Venice Cup
Encyclopedia
The World Teams Championship in contract bridge
for women players only is also known as the Venice Cup, because the first edition was held in Venice
, Italy
in 1974.
It is held every two years, in parallel to the Open World Teams Championship, the Bermuda Bowl
.
The 18th rendition was held on 15–28 October 2011 in Veldhoven
, Netherlands
, won by France.
There are 22 national teams in the field, who represent the eight WBF zones as follows. The quota for Europe is six teams, but seven this year because the host Netherlands is in Europe and qualifies automatically.
The first stage is a single round-robin (21 rounds at three per day) that has been scheduled in advance.Schedule of Play / Venice Cup. 2011. WBF.
Given the single round-robin structure, the particular schedule should make little difference to the outcome of the first stage.
The zonal quotas and tournament structures are now identical for the Open, Women, and Seniors flights, and they play simultaneously. The World Transnational Open Teams Championship begins after most teams are eliminated from the three major events, and their players are welcome to enter the WTOTC.
, Brazil, beginning 30 August 2009, China became the first bridge nation outside Europe and North America to win the Venice Cup. Indeed, only China has won any gold, silver, or bronze medal in the tournament (see table, below).
The Chinese victory was decisive, culminating in a 220 to 148 IMP domination of USA1 in the two-day final match. Previously China led the seven-day 21-round-robin (France second) from which eight of 22 teams advanced to the knockout stage, then defeated Sweden 259–182 in the quarterfinal and France 245–221 in the semifinal. The 77-IMP and 72-IMP wins over Sweden and USA1 were the second and third biggest margins in the seven knockout matches.
Bénédicte Cronier–Sylvie Willard of France were the high-scoring players on all 22 teams during the round-robin, playing 15 of 21 matches and scoring 0.93 IMP per board. Hongli Wang–Ming Sun of China were second at 0.81 in 15 matches and their teammate pairs (six players on a "Team-of-four") ranked third and eighth.
won the first world teams championships in both open and women categories, conducted 1937 in Budapest
, Hungary
.
They were organized by the International Bridge League, essentially the predecessor of both the European Bridge League
(est. 1947) and the WBF (1958). World War II
practically destroyed the IBL and its nascent world championship tournament series. With Austria the leading nation at the card table, the 1938 Anschluss
of Germany and Austria was a great disruption. The leading bridge theorist and mentor, Paul Stern
was an outspoken opponent of Nazism
who fled to England
that year.
Another 1938 refugee from Austria to England, Rixi Markus
(born Erika Scharfstein) was a member of both the 1937 champions and the 1976 Great Britain team that was defeated by the United States for the second Venice Cup.
United States teams won the first three championships and they have won 10 of 17 including six as one of two USA teams. The first two "tournaments" were head-on matches between representatives of North America and Europe, like the Bermuda Bowls of 1951 to 1957. The next two were open to one team from every WBF geographic zone. From 1985 the Venice Cup and Bermuda Bowl have run side-by-side in odd years, expanding together from 10 to 22.
Prior to the inaugural Venice Cup, there had been four Olympiad tournaments for women contested 1960 to 1972. The winners had been United Arab Republic
, Great Britain, Sweden, and Italy. (After losing the first Venice Cup tournament in 1974, Italy would defend its Olympiad title in 1976 and lose the third Venice Cup in 1978.) (The United States won the first three Venice Cups 1974/76/78 but did not win any early Olympiad tournament.)
The third and fourth Venice Cup tournaments welcomed one team from each WBF geographic zone. On both occasions there were entries from Europe, North America, South America, and South Pacific; they were joined by Asia in 1978, Central America and the Caribbean in 1981. All of the entries were national teams, listed here by zone.
Except for USA ahead of Italy in 1979, those were also the final standings. (Under the same rules, there were six teams in the 1979 Bermuda Bowl tournament because Asia and CAC both participated. A second team from Europe was added in 1981.)
For 1985 the champion teams from Europe and North America were granted slots in the 4-team semifinal knockout. One representative from every other zone, the host country team, and second teams from Europe and North America, played round-robin for the other two semifinal slots. As for all three renditions under that format, five other zones participated (not yet Africa) and there were ten teams in the field.
