MSO World: Bridge Articles

The World Junior Team Championship for the Ortiz-Patino Trophy - open to players under 25 on the previous 31 December - was inaugurated in July 1987, in Amsterdam.

Like the Bermuda Bowl & Venice Cup, it is a contest for teams representing WBF Zones, with the host NCBO also eligible. Here, five teams participated, playing a double round robin of 32-board matches to qualify two teams for an 80-board final.

Easy round robin winners were reigning European Junior champions, the Netherlands, with 169.8 VPs. Second were France, who had been runners-up in the European event, and who were eligible to play because the Netherlands were doubly qualified. Third with 101 were USA; fourth Argentina, 82.3; and fifth Indonesia, 78.9.

The final went to the last board, the winners by 135 IMPs to 127 were The Netherlands in the persons of Wubbo de Boer, Jan Jansma, Enri Leufkens, Marcel Nooijan, Rob van der Wel and Berry Westra (co-captains Cees Sint & Eric Kirchoff).

1989

In 1989 the second championship was held in Nottingham, England. Eight teams took part, with the Europeans again dominating the round robin:

1. Great Britain
2. France
3. Australia

Due to a WBF regulation to avoid two teams from the same Zone contesting the final, Great Britain and France had to meet in the semi-final with Great Britain coming out on top, 172 IMPs to 128. Argentina defeated Australia 159-147 in the other semi-final. In the final, Great Britain (John Hobson, Derek Patterson, John Pottage, Andrew Robson, Gerald Tredinnick, Stuart Tredinnick, R Brock [npc]) gradually pulled away to win by 256 IMPs to 157. France beat Australia 134-119 in the play-off for third place.

1991

In 1991 the third championship was held in Ann Arbor, USA, but this time it was the Europeans who struggled in the round robin:

1. Canada
2= USA I, USA II, Australia
5. Israel

In the semi-finals USA II had the better of USA I, 211-70, while Canada beat Australia 144-91 and then USA II went on to take the gold against Canada, 231-191, while Australia took the bronze medal.

1993

In 1993, the fourth championship was held at Arhus, Denmark with 15 teams participating. The round robin finished:

1. Germany 283
2. Norway 283
3. USA I 269

In the semi-finals Norway cruised past the USA while Germany beat Denmark by the narrowest possible margin, just half an IMP, but Germany hit more convincing form in the final to win by 254 ½ - 203. The winners were, Guido Hopfenheit, Roland Rohowsky, Marcus Joest and Klaus Reps with NPC Michael Gromoller.

USA I won the bronze medal while John Font and Eric Secan (USA) won the Junior Swiss Pairs Championship.

1995

The 5th World Juniors was held in Bali, Indonesia. It was a fantastic welcome and organisation. The Championship attracted 12 representative teams from five geographical zones of the WBF.

There was a round robin qualifying stage to decide the four semifinalists, of which the two winners went to the final and the loser to a play-off for third place.

1. Great Britain 231
2. Denmark 205
3. New Zealand 200

1997

The 6th World Junior Bridge Team Championship was held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A very comfortable congress centre and an opportunity for the young players to visit North America.

18 teams entered the championship. The European Teams dominated the event, taking all three of the medals.

1. Denmark
2. Norway
3. Russia

1999

The 7th World Junior Bridge Team Championship was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Sixteen countries from all Zones of the World Bridge Federation participated.

1. Italy
2. USA2
3. Denmark