BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - In a historic breakthrough for Turkish bridge, the Turkish women's team captured their first-ever gold medal at a World Championship level by winning the Women's Teams competition at the 2024 World Bridge Games. The emotional victory represents years of development and investment in women's bridge in Turkey and marks the country's emergence as a major force in international women's bridge competition.
The Turkish team, consisting of Aslı Acar, Berrak Erkan, İrem Özbay, Olgu Şeker, Pınar Tekir Doğan, and Dilek Yavaş, played with remarkable consistency and determination throughout the tournament. Under the expert guidance of non-playing captain Mehmet Gökhan Yılmaz and coach Zeynep Yılmaz, the team navigated through a challenging field of 28 national teams representing the world's strongest bridge-playing nations. Their journey to gold included victories over several traditional powerhouses and demonstrated the effectiveness of Turkey's comprehensive approach to developing competitive bridge players.
The final match against Sweden was a showcase of high-level bridge, with both teams displaying exceptional technical skills and strategic acumen. Sweden, featuring the experienced lineup of Kathrine Bertheau, Sanna Clementsson, Linnea Edlund, Jenny Evelius-Nohren, Ida Grönkvist, and Emma Övelius, pushed the Turkish team throughout the match. The Swedish team's playing captain Linnea Edlund and coach Jenny Evelius-Nohren had prepared their squad well, but Turkey's combination of solid defensive play and aggressive bidding ultimately proved decisive in the crucial boards.
The bronze medal match provided one of the tournament's most dramatic moments. The United States team of Lynn Baker, Cecilia Dwyer Rimstedt, Jill Meyers, Sandra Rimstedt, Kerri Sanborn, and Olivia Schireson, led by captain Joe Stokes and coach Sam Dinkin, found themselves trailing China 43-101 after three quarters of the match. In what can only be described as one of the greatest comebacks in World Bridge Games history, the American team mounted an extraordinary rally, winning the final session 88-0 to claim the bronze medal. This stunning turnaround exemplified the never-give-up attitude that characterizes championship bridge.
Turkey's victory is the culmination of a long-term development program initiated by the Turkish Bridge Federation over a decade ago. The federation invested heavily in youth development, coaching infrastructure, and international competition experience. Several members of the gold medal team had competed together at junior and youth level championships, building the partnership understanding and team chemistry that proved crucial in Buenos Aires. The Turkish women have been steadily climbing the international rankings in recent years, with strong performances at European Championships and other international events.
The significance of this victory extends beyond the medal itself. Turkey becomes only the seventh nation ever to win a Women's World Championship, joining an elite group that includes the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, France, and China. This achievement has generated tremendous excitement within Turkey and is expected to inspire a new generation of young female players to take up the game. The Turkish Bridge Federation has already announced plans to expand its women's bridge programs in schools and universities across the country.
The 2024 World Bridge Games Women's Championship featured 28 teams from six continents, representing the truly global nature of women's bridge. The competition level was extraordinarily high, with several matches decided by single-digit margins. The tournament utilized the latest technology for bidding and scoring, allowing fans around the world to follow the action in real-time through live broadcasts and detailed hand records.
As Turkey celebrates this historic achievement, attention now turns to defending their title at future championships. The team has already indicated their intention to compete at the 2025 European Women's Teams Championship and the next World Bridge Games. This gold medal has established Turkey as a nation to watch in international women's bridge, and their success story serves as an inspiration for developing bridge nations worldwide.