Martel, Peter Pender, Hugh Ross, Lew Stansby, Robert S. Wolff, Alfred Sheinwold (NPC).

2. AUSTRIA: Heinrich Berger, Kurt Feichtinger, Jan Fucik, Wolfgang Meinl, Karl Rohan, Franz Terraneo, Franz Baratta (NPC).

3. ISRAEL: David Birman, Julian Frydrich, Michael Hochzeit, Sam Lev, Eliakim Shaufel, Shalom Zeligman, Avrick Peleg (NPC).

1985 saw a further innovation: the Venice Cup was conducted at the same time, with the same format, eligibility and boards. Thus a record total of twenty teams were eligible – ten in each series.

1983, Stockholm - SWEDEN

1. USA: Michael Becker, Robert Hamman, Ron Rubin, Alan Sontag, Peter Weichsel, Robert S. Wolff, Joe Musumeci (NPC).

2. ITALY: Giorgio Belladonna, Dano De Falco, Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Lorenzo Lauria, Carlo Mosca, Filippo Palma (NPC).

3. FRANCE: Michel Corn, Philippe Cronier, Michel Lebel, Hervé Mouiel, Philippe Soulet, Henry Szwarc, Pierre Schemeil (NPC).

This was the first Bermuda Bowl played under a new format in which seeded teams from Europe and
North America went automatically to the semi-finals, while the number two teams from the zones
competed in a double round robin, along with one team from each of the remaining geographical zones,
plus the host NBO. Once again the final was played by USA and Italy, and once again the match was dramatically decided at the end when the match seemed to be over with Italy winning the trophy. But
because of a very bad slam bid by the Italians, USA recovered and won the title by 5 IMPs. It was the last Bermuda Bowl to see Giorgio Belladonna and Benito Garozzo competing. Giorgio Belladonna left with an incredible record 13 Gold and 3 Silver Medals from his 16 appearances in the event. Benito Garozzo closed with 10 Gold and 3 Silver Medals.

1981, Port Chester - USA

1. USA: Russ Arnold, Robert Levin, Jeff Meckstroth, Burt Reinhold, Eric Rodwell, John Solodar, Thomas K. Sanders
(NPC).

2. PAKISTAN: Nishat Abedi, Nisar Ahmed, Munir Ata-Ullah, Jan-e-Alam Fazli, Zia Mahmood, Masood Salim, Satta Cochinwala (NPC).

3. POLAND: Alexander Jezioro, Julian Klukowski, Marek Kudla, Krzysztof Martens, Andrzej Milde, Tomasz Przybora, Marian Frenkiel (NPC).

A new Zone was created and was represented by Pakistan, who had just won the inaugural championship of the Bridge Federation of Asia and the Middle East, went on to win the silver medal. Poland played its first Bermuda Bowl winning the bronze medal. Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell captured the first of their several Bermuda Bowl titles.

1979, Rio de Janeiro - BRAZIL

1. USA: Malcolm Brachman, William Eisenberg, Robert
Goldman, Edwin Kantar, Mike Passell, Paul Soloway, Ed Theus (NPC).

2. ITALY: Giorgio Belladonna, Dano De Falco, Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Lorenzo Lauria, Vitto Pittala, Sandro Salvetti (NPC).

3. AUSTRALIA: Jim Borin, Norma Borin, Richard (Dick) Cummings, Andrew Reiner, Bobby Richman, Tim Seres, Denis Howard (NPC).

The Central American & Caribbean Zone made its debut and six Zones were represented. In another very hard fought final in which the USA defeated their ever-present Italian opponents by 5 IMPs, practically on the last board.

1977, Manila - PHILIPPINES

1. USA II: William Eisenberg, Robert Hamman; Edwin Kantar, Paul Soloway, John Swanson, Robert S. Wolff, Roger Stern (NPC).

2. USA I: Fred Hamilton, Mike Passell, Erik Paulsen, Hugh Ross, Ira Rubin, Ron von der Porten, Jerome Silverman (NPC).

3. SWEDEN: Anders Brunzell, Sven-Olov Flodqvist, Hans Göthe, Jörgen Lindqvist, Anders Morath, Per-Olov Sundelin, Sven-Erik Berglund (NPC).

In 1977 the WBF By-Laws introduced a requirement that there should be a Zonal Team Championships for the Bermuda Bowl, which would now be held in odd-numbered years. The USA were allowed to be
represented by two teams, who played the final. Robert Hamman won the third of his ten Bermuda Bowl titles.

