The History of the Bermuda Bowl begins with Mr. Norman Bach, who was born in 1913 in Bermuda and died 1971. He initiated and organized the first post World War II World Championships in the year 1950. During the evolution of these Championships, the Bermuda Bowl came to be the most prestigious Bridge Trophy. Mr. Norman Bach himself won the Gold Cup for Great Britain in 1938 and was the playing Captain of the British Team in the European Championships in 1938 and 1939. Mr. Norman Bach of Bermuda and his associates from the Bermuda Bridge Club organized, scheduled and managed the very first event in 1950. All hands, complete with bidding and play, were recorded, which, it must be noted, was a first for the American players but nothing new to the Europeans, since such recording was standard practice in important European matches.

The first World Championship for the Bermuda Bowl was held in 1950, eight years before the World Bridge Federation itself was formed. It was contested by USA, Europe and Britain. The United States won by beating Europe by 4,720 points and Britain by 3,660. The USA team consisted of six great players and the names of these players were engraved upon the new trophy, which was presented by the Government of Bermuda.

 

The format of the World Championship was changed in 1967. Previously the placings had been decided by a simple Round Robin, with two points for a win and one for a tie. After the change there was to be a Round Robin in which each team met each other in three separate matches, with 20 victory points at stake in each match. This was followed by a two-team final over 128 boards. The change proved successful and the old format was never restored.

In the 1960s the scope of international bridge was much enlarged. In 1958 the World Bridge Federation was formed and began to arrange its member countries in geographical Zones, which became the basis for Bermuda Bowl eligibility. It was at this time that the contest began taking on its present worldwide character. In 1958, the South American Confederation, which for ten years had already been holding Championships of its own, competed for the first time. In 1966 the Far East Bridge Federation, represented by Thailand, joined in and five years later Australia represented the South Pacific Zone for the first time. The Central American and Caribbean Zone made its debut in 1979, followed two years later by the Bridge Federation of Asia & the Middle East, the youngest of the World Bridge Federation's Zonal organizations.

Owing to several circumstances regarding the play among the players and the intensity of the games, and after a period of controversy, the World Bridge Federation Executive Council decided by six votes to three with two abstentions to use screens and bidding boxes in the next Bermuda Bowl taking place in 1974.

 

Throughout the years the governing body for the supervision of the Bermuda Bowl had many decisions to make. Their meetings in Monte Carlo saw Mr. Ortiz-Patino unanimously elected World Bridge Federation President. By the time the 1977 Bermuda Bowl was decided in Manila, changes had been made in the Constitution and By-laws, establishing the important principle that World Bridge Federation competitions would be by invitation only. A Credentials Committee, with members from various Zones, would have power to issue or withhold invitations. These decisions were controversial at the time they were decided, but these changes are presently widely seen to have proven beneficial. Similar procedures have since been adopted by other bodies. The World Bridge Federation also decided to hold the Bermuda Bowl at two yearly intervals, bringing about the present cycle, with the Bermuda Bowl held in odd years, the Team Olympiad in leap years, and the World Bridge Championships in other even years.

Port Chester in 1981 brought the entry of another new Zone, represented by Pakistan, which had just won the Inaugural Championships of the Bridge Federation of Asia and the Middle East.

There have been a few incidences along the way.

The Bermuda Incident

The annual Bermuda Bowl world championship saw Italy and the United States playing in the 1975 final. There, American reporter Mr. Bruce Keidan would uncover one of the most infamous cheating scandals ever.

While watching one of the Italian pairs, Mr. Gianfranco Facchini and Mr. Sergio Zucchelli, Mr. Bruce Keidan noticed unusual foot actions between the two. The reporter found the players tapping each other's feet under the table in an apparent attempt to relay information about their hands. The act of cheating is of course illegal and normally grounds for expulsion from any bridge organization. Mr. Bruce Keidan's discovery, which was confirmed by several witnesses, was eventually presented to the presiding authorities of the event, who "severely reprimanded" Mr. Gianfranco Facchini and Mr. Sergio Zucchelli for their activity but allowed the players to continue competing in the event. Ironically, although the Italians were allowed to stay, the Bermuda Bowl authorities placed blocks underneath the tables to prevent any further foot contact.

