Bridge Cup Final: The Ultimate Duel for Victory ! (News of 2 December) – Bridge Cup diary
Summary:
Let’s go! – News of 19 November
Day 1: First eliminations! – News of 20 November
Day 2: An exciting Round 2 – News of 21 November
Day 3: The Third Round Brings Plenty of Surprises! – News of 22 November
Days 4, 5 & 6: A Weekend Full of Action!– News of 25 November
Days 7: Round of 32 – End of the competition for the leaders!– News of 26 November
Days 8: Heading Towards the Round of 16: Crucial Showdowns Ahead!– News of 27 November
Days 9: Quarterfinals: The Final Four in Sight!– News of 28 November
Semi-final: One Step Away from Victory– News of 29 November
Bridge Cup Final: The Ultimate Duel for Victory !– News of 2 December
Let’s go!
News of 19 November
The first ever Bridge Points knock-out tournament has begun! 🥳
1,378 participants have the opportunity to stock up on Bridge Points thanks to this BP500 tournament (x5 multiplier coefficient). Will we see any upheavals in the Live rankings at the end of this event?
Top players participate
The best players in the Live rankings compete in the Bridge Cup with the aim of consolidating a position or trying to gain a few places:
Roelof Van Lopik remains untouchable at the top of the Live rankings with 5,824 points but is not missing any opportunity to consolidate his lead.
Our Ambassador Dominique Fonteneau (username: domineau) is currently second with 3,028 points but the cavalry is pushing behind him!
Michael Staub (3rd), nao7 (5th), FatOrange (6th) and superdario (9th) have every intention of shaking up the hierarchy…
Among the regulars at the top of Funbridge events, we note the presence of Pikarek, recent winner of the Halloween tournament, and Bono Lee, who regularly rises to the top of the rankings.
Familiar faces among the participants
Funbridge Ambassadors Jérôme Rombaut, Dominique Fonteneau aka domineau, Milan Macura are in the game. Beating them allows you to pocket 100 additional Diamonds!
Léo Rombaut (username: Lélé) will represent Team Funbridge in this tournament. The last winner of the mixed tournament at the Pula festival will sell his skin dearly. 100 additional Diamonds will fill the pocket of the bridge player who manages to eliminate him.
Also Funbridge Staff members like Galesh, Valootin, Boris Plays, Pierre DREULLE, Jo De La Vega… If you face them and beat them, you win 15 additional Diamonds!
A circle in the colours of Funbridge surrounds the profile photo of the heads at stake.
We should also note the participation of Alexis Maugat (username: _Alexis), Argine’s father, and Aviram1 who regularly publishes on the Funbridge blog.
Good luck to all participants and see you tomorrow for the results of the first round, undoubtedly the scene of great clashes and the very first surprises of the tournament… ⚔️
Day 1: First eliminations!
News of 20 November
The first phase of the elimination tournament wrapped up yesterday, and what an intense round it was!
Numerous matches were decided by razor-thin margins, with players going all out to secure their place in the next stage. Funbridge ambassadors Jérôme Rombaut, Luc Bellicaud, and Dominique Fonteneau successfully navigated this round, showcasing their trademark excellence ⚔️
But the competition remains wide open! Léo Rombaut, representing Team Funbridge, and our staff member Boris Plays are also still in the running.
The next phase promises even more excitement!
When David Beats Goliath
Some players have shaken up the tournament by eliminating Funbridge’s household names.
A prime example: Vincent Gallais, known as “Galesh” and a proud member of the Funbridge staff, stumbled at the first hurdle. He bowed out with a narrow 23-27 loss to Michel Flandin. A tough blow for someone accustomed to deep elimination runs.
Meanwhile, Richard McCordo made a statement with a resounding 62-31 victory over Milan Macura, showing once again that this competition is full of surprises.
These performances hint at thrilling twists to come. The players who pulled off these upsets have proven they can disrupt predictions, setting the stage for an unpredictable tournament.
Stay tuned, the drama is far from over! 😁
Edge-of-Your-Seat Matches: When Every Point Matters
In this elimination tournament, even the smallest mistake can be costly. Many matches were decided by the narrowest of margins, keeping players on edge. While some top players received byes in the first round, those who competed gave it their all.
One standout matchup came right out of the draw: Johan Bergström versus Aymeric Lebatteux. These elite players delivered a thrilling duel, with the Swedish star edging out a hard-fought 29-20 victory.
Tight contests were the theme of the day. Seven matches ended in perfect ties, forcing a decision by time.
A record!
More than the scoreline, it was their ability to seize every opportunity at the right time that made the difference in securing their places in the second round.
Perhaps the cruelest outcome came in the battle between Antonia Zeman and Marc Grandemange. After a 29-29 tie, the Chilean player advanced by finishing just 35 minutes faster than her French opponent.
Many top contenders from the Bridge Points Circuit were in action, and for the most part, the favorites delivered.