1976, Monte Carlo - MONACO

1. USA: William Eisenberg, Fred Hamilton, Erik Paulsen, Hugh Ross, Ira Rubin, Paul Soloway, Dan Morse (NPC).

2. ITALY: Giorgio Belladonna, Pietro Forquet, Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Vito Pittala, Antonio Vivaldi, Sandro Salvetti (NPC).

3. ISRAEL: Julian Frydrich, Michael Hochzeit, Sam Lev, Yeshayahu Levit, Pinhas Romik, Eliakim Shaufel, Rueben Kunin (NPC).

In Monte Carlo, for the first and last time, the Bridge Olympiad and the Bermuda Bowl were played at the same time. In a dramatic and very exciting final, USA defeated Italy.
Pietro Forquet, one of the greatest champions in the history of bridge, played his last Bermuda Bowl, becoming the second greatest performer after Giorgio Belladonna with 12 titles.

1975, Hamilton - BERMUDA

1. ITALY: Giorgio Belladonna, Gianfranco Facchini, Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Vitto Pittala, Sergio Zucchelli, Sandro Salvetti (NPC).

2. USA: William Eisenberg, Robert Hamman, Edwin Kantar, Paul Soloway, John Swanson, Robert S. Wolff, Alfred Sheinwold (NPC).

3. FRANCE: Jean-Michel Boulanger, Michel Lebel, François Leenhardt, Christian Mari, Henri Szwarc, Edmond Vial, René Bacherich (NPC).

This 1975 contest was to be staged where it all began 25 years earlier, on the island of Bermuda. It was the first time that screens and bidding boxes were used in an international competition. The decision was taken by the WBF Executive Council, after a period of controversy, by six votes to three with two abstensions. The change proved successful and the use of screens and bidding boxes became definitive.

1974, Venice - ITALY

1973, Guaruja - BRAZIL

1971, Taipei - CHINESE TAIPEI

1. USA: William Eisenberg, Robert Goldman, Robert Hamman,
Jim Jacoby, Mike Lawrence, Robert S. Wolff, Oswald Jacoby (NPC).

2. FRANCE: Jean-Michel Boulanger, Pierre Jaïs, Jean-Marc Roudinesco, Jean-Louis Stoppa, Henri Szwarc, Roger Trezel,
René Huni (NPC).

3. AUSTRALIA: Jim Borin, Norma Borin, Richard (Dick) Cummings, Denis Howard, Tim Seres, Roelof Smilde, Jessef Rothfield (NPC).

Australia represented the South Pacific Zone for the first time and achieved the bronze medal. The “Aces” retained the title. For the first time since 1957 Italy was not qualified and did not compete.

1970, Stockholm - SWEDEN

1. USA: William Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Robert Hamman, Jim Jacoby, Mike Lawrence, Robert S. Wolff, Oswald Jacoby (NPC).

2. TAIWAN: Conrad Cheng, Elmer Hsiao, Patrick Huang, Harry Lin, Min Fan Tai, David Mao (NPC).

3. NORWAY: Erik Hoie, Tore Jensen, Knut Koppang, Bjorn Larsen, Louis Andre Strom, Willy Varnas, Baard Bardsen (NPC).

In 1970 the late Ira Corn’s “Aces” won the right to represent the USA in the Bermuda Bowl in Stockholm. In the absence of Italy’s top team, the “Aces” outclassed the field.
This was the first World Championship won by Robert Hamman and Robert S. Wolff (picture), who in later years became the first player to take the Gold Medal in five different World Championship events – the Bermuda Bowl, the World Teams Olympiad, the World Pairs, the World Mixed Teams and the World Senior Cup – equalled in 2010 by Fulvio Fantoni.

1969, Rio de Janeiro - BRAZIL

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Angelo Tracanella (NPC).

2. TAIWAN: Franck Huang, Patrick Huang, C.S. Shen, K.W. Shen, Kovit Suchartkul, Min Fan Tai, C.C. Wei (NPC).

3. USA: Billy Eisenberg, Robert Goldman, Bob Hamman, Edwin Kantar, Sidney Lazard, George Rapee, Oswald Jacoby (NPC).

There was no contest in 1968 because of the Olympiad, and in 1969 the Championship was hosted for the first time by Brazil. In the final Italy defeated Taiwan, following an extraordinary performance. Walter Avarelli (9 titles), Massimo D’Alelio (10 titles) and Camillo Pabis Ticci (5 titles) played and won their last Bermuda Bowl (picture).