American captain Mr. Alfred Sheinwold was angered by the Solomonic decision and stated that his team would resign from the match. Only by threats made to Sheinwold by the United States' governing body, the American Contract Bridge League, was his team coerced into finishing the event. The ACBL did not want a huge public embarrassment that refusing to play would cause. Italy won the event, 215 - 189 International Match Points. By all accounts, Mr. Gianfranco Facchini and Mr. Sergio Zucchelli quickly faded from the international bridge circuit thereafter.

 

The Buenos Aires Affair

The Bermuda Bowl world championship was held in 1965 in Buenos Aires, site of the infamous finger-signaling scandal. British experts Mr. Terence Reese and Mr. Boris Schapiro were accused by American players Mr. B. Jay Becker and Dorothy Hayden (now Truscott) of holding their cards with different numbers of fingers in accordance with the number of hearts they held. When the allegations leaked out during the event, British captain Mr. Ralph Swimer forfeited all his team's matches and withdrew Great Britain from the competition. The degree of correlation between fingers and hearts was very high; however, it is debatable whether or not Reese-Schapiro benefited from the alleged exchange of information. Those who sided with the players argued the latter, suggesting that it was improbable the British pair was cheating if it never gained points on the deals in question.

The British Bridge League eventually found Mr. Terence Reese and Mr. Boris Schapiro innocent of cheating; however, the World Bridge Federation found them guilty and banned them from WBF events for three years. Bridge writer Mr. Alan Truscott wrote a book about the affair entitled The Great Bridge Scandal, while Mr. Terence Reese wrote his own account, Story of an Accusation.

 

The Houston Affair

As experienced tournament players may know, the United States uses a playoff system to determine which team gets to play in the annual world championship. These team trials, as they are known, ended scandalously in 1977 when two players, Mr. Larry Cohen* and Mr. Richard Katz, abruptly quit in the middle of the final. At the time, event officials were investigating rumors that Katz-Cohen were transmitting information illegally. Before any formal accusations were made, however, Mr. Richard Katz and Mr. Larry Cohen resigned from their team, which then forfeited due to a lack of players.

But not only did Mr. Richard Katz and Mr. Larry Cohen quit their team and the event, they resigned their memberships in the American Contract Bridge League, the national body in charge of the team trials. Soon afterward, Mr. Richard Katz and Mr. Larry Cohen filed a $44 million lawsuit against the ACBL and three tournament officials for defamation of character, false allegations of misconduct, and forced resignation from the League. The whole affair managed to get settled in court, where the ACBL agreed to re-admit Mr. Richard Katz and Mr. Larry Cohen, who promised in turn to not play with each other again. Monetary compensation was not made to the pair.

*Not the Mr. Larry Cohen famous in tournament bridge circles for his book, The Law of Total Tricks.

 

Another event was introduced in 1985, called the Venice Cup. The Venice Cup was conducted at the same time, with the same format, eligibility and boards. Thus a record total of twenty teams were eligible, ten in each series.

The evolution of the Bermuda Bowl has been a long road to travel, especially for those who attempted to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Norman Bach. The winners of the Bermuda Bowl are listed below as are the years of their win.

 

