Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, President Emeritus of the World Bridge Federation introduced the World Junior Championship for the Ortiz-Patiño Trophy in 1987 and when José Damiani became President of the WBF he continued the development of this sector by introducing a Schools Bridge Championship for the Damiani Cup for younger players, and later introduced a Pairs Championship and a Girls Team Championship for which Gianarrigo Rona presented the Rona Cup. These events are all held together in what is currently known as the World Youth Championships, held in the even numbered years.
The World Youth Open Bridge Championships were introduced in 2009.
The Age Criteria for Youth Championships can be found here.
World Bridge Federation is committed to the promotion of Youth Bridge, which it strongly believes represents the future of this wonderful sport. Because of this, it has been decided that a new series of Simultaneous Pairs events will be introduced, the money from which will be used specifically to assist the development of Youth Bridge.
The WBF’s Youth Projects will include:
- better teaching aids for countries trying to encourage young players,
- assistance for youngsters to attend World Championships
- special Simultaneous Pairs for schools
- and other initiatives to encourage youngsters to learn bridge.

1. SWEDEN: Andreas Abragi, Sanna Clementsson, Erik Hansson, Ivar Lichtenstein, Castor Mann, Alexander Sandin, Erik Fryklund (captain), Mikael Rimstedt (coach)
1. NETHERLANDS: Youp Caris, Pim Dupont, Oscar Nijssen, Stefan Thorpe, Tim Van de Paverd, Sibrand van Oosten, Agnes Snellers (cpt), Wubbo de Boer (coach)
1. SWEDEN: Ida Gronkvist, Mikael Gronkvist, Simon Hult, Mikael Rimstedt, Ola Rimstedt, , Adam Stokka, Martin Loefgren npc, Tom Gards coach
1. POLAND: Marcin Bojarski, Maksymilian Chodacki, Wojciech Kazmierczak, Michal Klukowski, Kamil Nowak, Justyna Zmuda, Marek Markowski (npc)
1. NORWAY: Harald Eide, Mats Eide, Kristian Ellingsen, Tor Eivind Grude, Kristoffer Hegge, Kristian Stangeland, Lars Eide (NPC), Lars Arthur Johansen (Coach).
1. NETHERLANDS: Berend van den Bos, Aarnout Helmich, Gerbrand Hop, Joris van Lankveld, Ernst Wackwitz, Chris Westerbeek, Wubbo de Boer (NPC), Kees Tammens (Coach).
1. ISRAEL: Eiran Argelazi, Alon Birman, Lothar Fisher, Ron Schwartz, Bar Tarnovski, David Birman (NPC).
1. DENMARK: Dennis Bilde, Anne-Sofie Houlberg, Jonas Houmøller, Emil Jepsen, Lars Kirkegaard Nielsen, Martin Shaltz, Henrik Røn, Kåre Gjaldbæk (NPC).
1. USA: Joe Grue, John Kranyak, Justin Lall, Ari Greenberg, Joshua Donn, Jason Feldman, Bob Rosen (NPC).
1. USA 1: Ari Greenberg, Joe Grue, John Hurt, John Kranyak, Justin Lall, Joel Wooldridge, Bob Rosen (NPC).
1. ITALY: Furio Di Bello, Stelio, Ruggiero Guariglia, Fabio Lo Presti, Francesco Mazzadi, Stefano Uccello, Giampaolo Rinaldi (NPC), Andrea Pagani (Coach).
1. USA 1: Brad Campbell, Joe Grue, John Hurd, John Kranyak, Kent Mignocchi, Joel Wooldridge, Bob Rosen (NPC), Denis McGarry (Coach).
1. ITALY: Bernardo Biondo, Mario D’Avossa, Furio Di Bello, Stelio Di Bello, Riccardo Intonti, Matteo Mallardi, Giampaolo Rinaldi (NPC), Andrea Pagani (Coach).
1. DENMARK: Freddi Brondum, Mik Kristensen, Lars Lund Madsen, Morten Lund Madsen, Mikkel Bensby Nohr, Jacob Røn, Kirsten Steen Møller (NPC).
1. GREAT BRITAIN: Jeffrey Allerton, Danny Davies, Jason Hackett, Justin Hackett, Philip Souter, Tom Townsend, Raymond Brock (NPC), Philip King (Coach).
1. GERMANY: Guido Hopfenheit, Roland Rohowsky, Marcus Joest, Klaus Reps, Michael Gromöller (NPC).
1. USA: John Diamond, Jeff Ferro, Martha Katz, Brian Platnick, Wayne Stuart, Debbie Zuckerberg, Chip Martel (NPC).
1. GREAT BRITAIN: John Hobson, Derek Patterson, John Pottage, Andrew Robson, Gerald Tredinnick, Stuart Tredinnick, Raymond Brock (NPC).
1. THE NETHERLANDS: Wubbo de Boer, Jan Jansma, Enri Leufkens, Marcel Nooijan, Rob van der Wel, Berry Westra, Cees Sint, Eric Kirchoff (NPCs).