All three teams from Pacific Asia advanced to the quarterfinal knockout stage, a very strong performance. China became the first team from outside Europe and the Americas to win a medal.
Through 1993, United States teams won seven and Great Britain two.
China is the only bridge nation outside Europe and the United States to win the Venice Cup. Following its third-place breakthrough in 1991, China finished second in 1997 and 2003, and third in 2007, before winning in 2009.
Indonesia will host the next tournament in two years. Its 2011 silver medal represents a sudden arrival among the stronger teams, having placed during the preceding decade no better than 9th (2009), just outside the knockout stage in the current format.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
for women players only is also known as the Venice Cup, because the first edition was held in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1974.
It is held every two years, in parallel to the Open World Teams Championship, the Bermuda Bowl
Bermuda Bowl
The Bermuda Bowl is a trophy awarded to the winners of the Open series in the World Team Championship in contract bridge and is named for the site of the inaugural tournament held in 1950...
.
The 18th rendition was held on 15–28 October 2011 in Veldhoven
Veldhoven
Veldhoven is a municipality and a town on the Gender stream in the southern Netherlands, located just south-west of Eindhoven.- Population centres :...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, won by France.
There are 22 national teams in the field, who represent the eight WBF zones as follows. The quota for Europe is six teams, but seven this year because the host Netherlands is in Europe and qualifies automatically.
- Europe: France, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, England, Poland, Italy —1st to 7th in the European championship
- North America: Canada, USA 1, USA 2
- South America: Brazil, Venezuela
- Asia & Middle East: India, Jordan
- Central America & Caribbean: Trinidad & Tobago
- Pacific Asia: China, Indonesia, Japan
- South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand
- Africa: Egypt, Morocco
The first stage is a single round-robin (21 rounds at three per day) that has been scheduled in advance.Schedule of Play / Venice Cup. 2011. WBF.
Given the single round-robin structure, the particular schedule should make little difference to the outcome of the first stage.
The zonal quotas and tournament structures are now identical for the Open, Women, and Seniors flights, and they play simultaneously. The World Transnational Open Teams Championship begins after most teams are eliminated from the three major events, and their players are welcome to enter the WTOTC.
Latest rendition
Over 13 days in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil, beginning 30 August 2009, China became the first bridge nation outside Europe and North America to win the Venice Cup. Indeed, only China has won any gold, silver, or bronze medal in the tournament (see table, below).
The Chinese victory was decisive, culminating in a 220 to 148 IMP domination of USA1 in the two-day final match. Previously China led the seven-day 21-round-robin (France second) from which eight of 22 teams advanced to the knockout stage, then defeated Sweden 259–182 in the quarterfinal and France 245–221 in the semifinal. The 77-IMP and 72-IMP wins over Sweden and USA1 were the second and third biggest margins in the seven knockout matches.
Bénédicte Cronier–Sylvie Willard of France were the high-scoring players on all 22 teams during the round-robin, playing 15 of 21 matches and scoring 0.93 IMP per board. Hongli Wang–Ming Sun of China were second at 0.81 in 15 matches and their teammate pairs (six players on a "Team-of-four") ranked third and eighth.
1937 world championships
AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
won the first world teams championships in both open and women categories, conducted 1937 in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
They were organized by the International Bridge League, essentially the predecessor of both the European Bridge League
European Bridge League
The European Bridge League is a confederation of National Bridge Federations that organize the card game of contract bridge in European nations. In turn the EBL organizes bridge competition at the European level...
(est. 1947) and the WBF (1958). World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
practically destroyed the IBL and its nascent world championship tournament series. With Austria the leading nation at the card table, the 1938 Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
of Germany and Austria was a great disruption. The leading bridge theorist and mentor, Paul Stern
Paul Stern
Dr Paul Stern , lawyer and diplomat, was an Austrian international bridge player who fled to London in 1938. He was a bidding theorist and administrator who contributed to the early growth of the game...
was an outspoken opponent of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
who fled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
that year.