Year		Country		Location		Players
1950		1. USA		Hamilton		John Crawford, Charles Goren, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor, Samuel Stayman, Julius Rosenblum, (npc)
		2. Great Britain		Bermuda		Lesile Dodds, Nico Gardener, Kenneth Konstam, Joel Tarlo, Louis Tarlo, Maurice Harrison-Gray, (npc)
		3. Sweden/Iceland				Gunnar Gudmundsson, Rudolf Kock, Nils-Olof Lilliehook, Einar Thorfinnson, Jan Wohlin, Dr. Einar Werner, (npc)
1951		1. USA		Naples		B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Samuel Stayman, Julius Rosenblum (npc)
		2. Italy				Paolo Baroni, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Mario Franco, Augusto Ricci, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl' Alberto Perroux (npc)
1952						No Competition
1953		1. USA		New York		B. Jay Becker, John Crawford, Theodore Lightner, George Rapee, Howard Schenken, Samuel Stayman, Joseph Cohan (npc)
		2. Sweden				Gunnar Anulph, Rudolf Kock, Robert Larsen, Nils-Olaf Lillienhook, Jan Wohlin, Dr.Einar Werner (npc)
1954		1. USA		Monte Carlo		Clifford Bishop, Milton Q. Ellenby, Lewis Mathe, Don Oakie, William A. Rosen, Douglas Steen, Benjamin O. Johnson (npc)
		2. France				Jacques Amouraben, Rene Bacherich, Jean Besse- Switzerland, Piere Ghestem, Marcel Kornblum, Karl Schneider - Austria
1955		1. Great Britain		New York		Leslie Dodds, Kenneth Konstram, Adam Meredith, Jordanis Pavlides, Terence Reese, Boris Schapiro, Reginald Corwen (npc)
		2. USA				Cliford Bishop, Milton Q.Ellenby, Lewis Mathe, Johan H.Moran, William A.Rosen, Alvin Roth, Peter A.Leventritt (npc)
1956		1. France		Paris		Rene Bacherich, Pierre Ghestem, Pierre Jais, Roger Lattes, Bertrand Romanet, Roger Trezel, Robert de Nexon (npc)
		2. USA				Myron Field, Charles H.Goren, Lee Hazen, Richard F.Kahn, Charles J. Solomon, Samuel M.Stayman, Jeff Glick (npc)
1957		1. Italy		New York		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl Alberto Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				Charles H. Goren, Boris Koytchou, Peter Leventritt, Harold Ogust, William Seamon, Helen Sobel, Rufus L.Miles Jr. (npc)
						In 1958, the World Bridge Federation was formed and began to arrange its member countries in geographical Zones, the basis for Bermuda Bowl eligibility. The contest began taking on its present world wide character.
1958		1. Italy		Como, Italy		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl Alberto Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				B.J.Becker, John Crawford, George Rapee, Alvin Roth, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone, J.G. Ripstra (npc)
		3. Argentina				Carlos Cabanne (npc), Alejandro Castro (npc), Alberto Blousson, Ricardo Calvente, Marcelo Lerner
1959		1. Italy		New York		Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Massimo D'Alelio, Pietro Forquet, Guglielmo Siniscalco, Carl'Alberto Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				Harry Fishbein, Sam Fry Jr., Leonard Harmon, Lee Hazen, Sidney Lazard, Ivar Stakgold, Charles J. Solomon (npc)
		3. Argentina				Alberto Berisso, Ricardo Calvente, Alejandro Castro, Arturo Jaques, Carlos Dibar, Egisto Rocchi, Dr. Luis Santa Coloma (npc)
1960						No Competition
1961		1. Italy		Buenos Aires		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Carl Alberto A. Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				John Gerber, Paul Hodge, Norman Kay, Peter A. Leventritt, Sidney Silodor, Howard Shenken, Frank Westcott (npc)
		3. France				Rene Bacherich, Deruy, Pierre Ghestem, Le Dentù, Trézel, Baron Robert de Nexon (npc)
1962		1. Italy		New York		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Carl Alberto A. Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				Charles Coon, Mervin Key, Lewis Mathe, Eric Murray, G. Robert Nail, Ron Von der Porten, John Gerber (npc)
		3. Great Britain				Nico Gardener, Kenneth Konstam, Anthony Priday, Claude Rodrigue, Albert Rose, Alan Truscott, Louis Tarlo (npc)