1967, Miami Beach - USA

The Italian team lands in Miami

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Guido Barbone (NPC).

2. USA: Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Sami Kehela, Eric Murray, William Root, Alvin Roth, Julius Rosenblum (NPC).

3. FRANCE: Jean-Michel Boulenger, Jacques Pariente, Jean-Marc Roudinesco, Jacques Stetten, Henri Szwarc, Leon Tintner, René Huni (NPC).

In Miami Beach the format was changed.
Where previously the placing had been decided by a simple round robin, with two points for a win and one for a tie, now there was to be a round robin in which each team met each other in three separate matches, with 20 victory points at stake in each match; followed by a twoteam final over 128 boards. The change proved successful and the old format was never restored.

1966, St Vincent - ITALY

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Carl Alberto Perroux (NPC).

2. USA: Phil Feldesman, Robert Hamman, Sami Kehela, Lewis Mathe, Eric Murray, Ira Rubin, Julius Rosenblum (NPC).

3. VENEZUELA: Roberto Benaim, David Berah, Mario Onorati, Roger Rossignol, Francis Vernon.

In the 1960s the scope of international bridge was much enlarged. The World Bridge Federation began to arrange its member countries in geographical Zones, the basis for Bermuda Bowl eligibility. This meant that the contest began to take on its present world-wide character. In 1966 the Far East Bridge Federation, represented by Thailand, joined in. Carlo Alberto Perroux, the Blue Teams founder and legendary Non Playing Captain (with Charles Goren in the picture) led the Italian team for the last time. Robert Hamman played his first Bermuda Bowl and won his first of the 21 World Championship medals.

1965, Buenos Aires - ARGENTINA

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Sergio Osella (NPC).

2. USA: B. Jay Becker, Ivan Erdos, Dorothy Hayden, Peter Leventritt, Kelsey Petterson, Howard Schenken, John Gerber (NPC).

3. ARGENTINA: Louis Attaguile, Alberto Berisso, Carlos Cabanne, Marcelo Lerner, Egisto Rocchi, Agustin Santamarina, Eduardo Marquardt (NPC).

There was no contest in 1964 because of the Olympiad and once again in 1965 four teams competed. Forquet-Garozzo (picture) were awarded with the prize for the best pair.

1963, St Vincent - ITALY

1962, New York - USA

1961, Buenos Aires - ARGENTINA

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Carl Alberto Perroux (NPC).

2. USA: John Gerber, Paul Hodge, Norman Kay, Peter Leventritt, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor, Frank Westcott (NPC).

3. FRANCE: René Bacherich, José Le Dentu, Claude Deruy, Pierre Ghestem, Roger Trezel, Robert De Nexon (NPC).

In 1960 because of the institution of the Bridge Olympiad, held in Turin, there was no contest. In 1961 in Buenos Aires the competition was enlarged to four teams: the defending Champions, Europe, South America and North America. Benito Garozzo (picture) joined the Blue Team and won the first of his 12 Bermuda Bowls.

1959, New York - USA

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl Alberto Perroux (NPC).

2. USA: Harry Fishbein, Sam Fry, Leonard Harmon, Lee Hazen, Sidney Lazard, Ivar Stakgold, Charles Solomon (NPC).

3. ARGENTINA: Alberto Berisso, Ricardo Calvente, Alejandro Castro, Carlos Dibar, Arturo Jacques, Egisto Rocchi, Luis Santa Coloma (NPC).

The defending Champions, Italy, competed again against USA and Argentina and won its third title.

1958, Como - ITALY

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl Alberto Perroux (NPC).

2. USA: B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Alvin Roth, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone, J.G. Ripstra (NPC).

3. ARGENTINA: Alberto Blousson, Carlos Cabanne, Ricardo Calvente, Alejandro Castro (Cap.), Marcelo Lerner.

In 1958 the South American Confederation, which had already held Championships of its own for ten years, competed for the first time.

1957, New York - USA

1. ITALY: Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl Alberto Perroux (NPC).

2. USA: Charles Goren, Boris Koytchou, Peter Leventritt, Harold Ogust, William Seamon, Helen Sobel, Rufus L. Miles Jr (NPC).

In 1957 for the first time Italy won the Bermuda Bowl with the legendary Blue Team, which subsequently won 10 consecutive World Titles and Giorgio Belladonna (picture) won the first of his 13 Bermuda Bowl titles, an extraordinary unbroken record.