HERNING, DENMARK - The United States Bridge Federation celebrated a spectacular double gold medal performance at the 47th World Bridge Team Championships, with American teams capturing both the Bermuda Bowl (Open) and d'Orsi Senior Bowl championships. This remarkable achievement represents one of the most dominant US showings at a world championship in recent memory and underscores America's position as a global bridge superpower across multiple generations of players. The victories came after nearly two weeks of intense competition against the world's best teams in Herning, Denmark.
The USA1 Open team, competing for the Bermuda Bowl, featured an impressive combination of established stars and emerging talent. Kevin Bathurst and John Hurd, who had previously been top-ranked pairs players on the World Bridge Federation rankings, anchored the team alongside the dynamic duo of Adam Grossack and Eddie Wold. The partnership of Adam Kaplan and Finn Kolesnik, both rising stars in American bridge, completed the squad. Under the expert management of non-playing captain Bob Morris, the team navigated through a challenging field to claim gold.
The USA1 team's path to the Bermuda Bowl championship was marked by consistently strong performances throughout the tournament. After finishing third in the round-robin stage with a series of solid victories against top European and Asian teams, they entered the knockout phase with confidence. The quarterfinal match against England tested the Americans' resolve, but superior cardplay in the crucial final sets sealed the victory. The semifinal against Belgium proved equally challenging, with both teams producing brilliant bridge, but the American team's depth and versatility proved decisive. The final against Denmark, played before an enthusiastic home crowd, saw the USA team demonstrate why they were considered favorites, executing flawlessly under pressure.
In the d'Orsi Senior Bowl, another USA1 team composed entirely of legendary American players claimed gold in equally impressive fashion. The team of David Berkowitz, Larry Cohen, Steve Garner, Mike Kamil, Jeff Meckstroth, and Jeff Wolfson represents decades of bridge excellence and hundreds of national and international titles. With non-playing captain Jan Martel and coach Chip Martel providing strategic guidance, this collection of all-time greats proved that experience and partnership understanding remain crucial factors at the highest levels of competition.
The Senior team's journey to gold demonstrated the importance of maintaining competitive programs for experienced players. After dominating the round-robin stage and finishing first, they faced England in the quarterfinals, dispatching the British team with authority. The semifinal against their compatriots from USA2 created an all-American semifinal, a testament to the depth of American senior bridge. The final against France proved to be a classic encounter between two of bridge's strongest nations, with the Americans' combination of aggressive bidding and solid cardplay ultimately prevailing. Jeff Meckstroth, already one of the most decorated players in bridge history, added another world championship to his remarkable collection.
The United States fielded multiple competitive teams in each category at the world championships, demonstrating remarkable depth across all levels. USA2 teams reached the semifinals in both the Open and Senior categories, while American women's and mixed teams also performed creditably. This depth reflects the strength of the USBF's selection process and the quality of competitive bridge in the United States. The trials system, which requires teams to compete in grueling multi-day knockout events to earn the right to represent the USA, ensures that only the most prepared and cohesive teams reach the world championships.
Denmark's silver medal finish in the Bermuda Bowl, earned while hosting the championship on home soil, represented an excellent performance by the Danish team of Michael Askgaard, Dennis Bilde, Kasper Konow, Christian Lahrmann, Andreas Plejdrup-Meister, and Martin Schaltz, led by captain Morten Bilde and coach Palle Reimann. Sweden captured bronze in the Open category, while France took silver in the Seniors. These results highlight the global competitiveness of bridge and the high standard required to succeed at the world championship level.
The American victories in Herning continue a long tradition of US success in world bridge championships. The United States has won more Bermuda Bowl championships than any other nation, and American players have consistently been ranked among the world's best for decades. However, these victories required overcoming increasingly strong international competition, particularly from European nations that have invested heavily in player development and coaching programs. The 2025 results demonstrate that American bridge remains at the forefront of the international game.
The double gold medal performance provides tremendous momentum for American bridge heading into future competitions. Both the Open and Senior teams have indicated their intention to defend their titles at the 2027 World Team Championships. The success also inspires the next generation of American players, showing that with dedication, teamwork, and excellent coaching, the highest levels of achievement remain within reach. As the bridge community celebrates these outstanding results, attention now turns to continuing to develop and support competitive bridge at all levels throughout the United States.