		4. Argentina				Luis Attaguile, Alberto Berisso, Carlos Cabane, Ricardo Calvente, Arturo Jaques, Egisto Rocchi, Desiderio Blum (npc)
1963		1. Italy		St. Vincent		Massimo D'Alelio, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Carl Alberto A. Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				James Jacoby, Robert Jordan, Peter Leventritt, G.Robert Nail, Arthur Robinson, Howard Schenken, John Gerber (npc)
		3. France				Rene Bacherich, Gerard Desrousseaux, Pierre Ghestem, Jacques Stetten, Dr. Georges Theron, Leon Tinter, Baron Robert de Nexon (npc)
		4. Argentina				Luis Attaguile, Ricardo Calvente, Egisto Rocchi, Marcos Santamarina, Alfredo Saravia, Luis Schenone, Guillermo Malbran (npc)
1964						No Competition
1965		1. Italy		Buenos Aires		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Sergio Osella (npc)
		2. USA				Howard Schenken, Peter Leventritt, Ivan Erdos, Kelsey Petterson, B.Jay Becker, Dorothy Hayden, John Gerber (npc)
		3. Argentina				Luis Attaguile, Egisto Rocchi, Carlos Cabanne, Agustin Santamarina, Marcelo Lerner, Alberto Berisso, Eduardo Marquardt (npc)
		4. Great Britain				Terence Reese, Jeremy Flint, Boris Schapiro, Kenneth Konstam, Maurice Harrison-Gray, Albert Rose, Ralph Swimer (npc)
1966		1. Italy		St. Vincent		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Perroux (npc)
		2. USA				Phil Feldsman, Robert Hamman, Sammy Kehela, Lewis Mathe, Eric Murray, Ira Rubin, Julius Rosenblum (npc)
						The format of the Bermuda Bowl was changed in 1967. Where previously the placings had been decided by a simple round robin, with two points for a win and one for a tie, now there was to be a round robin in which each team met each other in three separate matches, with 20 victory points at stake in each match; followed by a two-team final over 128 boards. The change proved successful and the old format was never restored.
1967		1. Italy		Miami Beach		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, Guido Barbone (npc)
		2. USA				Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Sammy Kehela, Eric Murray, William Root, Alvin Roth, Julius Rosenblum (npc)
		3. France				Jean-Michel Boulenger, Jacques Pariente, Jean-Marc Roudinesco, Jaques Stetten, Henri Szwarc, Leon Tintner, Rene Huni (npc)
1968						No Competition
1969		1. Italy		Rio de Janeiro		Massimo D'Alelio, Walter Avarelli, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiaradia, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis-Ticci, R. Tracanella (npc)
		2. Taiwan				Frank Huang, Patric Huang, C.S. Shen, K.W. Shen, Kovit Suchartkul, M.F. Tai, C.C. Wei (npc)
		3.USA				William Eisenberg, Robert Goldman, Robert Hamman, Edwin Kantar, Sidney Lazard, George Rapee, Oswald Jacoby (npc)
		4. France				Jean-Michel Boulenger, Gerard Desrousseaux, Jaques Stetten, Henri Szwarc, Georges Theron, Leon Tintner, Rene Huni (npc)
1970		1. USA		Stockholm		William Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Robert Hamman, Jim Jacoby, Michael Lawrence and Bobby Wolff
		2. Taiwan				Conrad Cheng, Elmer Hsiao, Patric Huang, Harry Lin, M.F. Tai, David Mao (npc)
		3. Norway				Eric Hoie, Tore Jensen, Knut Koppans, Bjorn Larsen, Louis Andre Strom, Willy Varnas, Baard Baardsen (npc)
1971		1. USA		Taipei		William Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Robert Hamman, Jim Jacoby, Michael Lawrence and Bobby Wolff
		2. France				Jean-Michel Boulenger, Pierre Jais, Jean-Marc Roudinesco, Jean-Louis Stoppa, Henri Szwarc, Roger Trezel, Rene Huni (npc)
		3. Australia				Jim Borin, Norma Borin, Dick Cummings, Denis Howard, Tim Seres, Roelof Smilde, Jessel Rothfield (npc)
1973		1. Italy		Guaruja, Brazil		Giorgio Belladonna, Benito Bianchi, Pietro Forquet, Giuseppe Garabello, Benito Garozzo, Vito Pittala, S. Salvetti (npc)
		2. USA				Mark Blumenthal, Robert Goldman, Robert Hamman, James Jacoby, Michael Lawrence, Robert Wolff, Ira G. Corn (npc)
		3. Brazil				Pedro Paulo Assumcao, Marcelo Branco, Pedro Branco, Gabriel Chagas, Gabino Cintra, Christiano Fonseca, Adelstano Porto S'Ave (npc), Georges Vero (npc)
