42nd World Bridge Teams Championships
Chennai, India • 26 September – 10 October 2015
Official Site Results Participants Bulletins
September 26, 2015
Source: Bulletin 1
Expressing deep sadness at recent accusations of cheating in bridge at high levels, WBF President Gianarrigo Rona urged players to participate in the process of policing the game.
“We are really sad,” Rona told a packed meeting room at the Grand Chola Hotel on Saturday afternoon. What the players are accused of, he said, “mirrors the worst part of human nature. If we want to beat this terrible illness, we have to work together. We want to play true bridge, clean bridge.”
During an hour-long press conference, Rona was joined in his entreaty by WBF President Emeritus Jose Damiani, who told the crowd, “Without you, we can’t do anything. You can see at the table what is happening.” Damiani acknowledged that technological advances have made detection easier,“but nothing will replace what you observe at the table.
WBF Legal Counsel David Harris also addressed the gathering,responding to a question as to whether the Bermuda Bowl field is set or awaiting other changes, a reference to the withdrawals of teams from Israel, Germany and Monaco.
“Speculation,” Harris said, “is not the way to deal with things. Some of the accused have not had the chance to say anything.”
The swirl of rumors and accusations began about a month ago when Norway’s Boye Brogeland — 2007 Bermuda Bowl champion — announced that he and three other members of the winning team in the 2014 Spingold were forfeiting the victory because of the actions of two members of the squad.
Harris was asked about rumors of other pairs suspected of cheating and whether information about them will be made public. His response:“If some pairs or teams are not to be included, there will be a release. The WBF will deal with matters as appropriate.”
When Zia Mahmood was called upon to pose a question to the WBF officials, he suggested a special committee empowered to review high-level bridge via videos and online play and that the committee’s work be open for observation to all.
“We all want the same thing — to stop what is happening,” he said, adding that he has dealt with questions about the integrity of the game of bridge from friends and even from his children.“I’m not only saddened,” he said,“I’m heartbroken.”
Rona said the WBF will soon assemble a committee to review and oversee high-level bridge play. Rona, who was president of the Italian Bridge Federation and the European Bridge League, was asked how he felt about accusations against players well known to him.
“I know all these players since they were children,” Rona said. “I am deeply saddened by the accusations. If they are judged guilty, there is no tolerance.