Norberto Bocchi Asks: Michel Bessis

IV OPEN INTERNACIONAL DE BRIDGE DE BARCELONA: Barcelona, February 1, 2 & 3 2013
Hotel Catalonia Barcelona Plaza. All the Information Click Here

 Today ends the fourth edition of this International event that as every year among its players you can find many of the best international and national bridge players of the world, providing a high level championship.

Taking this opportunity the World Grand Master Norberto Bocchi is performing a series of interviews with some of the most famous participants.

 Today Norberto chose Michel Bessis: a professional bridge player and one of the   the great bridge masters of France and the world.  Leggi in Italiano

Michel is married with Veronique Bessis (a bridge professional too) and have two sons: Thomas and Olivier.  With his son Thomas, they form one of the most successful pairs of  today’s WW bridge, his last major win was in the 4º TGRs Auction Pairs  where they managed to finish first with a 74.3% performance in the last session, playing against many of the best pairs in the world. These are some of his best results in the WBF team competitions:

1996	4th EUROPEAN MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS Monte Carlo 1996 – Mixed Teams	1	BESSIS Mixed team
1998	5th EUROPEAN MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS Aachen 1998 – Mixed Teams	1	BESSIS Mixed team
2000	11th WORLD TEAM OLYMPIAD Maastricht 2000 – Mixed Teams	2	BESSIS Mixed team
2007	3rd EUROPEAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS Antalya 2007 – Open Teams	1	BESSIS Open team
2007	3rd EUROPEAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS Antalya 2007 – Mixed Teams	3	VENTIN Mixed team
2007	38th WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Shanghai 2007 – Transnational Teams	1	ZIMMERMANN Transnational team

Michel Bessis is the head teacher of  Bridge Academy an Online Bridge academy, with the participation of his wife, sons, Alain Levy, Julien Clément, Frédérique Anne Levy and others. With these words Michel describes his site: Progress with the best, courses, interactive exercises, a forum of bridge and much more! in  http://www.bridge-academy.com/

Meet Michel Bessis:

A) How have you been captured by bridge?

What captured me is that there is never anything definitive in bridge, every day you can learn and there is always something new to learn

B) Which system do you play with your partner?

V Major French style with strong two-level openings

C) How would you describe your bridge style?

I think a solid style

D) Which is the first bridge book you read?

It was so many years ago, I think i do not remember anymore!

E) Is there a player who influenced your game?

Christian Mari

F) Which is the best quality a partner can have?

Best partner’s skill is keeping concentrantion

G) Which is your favourite tournament?

 The Cavendish and Biarritz

H) What is your most memorable happy moment at the bridge table?

Surely the greatest joy came when I won the European Championships in Antalya (2007) where I played with my son Thomas.

I) Apart from your regular partner, who would you like to play with in an important tournament?

Alfredo Versace

J) Which teammates would you like to have?

Helgemo – Helness y Bocchi -Madala

K) Is there anything you do to avoid bad luck at the bridge table?

No superstition

L1) What is your favourite music?

Beethoven

2) Are you a sports fan, e.g. football?

I like athletics and football. I’m a supporter of PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) and Barcelona

3) Which is your favourite actor/actress?

Jean Gabin y Nicolas Cage

M) What do you do in your spare time when you are not playing bridge?

I’m very fond of horse racing.