Another 1938 refugee from Austria to England, Rixi Markus
Rixi Markus
Rixi Markus MBE was an Austrian and British international contract bridge player. She won five world titles, and was the first woman to become a World Grand Master within the World Bridge Federation...
(born Erika Scharfstein) was a member of both the 1937 champions and the 1976 Great Britain team that was defeated by the United States for the second Venice Cup.
Results
Every Venice Cup tournament has run alongside the Bermuda Bowl except in 1978, which was not a Bermuda Bowl year. Before 1985, however, the Open tournament was more frequent; from that time they have run together in odd years.United States teams won the first three championships and they have won 10 of 17 including six as one of two USA teams. The first two "tournaments" were head-on matches between representatives of North America and Europe, like the Bermuda Bowls of 1951 to 1957. The next two were open to one team from every WBF geographic zone. From 1985 the Venice Cup and Bermuda Bowl have run side-by-side in odd years, expanding together from 10 to 22.
Prior to the inaugural Venice Cup, there had been four Olympiad tournaments for women contested 1960 to 1972. The winners had been United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
, Great Britain, Sweden, and Italy. (After losing the first Venice Cup tournament in 1974, Italy would defend its Olympiad title in 1976 and lose the third Venice Cup in 1978.) (The United States won the first three Venice Cups 1974/76/78 but did not win any early Olympiad tournament.)
| Year, Site, Entries | Medalists |
|---|
| 1. |  USA Bette Cohn, Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott was the top-ranked woman in bridge for many years and authored or co-authored books on the game.-Career:... , Betty Ann Kennedy, Marietta Passell, Carol Sanders |
 Italy Marisa Bianchi, Luciana Canessa, Rina Jabès, Maria Antonietta Robaudo, Anna Valenti, Maria Vittoria Venturini |
| 1. | USA Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott was the top-ranked woman in bridge for many years and authored or co-authored books on the game.-Career:... , Betty Ann Kennedy, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Carol Sanders |
 Great Britain Charley Esterson, Nicola Gardener Nicola Smith Nicola Smith MBE has been a leading English bridge player for over thirty years, with many successes in international competition to her credit. She was a member of the British teams which won the Venice Cup, the women's world championship, in 1981 and 1985, and which finished second in 1976... , Fritzi Gordon Fritzi Gordon Fritzi Gordon was one half of the most famous and tempestuous female partnership in bridge. She was the second woman to attain the rank of World Grand Master, her partner Rixi Markus being the first. She won four world titles, seven European championships and numerous other tournament victories... , Sandra Landy, Rixi Markus Rixi Markus Rixi Markus MBE was an Austrian and British international contract bridge player. She won five world titles, and was the first woman to become a World Grand Master within the World Bridge Federation... , Rita Oldroyd |
| 1. | USA Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott Dorothy Hayden Truscott was the top-ranked woman in bridge for many years and authored or co-authored books on the game.-Career:... , Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss |
| Italy Marisa Bianchi, Luciana Capodanno, Marisa D'Andrea, Enrichetta Gut, Andreina Morini, Anna Valenti |
 Argentina María Teresa de Díaz, Adriana C. de Martínez de Hoz, Maria Elena Iacapraro, Marta Matienzo, Clara Monsegur |
| 1. | Great Britain Pat Davies, Nicola Gardener Nicola Smith Nicola Smith MBE has been a leading English bridge player for over thirty years, with many successes in international competition to her credit. She was a member of the British teams which won the Venice Cup, the women's world championship, in 1981 and 1985, and which finished second in 1976... , Sandra Landy, Sally Sowter, (Maureen Dennison, Diana Williams)* |
| USA Nancy Gruver, Edith Kemp, Betty Ann Kennedy, Judi Radin, Carol Sanders, Kathie Wei |
 Brazil Agota Mandelot, Sylvia Mello, Elisabeth Murtinho, Suzy Powidzer, (Maria Lena Brito, Alice Saad)** |
* Dennison–Williams in 1981 did not play enough boards to qualify for the title of World Champion** Brito–Saad in 1981 did not play enough boards to qualify for third place
The third and fourth Venice Cup tournaments welcomed one team from each WBF geographic zone. On both occasions there were entries from Europe, North America, South America, and South Pacific; they were joined by Asia in 1978, Central America and the Caribbean in 1981. All of the entries were national teams, listed here by zone.
