BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - Poland has etched its name in bridge history with an extraordinary double gold medal performance at the 16th World Bridge Games, held at the prestigious Centro de Convenciones de Buenos Aires from October 21 to November 3, 2024. This remarkable achievement represents Poland's strongest showing at a World Bridge Games since the event's inception, cementing the nation's position as one of the world's leading bridge powers.
The Polish Open Team, consisting of Krzysztof Buras, Wojciech Gaweł, Rafał Jagniewski, Przemysław Janiszewski, Kamil Nowak, and Wojciech Strzemecki, led by non-playing captain Marek Pietraszek, delivered a masterclass performance throughout the tournament. After finishing fourth in the round-robin stage, the team demonstrated exceptional resilience and strategic brilliance in the knockout rounds, ultimately defeating Italy in a hard-fought final. The Polish squad's victory was built on consistent play, excellent partnership chemistry, and tactical flexibility that allowed them to adapt to different opponents' playing styles.
In the Mixed Teams Championship, Poland's dominance continued with another gold medal performance. The team of Katarzyna Dufrat, Maciej Hutyra, Danuta Kazmucha, Piotr Marcinowski, Piotr Zatorski, and Justyna Żmuda, captained by Piotr Koluda, showcased outstanding technical skill and competitive spirit. Their journey to gold included a decisive victory over China, with one particularly memorable session seeing Poland outscore their opponents 52-0, demonstrating the team's ability to execute flawlessly under pressure.
The 2024 World Bridge Games attracted over 1,000 players from more than 40 countries, representing one of the largest and most competitive gatherings in international bridge. The event featured four main team championships - Open, Women's, Seniors, and Mixed - along with corresponding pairs championships in the second week. The tournament utilized state-of-the-art bidding technology, with LoveBridge tablets employed for bidding and scoring in all series during the knockout stages, enhancing accuracy and providing real-time access to results for players and spectators worldwide.
Italy captured silver in the Open category, with their experienced team featuring Massimiliano Di Franco, Giovanni Donati, Andrea Manno, Giacomo Percario, Antonio Sementa, and Alfredo Versace putting up a strong challenge in the final. Switzerland secured the bronze medal with a team that included several world-class players. In the Mixed category, China took silver while Germany earned bronze, highlighting the truly global nature of competitive bridge.
The tournament was not without controversy, as three teams - Chile in Open, Switzerland in Seniors, and Morocco in Mixed - were expelled from competition due to cell phone violations, underscoring the World Bridge Federation's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game. The WBF has implemented strict protocols regarding electronic devices to prevent cheating and ensure fair play at all levels of competition.
The World Bridge Games, formerly known as the World Bridge Olympiad, is held every four years in Olympic year cycles and represents the pinnacle of national team competition in bridge. Unlike other world championships that feature transnational teams, the World Bridge Games requires players to represent their national federations, adding an extra dimension of national pride to the competition. The event serves as a showcase for the world's best players and promotes the growth of bridge globally.
Buenos Aires proved to be an excellent host city, offering participants world-class facilities, excellent hospitality, and the opportunity to experience Argentine culture. The success of this championship sets a high standard for future World Bridge Games and demonstrates the continued growth and vitality of international bridge competition.