Although Bertrand Kaczmarek, a top 10 player, bowed out gracefully, the other stars shone brightly :
Michael Staub, ranked in the global top 5, left no doubt with a dominant 64-8 victory over Gilles Hourquet. Similarly, Timour Khachtchevatsky dispatched Jean-Michel Perrin with a crushing 50-2 scoreline.
With the strongest players now advancing, every match takes on added significance.
The stakes are rising, and the next rounds promise intense battles .
The remaining players have already proven their mettle, and this tournament is far from done delivering surprises. Stay glued to the action, it’s only going to get better! 🔥
Day 2: An exciting second round!
News of 21 November
The Bridge Cup continues with the second round of competition. The survivors of the first round have again 24 hours to make the best of 16 deals.
Different fates for the leaders of the Live ranking
They qualify for the 3rd round of the Bridge Cup 🥳:
Roelof van Lopik (1st in the world ranking)
Dominique Fonteneau aka domineau (2nd)
Eric Zerbib aka legascon (4th)
FatOrange (5th)
Nao Tabata aka nao7 (6th) – Opponent did not played.
Błachnio Dariusz aka superdario (9th)
Timour Khachtchevatsky aka Timour (10th)
End of the path for two top 10 players 😥:
Danish player Michael Staub (3rd) lost by a single point against Canadian Stephen Kwan aka Skwan (38th)
Raymond Tseng (7th) loses to Gilles Péré aka 8252
Ambassadors, Team Funbridge, Staff Funbridge: who is still in qualified?
End of tournament for our ambassador Jérôme Rombaut who lost to Jacques Fraisse aka velay who pockets 100 additional Diamonds for this performance!
Luck had chosen its side in the Rombaut family: Léo aka Lélé (Team Funbridge) did not have to worry about an absent player. Boris Plays (Staff Funbridge) also made it to the 3rd round: who will manage to eliminate him to pocket 15 additional Diamonds?
We are thrilled by their tournament
Richard McCordo (848th), who surprisingly defeated our ambassador Milan Macura in the first round, continues the adventure.
Unfortunately, this is not the same for laurence88 (1,483rd). The player who defeated Bertrand Kaczmarek aka serogan (8th) in the first round did not repeat her feat against Austrian player Vlatko Angelov aka VlaAut (126th).
Our bridge player/blogger Yoram Aviram aka Aviram1 (15th) made it to the 3rd round by defeating Mats Larsson aka Matsiponken.
Argine’s father, Alexis Maugat aka _Alexis, also qualified.
Raymond Jensen. (61st in the world), player of the Elite series and very regularly well ranked in the big tournaments on Funbridge, also passes the 2nd round. We also have the pleasure of finding the Taiwanese champion Bono Lee in the 3rd round.
Again, very close matches
Several matches were the scene of epic clashes where 1 or 2 points ended up making the difference:
And as in Round 1, the clock had to decide between perfect ties:
Beware of the bridge player/sniper
Finally, let’s end on a funny note: have you noticed the presence of James BOND among the participants? He added tadlaoui to his list of conquests during the second round. Be careful if you come across him: this player seems as comfortable with cards as with his arsenal of spy gadgets.
Day 3: The Third Round Brings Plenty of Surprises!
News of 22 November
The third day of the competition lived up to expectations, with intense matches and surprises continuing to shape this elimination tournament.
The remaining players had to step up their strategic game if they hoped to advance to the next stage.
Crucial Face-offs
Our Stars Shine in the Third Round ✨
The competition continues to unfold brilliantly for some of our Funbridge ambassadors and Team Funbridge players.
Léo Rombaut, known as Lélé, made a triumphant entry into the third round. After an absent opponent in the second round, he left no room for Krzysztof Rutkowski, aka rudzik55, defeating him with a dominant 56-12 score.
There was also a decisive victory for Luc Bellicaud, our Funbridge ambassador, who delivered an impressive performance against Michel SIMONIN, aka SIM8888. Luc showed no mercy, clinching the match with a commanding 87-1 win.
Top Players Eliminated :
Unfortunately, the tournament has come to an end for several of our standout players from Funbridge and the BP rankings.
Our ambassador Dominique Fonteneau, aka domineau (ranked 2nd), was knocked out by Samuel Leite, aka aspaus.
Błachnio Dariusz, aka superdario (formerly 10th), was eliminated by Rutger Van Mechelen, aka Ilfuego.
Boris Plays (Funbridge Staff) was defeated by Patrice Viscat, aka Pont_Neuf, who earned an additional 15 Diamonds for this impressive performance! ♦️
Razor-Thin Margins and Victories by the Clock
Since the start of the competition, tight duels have become the norm, delivering thrilling matchups where every point matters.
The third round is no exception, proving to be a battleground of fierce competition, where even the smallest detail can tip the balance of the result.
Once again, some ties were decided by the clock, with the players’ speed proving crucial in determining who would advance to the next stage.