- 1978: Italy, USA, Argentina, Australia, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
- 1981: Great Britain, USA, Brazil, Australia, Venezuela
Except for USA ahead of Italy in 1979, those were also the final standings. (Under the same rules, there were six teams in the 1979 Bermuda Bowl tournament because Asia and CAC both participated. A second team from Europe was added in 1981.)
1985
The fifth Venice Cup was not until 1985, when the two tournaments were permanently joined side-by-side in odd years with the same structure (like the Olympiad tournaments established in 1960). Since then, the numbers of teams entered have been identical except once.For 1985 the champion teams from Europe and North America were granted slots in the 4-team semifinal knockout. One representative from every other zone, the host country team, and second teams from Europe and North America, played round-robin for the other two semifinal slots. As for all three renditions under that format, five other zones participated (not yet Africa) and there were ten teams in the field.
- 1985 Venice Cup, final standings
- Great Britain (Europe 2)
- USA 1 (North America 1)
- France (Europe 1)
- Chinese Taipei (Pacific Asia)
- USA 2 (North America 2)
- Australia (South Pacific)
- Argentina (South America)
- Brazil (host country)
- Venezuela (Central America & Carib.)
- India (Asia & Middle East)
| Year, Site, Entries | Medalists |
|---|
| 1. | Great Britain Pat Davies, Sally Horton, Sandra Landy, Nicola Smith Nicola Smith Nicola Smith MBE has been a leading English bridge player for over thirty years, with many successes in international competition to her credit. She was a member of the British teams which won the Venice Cup, the women's world championship, in 1981 and 1985, and which finished second in 1976... , (Michelle Brunner Michelle Brunner Michelle Brunner was a British bridge player, writer and teacher. She was a member of the British team that won the 1985 Venice Cup, the biennial world championship for women national teams. She also once finished second and twice third in the women's event at the World Team Olympiad... , Gillian Scott-Jones)* |
| USA 1Annual rankings published by the WBF show double representation for the US from 1985 to date except 1989. Select "Venue" links at "World Team Championships to Date". Confirmed 2011-08-17. Betty Ann Kennedy, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Judi Radin, Carol Sanders, Kathie Wei |
 FranceDanièle Allouche, Véronique Bessis, Ginette Chevalley, Fabienne Pigeaud, Catherine Saul, Sylvie Willard |
| 1. | USA 2 Cheri Bjerkan, Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, Judi Radin, Kathie Wei |
| France Danièle Allouche, Véronique Bessis, Hélène Bordenave, Ginette Chevalley, Bénédicte Cronier, Sylvie Willard |
| Italy Marisa Bianchi, Luciana Capodanno, Marisa D'Andrea, Carla Gianardi, Gabriella Olivieri, Anna Valenti |
| 1. | USA Kitty Bethe, Lynn Deas, Margie Gwozdzinsky, Karen McCallum, Beth Palmer, Kerri Shuman |
 Netherlands Carla Arnolds, Ellen Bakker, Ine Gielkens, Elly Schippers, Marijke van der Pas, Bep Vriend Bep Vriend Brechiena Vriend is a Dutch contract bridge player. As of April 2011, she ranks number 8th among Women World Grand Masters.... |
 Canada Francine Cimon, Dianna Gordon, Mary Paul, Sharyn Reus, Gloria Silverman, Katie Thorpe |
| 1. | USA 2 Nell Cahn, Stasha Cohen, Lynn Deas, Sharon Osberg, Nancy Passell, Sue Picus |
 Austria Gabriele Bamberger, Maria Erhart, Doris Fischer, Terry Weigkricht, (Rosi Spinn, Britta Widengren)*** |
 China GU Ling, LIU Yiqian, SUN Ming, ZHANG Yalan, (SHAOMIN Shi, WANG Liping)** |
1991 to date
After 1989, the championship fields were expanded from 10 to 16 teams. European and North American zones were granted four and three slots respectively, without special treatment for any. (The American Contract Bridge League allocated two places to United States teams and one to the winner of a playoff, if necessary.)- 1991 Venice Cup participants by zone
- Europe: Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Great Britain (1st to 4th in Europe)
- North America: USA 1, USA 2, Canada
- South America: Argentina, Venezuela
- C. America & Carib.: Martinique
- Asia & Middle E.: India
- Pacific Asia: China, Chinese Taipei, Japan (host)
- South Pacific: Australia
- Africa: Egypt
All three teams from Pacific Asia advanced to the quarterfinal knockout stage, a very strong performance. China became the first team from outside Europe and the Americas to win a medal.
