2020 – 3rd European Winter Games

A small (26 pairs) but very strong field battled over a limited number of boards (50) in quest of the Holy Grail, a prestigious victory in the first TOP event, which now crowns the Winter Games.

T.O.P. – The Open Pairs, 1st

Michal Klukowski and Piotr Gawrys

T.O.P. – The Open Pairs, 2nd

Alexander Hydes and Peter Crouch

T.O.P. – The Open Pairs, 3rd

Geir Helgemo and Cédric Lorenzini

The winners of the Zimmermann Cup are SWISS TEAM

They had taken the last qualifying place of the Swiss by the tiniest margin (0.29 VP!) and, as often, when big favourites survive the cut this way, they are then unstoppable. That’s what happened, again. Even Gupta, seemingly invincible with regard to the course of the event, could not resist Swiss Team’s momentum. Congratulations to Michal Klukowski, Piotr Gawrys, Sjoert Brink, Bas Drijver and especially to Franck Multon and Pierre Zimmermann who are now the only two men winning twice the trophy (first time in 2016). In the mini play-off, Lavazza v Russia, the Italians had to wait until the very last of the 20 boards to win the bronze medal.

Jan Kamras (EBL President), Michal Klukowski, Sjoert Brink, Franck Multon, Pierre Zimmermann, Piotr Gawrys and Bas Drijver.

Zimmermann Cup 2nd place – Team GUPTA

Jan Kamras (EBL President), Zia Mahmood, Geir Helgemo, Jeff Meckstroth, Naren Gupta Debbie Rosenberg and Cédric Lorenzini.

Zimmermann Cup 3rd place – Team LAVAZZA

Jan Kamras (EBL President), Massimo Ortensi (coach), Agustin Madala, Antonio Sementa, Giorgio Duboin, Dennis Bilde, Norberto Bocchi and Maria Teresa Lavazza (npc, not pictured).

Zimmermann Cup 4th place – Team RUSSIA

Andrey Gromov, Anna Gulevich, Jouri Khokhlov, Yury Khiuppenen, Vadim Kholomeev and Alexander Dubinin.

March, 6

GUPTA – 76

SWISS TEAM – 100

March, 5

GUPTA – 107

RUSSIA – 101

LAVAZZA – 136

SWISS TEAM – 177

March, 4

GUPTA	122
PEPSI	87

GUPTA: Naren GUPTA, Geir HELGEMO, Cedric LORENZINI, Zia MAHMOOD Jeff MECKSTROTH, Debbie ROSENBERG

PEPSI: Jacek KALITA, Michal KWIECIEN, Michal NOWOSADZKI, Jacek PSZCZOLA May SAKR

MORAN	148
SWISS TEAM	156

MORAN: John CARROLL, Nicholas FITZGIBBON, Tom HANLON, Hugh McGANN, Adam MESBUR, Mark MORAN, Grainne BARTON cpt

SWISS TEAM: Sjoert BRINK, Bas DRIJVER, Piotr GAWRYS, Michal KLUKOWSKI, Franck MULTON, Pierre ZIMMERMANN

NETHERLANDS	91
RUSSIA	136

NETHERLANDS: Merijn GROENENBOOM, Guy MENDES DE LEON, Maarten SCHOLLAARDT, Thibo SPRINKHUIZEN, Ton BAKKEREN npc and coach

RUSSIA: Alexander DUBININ, Andrey GROMOV Anna GULEVICH, Yury KHIUPPENEN Jouri KHOKHLOV, Vadim KHOLOMEEV

LAVAZZA	156
TEAM VENTIN	105

LAVAZZA: Dennis BILDE, Norberto BOCCHI, Giorgio DUBOIN, Agustin MADALA, Antonio SEMENTA, M. Teresa LAVAZZA cpt, Massimo ORTENSI coach

TEAM VENTIN: Fredrik NYSTRÖM, Joaquin PACAREU, Antonio PALMA, Johan UPMARK Juan Carlos VENTIN, Frederic WRANG

March, 3

After 15 rounds and 150 played hands, the qualified teams will start the Knockout round in Zimmerman Cup. All other Teams will play for the BAM Trophy.

Teams	1	2	3	Total
GUPTA	26	46	48	135
BORTOLETTI	31	27	26	84
PEPSI	22	30	62	114
FORMIDABLES	33	41	18	92
MARX	33	26	21	80
NETHERLANDS	29	57	41	127
RUSSIA	31	43	57	131
AGRIPORT	24	33	19	76
GERMAN SENIORS	25	46	15	87
MORAN	31	35	55	121
SWISS TEAM	13	76	41	130
HARRIS	50	24	28	102
LAVAZZA	51	58	30	139
BRENO	29	17	53	99
TEAM VENTIN	43	61	26	139
COLDEA	57	38	38	133

For this 2020 Zimmermann Cup, 64 teams were on the starting line, with 316 players from 33 countries. Who will defeat the stars of Mahaffey (Meckstroth, Zia, Brogeland, Multon, Zimmermann), winner of the previous edition?