						In 1974, the WBF Executive Council decided by six votes to three with two abstentions to use screens and bidding boxes in the next Bermuda Bowl. In 1975, the first use of screens was made, but it did not include under-table barriers to foot movement. Few would have thought this likely to prove a serious omission. Nevertheless, three days after the contest began the Appeals Committee, through its Chairman, Julius Rosenblum, announced that it had resolved to reprimand severely a pair for unnatural foot movements. Foot barriers were then introduced.
1974		1. Italy		Venice		Giorgio Belladonna, Benito Bianchi, Dano de Falco, Pietro Forquet, Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Vito Pittala, S. Salvetti (npc)
		2. USA				Mark Blumenthal, Robert Goldman, Robert Hamman, Sammy Kehela, Eric Murray, Robert Wolff, Ira G. Corn Jr. (npc)
		3. Brazil				Pedro Paulo Assumcao, Marcelo Branco, Pedro Branco, Gabriel Chagas, Gabino Cintra, Christiano Fonseca, Georges Vero (npc)
1975		1. Italy		Bermuda		Giorgio Belladonna, Gianfranco Facchini, Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Vito Pittala, Sergio Zucchelli, S. Salvetti (npc)
		2. USA				William Eisenberg, Robert Hamman, Edwin Kantar, Paul Soloway, John Swanson, Robert Wolff, Alfred Sheinwold (npc)
		3. France				Jean-Michel Boulenger, Michel Lebel, Francois Leenhardt, Christian Mari, Henri Szwarc, Edmond Vial, Rene Bacherich (npc)
		4. Indonesia				Arwin, Hengky Lasut, Frank Manoppo, M. Manoppo, W. Manoppo, W. Moniaga, Denny Sacul, O. Wullur (npc)
1976		1. USA		Monte Carlo		William Eisenberg, Fred Hamilton, Eric Paulsen, Hugh Ross, Ira Rubin, Paul Soloway
		2. Italy				Giorgio Belladonna, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Arturo Franco, Vito Pittalà, Antonio Vivaldi, Sandro Salvetti (npc)
		3. Israel				Julian Frydrich, Michael Hochzeit, Schmuel Lev, Shaya Levit, Pinhas Romic, Elyakim Shaufel, Reuben Kunin (npc)
						In 1977, changes were made to the WBF Constitution and By-laws, establishing the important principle that WBF competitions would thenceforth be by invitation only. A Credentials Committee, with members from various zones, would have power to issue or withhold invitations. Controversial at the time, these changes are now widely seen to have been beneficial. Other bodies have since adopted similar procedures.
1977		1. North America		Manila		Challengers: William Eisenberg, Edwin Kantar, Robert Hamman, Paul Soloway, John Swanson, Bobby Wolff
		2. North America				Defenders: Fred Hamilton, Mike Passell, Eric Paulsen, Hugh Ross, Ira Rubin, Ron Von der Porten, Jerome Silverman-Ed Theus (npc)
		3. Argentina				Luis Attaguile, Carlos Cabanne, Hector Camberos, Martin Monsegur, Agustin Santarina, Eduardo Scanavino, Alberto Beriso (npc)
1978						No Competition
1979		1. USA		Rio de Janeiro		Malcolm Brachman, William Eisenberg, Edwin Kantar, Bobby Goldman, Mike Passell, Paul Soloway, Edgar Theus (npc)
		2. Italy				Giorgio Belladonna, Soldano de Falco, Benito Garozzo, Arturo Franco, Vito Pittalà, Lorenzo Lauria, Guido Barbone, Sandro Salvetti (npc)
		3. Australia				Jim Borin, Norma Borin, Dick Cummings, Andrew Reiner, Bob Richman, Tim Seres, Denis Howard (npc)
1980						No Competition
1981		1. USA		Port Chester		Eric Rodwell, Bobby Levin, Jeff Meckstroth, Russ Arnold, John Solodar, Bud Reinhold
		2. Pakistan				Zia Mahmood, Masood Salim, Ahmed Nisar, Abedi Nishat, Jan-e-Alam Fazli, Munir Ata-Ullah
		3. Poland				Alexander Jeziro, Julian Klukowski, Marek Kudla, Krzysztof Martens, Andrej Milde, Tomas Przybora, Marian Frenkiel (npc)
		4. Argentina				Gustavo Alujas, Luis Attaguile, Hector Camberos, Agustin Santamarina, Eduardo Scanavino, David Zanalda, Gonzalo Araujo (npc)
1982						No Competition
1983		1. USA 1		Stockholm		Mike Becker, Robert Hamman. Ronald Rubin, Alan Sontag, Peter Weichsel and Bobby Wolff, Joe Musumeci (npc)