Through 1993, United States teams won seven and Great Britain two.
| Year, Site, Entries | Medalists |
|---|
| 1. | USA 2 Karen McCallum, Jill Meyers, Sharon Osberg, Sue Picus, Kerri Sanborn, Kay Schulle |
 Germany Daniela von Arnim, Karin Caesar, Marianne Mögel, Pony Nehmert, Waltraud Vogt, Sabine Zenkel |
 Sweden Lisbeth Åström, Pyttsi Flodqvist, Linda Långström, Catarina Midskog, Bim Ödlund, Mari Ryman |
| 1. | Germany Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Pony Nehmert, Andrea Rauscheid, (Karin Caesar, Marianne Mögel)* |
| USA 1 Karen McCallum, Kitty Munson, Sue Picus, Rozanne Pollack, Kerri Sanborn, Carol Simon |
| France Véronique Bessis, Claude Blouquit, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine D'Ovidio, Colette Lise, Sylvie Willard |
| 1. | USA 1 Lisa Berkowitz, Mildred Breed, Marinesa Letizia, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Tobi Sokolow Tobi Sokolow Tobi Sokolow is an American bridge player. As of April 2011 she ranks number 15 among Women World Grand Masters.... |
| China GU Ling, LU Yan, SUN Ming, WANG Wenfei, ZHANG Yalan, ZHANG Yu |
| USA 2 Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Irina Levitina Irina Levitina Irina Solomonovna Levitina is a Russian-American chess and bridge player. In chess, she has been a World Championship Candidate and gained the title Woman Grandmaster. In contract bridge she has been five times the World Champion.-Chess career:In 1973, she tied for 2nd-5th in Menorca... , Beth Palmer, Kerri Sanborn, Kathie Wei |
| 1. | Netherlands Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Martine Verbeek, Bep Vriend Bep Vriend Brechiena Vriend is a Dutch contract bridge player. As of April 2011, she ranks number 8th among Women World Grand Masters.... , Marijke van der Pas, Wietske van Zwol |
| USA 1 Renee Mancuso, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Shawn Quinn, Janice Seamon-Molson, Tobi Sokolow Tobi Sokolow Tobi Sokolow is an American bridge player. As of April 2011 she ranks number 15 among Women World Grand Masters.... |
 Denmark Trine Bilde Kofoed, Dorte Cilleborg, Bettina Kalkerup, Kirsten Steen Møller, (Mette Drøgemüller, Charlotte Koch-Palmund)** |
| 1. | Germany Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Pony Nehmert, Andrea Rauscheid, (Katrin Farwig, Barbara Hackett)* |
| France Véronique Bessis, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine D'Ovidio, Sylvie Willard, (Catherine Fishpool, Elisabeth Hugon)*** |
| USA 2 Mildred Breed, Petra Hamman, Joan Jackson, Robin Klar, Shawn Quinn, Kay Schulle |
| 1. | USA 1 Betty Ann Kennedy, Jill Levin, Sue Picus, Janice Seamon-Molson, Tobi Sokolow Tobi Sokolow Tobi Sokolow is an American bridge player. As of April 2011 she ranks number 15 among Women World Grand Masters.... , Kathie Wei-Sender |
| China GU Ling, WANG Hongli, WANG Liping(?), WANG Wenfei, ZHANG Yalan, ZHANG Yu |
| Netherlands Carla Arnolds, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Bep Vriend Bep Vriend Brechiena Vriend is a Dutch contract bridge player. As of April 2011, she ranks number 8th among Women World Grand Masters.... , Marijke van der Pas, Wietske van Zwol |
| 1. | France Danièle Allouche-Gaviard, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine D'Ovidio, Sylvie Willard, (Nathalie Frey, Vanessa Reess)* |
| Germany Anja Alberti, Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Barbara Hackett, Pony Nehmert, Mirja Schraverus-Meuer |
