Wasps do not bother bridge players: ‘European championship title grabbed from the gates of hell’

A number of hornets made their appearance in the European top match of the bridge world during the European Championship in Funchal, Portugal. Two players were stabbed and the tournament had to be halted for a while.

The Dutch national team consisting of Bauke Muller, Louk Verhees, Berend van den Bos, Simon de Wijs, Ricco van Prooijen, Joris van Lankveld, Gert-Jan Ros and coach Ton Bakkeren managed to maintain their concentration and entered the competition for the first time . history with the European championship in the open category.

Rush

“I was surprised,” recalls Dutch team captain Ros, when hornets flew into the room. “Didn’t see a wasp during our stay here.”

However, on the final day of the European Bridge Championship, when the Netherlands played against Italy, several bumblebees were interrupted. “It was when a third of the last game was played,” Ros thinks. “In total, two players, an Italian and a German, were stabbed twice.”

Dutch bridge players at work at the European Championship

Dutch Bridge Association

“She had a German allergy,” Ros continues. “So a doctor had to come. There was commotion and the room was evacuated.” There was another room in the complex where the tournament ended.

Best of the world

The Netherlands is undoubtedly one of the best bridge players in the world. The world title was won in 1993 and 2011 and last April the Dutch national team finished the World Cup in second place after little loss. The European Championship had never been won before.

This time in Portugal, the Netherlands seemed to become European champions without the threat, but the result was still blood-curdling. The Orange squad has largely lost its big lead due to a major defeat against world champions Switzerland.

According to Ros, “The man with the hammer went there.” “After the race in Switzerland, everyone was on deck. Then we looked into each other’s eyes and said to each other, “Can’t go wrong anymore.”

Dutch bridge team

Dutch Bridge Association

And it didn’t work. Italy won after the game was halted for a while due to wasps. “Of course it is difficult to focus,” Ros responds when the match is interrupted. “You are in the middle of the game, so you must keep your cards face down in front of you and no transfer of information is allowed.”

The victory over the Italians was enough to maintain the small lead in the standings and still win the title. “We dragged the championship through the gates of hell”

group feeling

According to Ros, the team spirit among bridge players is one of the most important factors for the success of the team. “We meet once a week at the national think tank in Utrecht. Then comes education. It is good for the development of technology as well as for the atmosphere within the team.”

And this atmosphere only got better after winning the European Championship title. “We opened the bottle of bubbly.”

Source: NOS

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