		2. Italy				Giorgio Belladonna, Benito Garozzo, Dano de Falco, Arturo Franco, Lorenzo Lauria, Carlo Mosca
		3. France				Philipe Cronier, Michel Corn, Michel Lebel, Herve Mouiel, Phillipe Soulet, Henri Szwarc, Pierre Schemeil (npc)
		4. USA 2				Jim Jacoby, Jeff Meckstroth, Mike Passell, Eric Rodwell, George Rosenkranz, Eddie Wold, Jim Zimmerman (npc)
1984						No Competition
						An additional innovation was introduced in 1985: the Venice Cup was conducted at the same time, with the same format, eligibility and boards. Thus a record total of twenty teams were eligible - ten in each series.
1985		1. USA		San Paulo		Robert Hamman, Chip Martel, Peter Pender, Hugh Ross, Lew Stansby, Bobby Wolff, Alfred Sheinwold (npc)
		2. Austria				Jan Fucik, Franz Terraneo, Heinrich Berger, Wolfgang Meinl, Kurt Feichtinger, Karl Rohan
		3. Israel				David Birman, Shalom Zeligman, Shmuel Lev, Eliakim Shofel, Julian Frydrick, Michael Hochzeit
1986						No Competition
1987		1. USA		Ocho Rios,		Robert Hamman, Michael Lawrence, Chip Martel, Hugh Ross, Lew Stansby, Bobby Wolff, Dan Morse (npc)
		2. Great Britain		Jamaica		Jeremy Flint, Robert Sheehan, Tony Forrester, Raymond Brock, John Armstrong, Graham Kirby, Tony Priday (npc)
		3. Sweden				Hans Gothe, Tommy Gullberg, Bjorn Fallenius, Magnus Lindkvist, Sven-Olof Flodkvist, Per-Olof Sunderlin, P.D. Lindeberg (npc)
		4. Taipei				C.H. Wu, C.C. Chen, Chekung H. Kuo, M.F. Tai, Patrick Huang, C.S. Shen, Tony Chong (npc)
1988						No Competition
1989		1. Brazil		Perth, Australia		Marcelo Branco, Pedro Branco, Carlos Camacho, Gabriel Chagas, Ricardo Janz, Roberto Mello, Pedro Paulo Assumpcao (npc)
		2. USA				Hugh Ross, Peter Pender, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby, Michael Lawrence, Kit Woolsey
		3. Poland				Cezary Balicki, Adam Zmudzinski, Krzysztof Moszczynski, Julian Klukowski, Krzysztof Martens, Marek Szymanowski
		4. Australia				Gaby Lorentz, John Lester, Ron Klinger, David Lilley, Paul Marston, Stephen Burgess
1990						No Competition
1991		1. Iceland		Yokohama		Jon Baldursson, Adalsteinn Jorgensen, Orn Arnthorsson, Gudlaugur Johannsson, Thorlakur Jonsson, Gudmundur Arnarson, Bjorn Eysteinsson (npc)
		2. Poland				Krzystof Martens, Marek Szymanowski, Piotr Gawrys, Krzysztof Lasocki, Cezary Balicki, Adam Zmudzinski, Andrzej Orlow (npc)
		3. Sweden				P.O. Sundelin, Tommy Gullberg, Bjorn Fallenius, Mats Nilsland, Anders Morath, Sven-Ake Bjerregard, Svante Ryman (npc)
1992						No Competition
1993		1. Netherlands		Santiago, Chile		Piet Jansen, Wubbo de Boer, Enri Leufkens, Bauke Muller, Jan Westerhof, Berry Westra, Jaap Trouwborst (npc) and Henk Schippers (npc)
		2. Norway				Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Glen Groetheim, Terje Aa, Jon Sveindal, Arild Rasmussen, Runar Lillevik (npc)
		3. Brazil				Gabriel Chagas, Roberto Mello, Carlos Camacho, Oliviera Barbosa, Pedro Paulo Branco, Marcelo Amaral, Pedro Paulo Assumpcao, (npc)
		4. USA				Cliff Russell, Sam Lev, David Berkowitz, Larry Cohen, Eric Rodwell, Marty Bergen, Bob Rosen (npc)
1994						No Competition
1995		1. USA 2		Beijing, China		Dick Freeman, Robert Hamman, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Rodwell, Robert S. Wolff, Edgar Kaplan (npc)
		2. Canada				Eric Kokish, Joey Silver, Fred Gitelman, George Mittelman, Boris Baran, Mark Molson, Irving Litvack (npc)
		3. France				Paul Chemla, Michel Perron, Philippe Cronier, Michel Lebel, Robert Reiplinger, Philippe Soulet
1996						No Competition
1997		1. France		Hammamet, Tunisia		Paul Chemla, Alain Levy, Christian Mari, Herve Mouiel, Franck Multon, Michel Perron, Jean-Louis Stoppa (npc)
		2. USA 2				Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman
		3. Norway				Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Boye Brogeland, Erik Saelensminde, Glenn Groetheim, Terje Aa, Einar Brenne (npc)
1998						No Competition
