European youth in Riga: Poland in force takes three titles
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Following on from the European Team Championships, Riga welcomed young bridge players from all over Europe. They battled it out in five categories: U31, U26, U26 Women, U21 and U16. As in the open events, the top eight places qualified for the world championship.
In the U31 category, the French claimed a well-deserved gold medal, keeping their closest pursuers, Poland and Turkey, at a comfortable distance. Warm congratulations to Luc Bellicaud, Arthur Boulin, Maxence Fragola, Théo Guillemin, Romain Guth and Nao Tabata (captain: Lionel Sebbane).
In the U26s, the Netherlands and Israel went into the 23rd and final round neck and neck, 289.92 VPs to 289.74! The Dutch comfortably beat Italy to clinch the title. Hearty congratulations to Lotte and Sarah De Wijs, Xavier Friesen, Ronald Goor, Mark Ottens and Reinder Van Der Weide (captain: Ruben Buijs; coach: Aarnout Helmich). The podium was completed by a surprising Estonia, not expected at such a level.
In the U26 Women category, victory went to the phenomenal Polish team, who racked up… 363.56 VPs over 22 rounds – a little over 16.5 VPs per match despite a last-round defeat. Breathtaking. On the podium, Denmark finished 82 VPs back and Italy 130! Hats off to Milena Gryzlo, Magdalena Kapala, Dominika Lucka, Ewa Morawska, Natalia Suszanowicz and Joanna Zalewska (captain: Rafal Marks).
In the U21s, Poland prevailed by a fairly narrow margin over Israel and well clear of Norway. The winners: Jakub Adamczak, Maksymilian Blicharz, Milena Klimiuk, Jakub Michalski, Wojciech Tokarski and Wojciech Wnuk (captain: Piotr Dybicz; coach: Maciej Turant).
Finally, among the youngest, the under-16s, it was the insatiable Poles who triumphed once again, thanks to Michal Adamczak, Gabriela Banas, Blazej Mroz, Hubert Ozibko, Adam Stachura and Krzysztof Turant (captain: Roland Lippik; coach: Marcin Kuflowski). The podium was identical to the U21s, with Israel and Norway taking silver and bronze.
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