| Netherlands Carla Arnolds, Femke Hoogweg, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Bep Vriend Bep Vriend Brechiena Vriend is a Dutch contract bridge player. As of April 2011, she ranks number 8th among Women World Grand Masters.... , Wietske van Zwol |
| 1. | USA 1 Jill Levin, Irina Levitina Irina Levitina Irina Solomonovna Levitina is a Russian-American chess and bridge player. In chess, she has been a World Championship Candidate and gained the title Woman Grandmaster. In contract bridge she has been five times the World Champion.-Chess career:In 1973, she tied for 2nd-5th in Menorca... , Jill Meyers, Hansa Narasimhan, Debbie Rosenberg, JoAnna Stansby |
| Germany Anja Alberti, Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Barbara Hackett, Pony Nehmert, Mirja Schraverus-Meuer |
| China GU Ling, LIU Yiqian, SUN Ming, WANG Hongli, WANG Wenfei, ZHANG Yalan |
| 1. | China DONG Yongling, LIU Yiqian, LU Yan, SUN Ming, WANG Hongli, WANG Wenfei |
| USA 1 Lynn Baker, Lynn Deas, Irina Levitina Irina Levitina Irina Solomonovna Levitina is a Russian-American chess and bridge player. In chess, she has been a World Championship Candidate and gained the title Woman Grandmaster. In contract bridge she has been five times the World Champion.-Chess career:In 1973, she tied for 2nd-5th in Menorca... , Karen McCallum, Beth Palmer, Kerri Sanborn |
| France Danièle Allouche-Gaviard, Véronique Bessis, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine D'Ovidio, Elisabeth Hugon, Sylvie Willard |
| 1. |  France Danièle Allouche-Gaviard, Véronique Bessis, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine D'Ovidio, Joanna Neve, Sylvie Willard |
 Indonesia Lusje Olha BOJOH, Fera DAMAYANTI, Suci Amita DEWI, Kristina Wahyu MURNIATI, — RIANTINI, Julita Grace TUEJE |
| Netherlands Carla Arnolds, Laura Dekkers, Marion Michielsen, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Bep Vriend Bep Vriend Brechiena Vriend is a Dutch contract bridge player. As of April 2011, she ranks number 8th among Women World Grand Masters.... |
* Brunner – Scott-Jones in 1985, Caesar–Mögel in 1995, Farwig–Hackett in 2001, and Frey–Reess in 2005 did not play enough boards to qualify for the title of World Champion** Shaomin–Wang in 1991, and Drøgemüller – Koch-Palmund in 2000 did not play enough boards to qualify for third place*** Spinn–Widengren in 1991 and Fishpool–Hugon in 2001 did not play enough boards to qualify for second place
China is the only bridge nation outside Europe and the United States to win the Venice Cup. Following its third-place breakthrough in 1991, China finished second in 1997 and 2003, and third in 2007, before winning in 2009.
Indonesia will host the next tournament in two years. Its 2011 silver medal represents a sudden arrival among the stronger teams, having placed during the preceding decade no better than 9th (2009), just outside the knockout stage in the current format.
External links
- Women program top page at the World Bridge FederationWorld Bridge FederationThe World Bridge Federation is the world governing body of contract bridge. The WBF is responsible for world championship competition, most of which is conducted at a few multi-event meets on a four-year cycle...
- World Team Championships at the World Bridge Federation
- 40th World Team Championships contemporary coverage, 2011 (October)