						There was no competition held in 1999 in order that the competition could be held at the turn of the millennium 2000, 50 years after it had begun, to celebrate the anniversary on the island where it all began.
2000		1. USA 1		Bermuda		Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, Richard Freeman, Nick Nickell, Sidney Lazard (npc)
		2. Brazil				Gabriel Chagas, Marcelo Branco, Miguel Villas-Boas, Joao Paulo Campos, Ricardo Janz, Roberto Mello, Pedro Paulo Assumpcao (npc)
		3. USA 2				Zia Mahmood, Chip Martel, Michael Rosenberg, Neil Silverman, Lew Stansby, Jeff Wolfson, Michael Becker (npc)
		Norway				Boye Brogeland, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helnes, Erik Saelensminde, Jon-Egil Forunes, Erik Austberg, Einar Brenne (npc)
2001		1. USA 2		Paris, France		Kyle Larsen, Chip Martel, Rose Meltzer, Alan Sontag, Lew Stansby, Peter Weichsel, Jan Martel (npc), Fred Gitelman and Sheri Winestock (coaches)
		2. Norway				Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Boye Brogeland, Erik Sælensminde, Glenn Grøtheim, Terje Aa, NPC: Einar Asbjørn Brenne, Coach: Rolf E. Olsen
		3. Poland				Cezary Balicky, Michal Kwiecen, Marcin Lesniewski, Krystof Martens, Jacek Pszczola, Adam Zmudsinski
2002						No Competition
2003		USA 1		Monte Carlo Monaco		Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Jeff Meckstroth, Erik Rodwell, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Sidney Lazard (npc)
		Italy				Alfredo Versace, Lorenzo Lauria, Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Maria Teresa Lavazza (npc) and Massimo Ortensi (Coach)
		USA 2				Doug Doub, Steve Landen, Dan Morse, Pratap Rajadhyaksha, Adam Wildavsky, Bobby Wolff, Ralph Cohen (npc), Geoff Hampson (Coach)
						As reported, USA1 won in a squeaker that perhaps led to an unfortunate final for the competition. Down by 21 IMPs with two deals to go the Nickel team picked up 22 IMPs, apparently winning by 1 IMP. But there was a director call on the final hand played by the Italian team. Mr. Lorenzo Lauria and Mr. Alfredo Versace bid to 5 Diamonds, which was doubled by Mr. Paul Soloway. On the second trick, the dummy, Mr. Alfredo Versace left the table and Mr. Lorenzo Lauria was forced to play the cards from dummy. During the course of play, when Mr. Paul Soloway regained the lead, it was expected that he cash his Heart winner, but he played a Spade. Mr. Lorenzo Lauria, also expecting Soloway to cash his Heart winner, discarded a low Spade, which meant that he followed suit. Mr. Lorenzo Lauria realized too late that Mr. Paul Soloway had led a Spade and attempted to change his low Spade for the Queen of Spades. The Tournament Director was called. The Tournament Director ruled that the declarer was down two, and in due course the Italian captain lodged an appeal. An Appeals Committee was convened and confirmed the Tournament Director's ruling. The Appeals Committee cited rule 45B from the Law Book, which states that when a card is touched, it is played. Italy had made the final, fatal error. Mr. José Damiani, President of the WBF, said in his final statement: Although the final situation in the Bermuda Bowl was really unfortunate, everybody has to accept that the championship is decided by the players themselves over so many hands and not just on one board and one appeal. Thank you all for your perfect ethics and fair play - you responded so well to my requests made at the opening ceremony, and the championship has progressed very smoothly to its exciting conclusion.
2005		Italy		Estoril, Portugal		Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Fulvio Fantoni, Lorenzo Lauria, Claudio Nunes, Alfredo Versace
		USA 1				Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell, Eric Rodwell, Paul Soloway
2007		Norway		Shanghai, China		Boye Brogeland, Glenn Grøtheim, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Erik Saelensminde, Ulf Tundal
		USA 1				Steve Garner, George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Howard Weinstein

 

 

 

 

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