Don’t miss the rest of the competition! With plenty of twists and turns, each round brings its own surprises. Stay tuned for the latest updates to follow the progress of the matches and find out who will make it to the next stage.
Days 4 / 5 & 6: A Weekend Full of Action!
News of 25 November
This weekend saw the action intensify with rounds 4 and 5, as each clash determined the players ready to secure their spot in the round of 64. The gaps are narrowing, and the tension is rising as the favorites fight to defend their positions against increasingly determined opponents.
In this article, let’s dive into the heart of the round of 64 to uncover the highlights, surprises, and standout performances that defined this pivotal stage!
Smooth sailing for some players
Since the start of the competition, some players have been setting the pace and consistently dominating their opponents. Among them is:
Our bridge blogger Yoram Aviram, aka Aviram1 (10th ), who secured another convincing victory, defeating Lars Nilsson, aka lars nilsson1, with a score of 61-33.
And he’s not the only one showcasing an impressive run since the start of the competition, proving that the level remains high at every stage.
Our Team Funbridge representative, Léo Rombaut, aka Lélé, continues his winning streak with a decisive victory over Xavier, aka hiramwidow, with an undeniable score of 27-4.
A memorable victory
When one player’s misfortune becomes another’s triumph, it perfectly describes Arnaud Faulon, aka Ticunfou, who brilliantly defeated our ambassador Luc Bellicaud in a hard-fought match.
This victory earned him a reward of 100 Diamonds—a masterstroke that will surely stand out in his tournament journey ♦️.
Congratulations to him on this remarkable performance!
The Bridge Point Ranking Survivors
Most of the Top 10 Bridge Point players have been knocked out of the competition,but two tough contenders remain in the competition, determined to go all the way.
Eliminated in Round 4
Eliminated in Round 3
Eliminated in Round 2
Eliminated in Round 4
Still in the race 🎉
Eliminated in Round 4 by FatOrange (5th)
Eliminated in Round 2
Still in the race 🎉
Eliminated in Round 1
Eliminated in Round 4
The final is fast approaching, and the stakes have never been higher!
To stay up to date with all the twists and turns of this competition, follow the daily updates. You’ll find the results, standout performances, and the key moments from the tournament!
Day 7: Round of 32 – End of the competition for the leaders!
News of 26 November
The pressure is on for the valiant Bridge Cup survivors! The round of 32 was once again the scene of those surprises that knock-out tournaments have the secret of.
Teng-Yuan Liang aka FatOrange, 5th in the live rankings, is eliminated by the Italian bridge player Paolo Cittadini, currently 4749th in the live rankings. No doubt that Paolo will soon make a spectacular leap in the Bridge Points rankings!
This is the end also for our bridge player/blogger Yoram Aviram aka Aviram1. The Israeli player, 10th in the Live rankings, lost to the Frenchman fabno with a clear score (14-52).
Croatian player Igor Novosel missed the opportunity to win 100 Diamonds. He failed to eliminate the talented member of Team Funbridge, Léo Rombaut, aka Lélé.
Gilles Péré alias 8252, who defeated world number 7 Raymond Tseng in round 2, continued to shine by defeating his compatriot Samir KHANFIR alias Aramis Aramis, 16th in the Live rankings.
Belgian bridge player Steven De Donder, alias Pikarek, a regular in big games on Funbridge, continues his journey by defeating Polish player Wojciech Romanowski, alias wojrom.
Michel Duguet, alias iti61, one of the very best French players and great champion of the Scrabble game, did not give any details against hougge: final score 37-11.
French champion titiboul beats German bridge player Peter Splettstoesser aka Bloedi with a wide score of 40-10. He joins Gilles Péré aka 8252 in the Round of 16.
Among the close matches, it is hard to do better than the opposition between Lord Kyl and Ole Marius aka omar999. The match ends with a perfect tie 23-23. The stopwatch has therefore designated the winner: Lord Kyl wins with only 5 minutes ahead of his opponent!
But not all matches are so close! Göran Linerudt aka linerudt wins his duel against SirPiatnik with the terrible score of 51-1.
The Round of 32 of the Bridge Cup has seen off the last representatives of the world top 10. Who will win the competition among the challengers? Who will eliminate Léo Rombaut and win 100 additional Diamonds? The suspense remains total!
Heading Towards the Round of 16: Crucial Showdowns Ahead!
News of 27 November
As with every stage of this competition, the Round of 16 was a crucial moment for all the remaining players.
Unfortunately, for some, the journey ends here, just a step away from the final. But the suspense is far from over: sensational players are continuing their climb, and their achievements are definitely worth following closely.
So Close !
The players gave it their all to secure a spot in the Quarterfinals, delivering fierce matches in the Round of 16.
French player Fabrice No, aka Fabno, who caused a surprising upset by eliminating our blogger Aviram1 in the Round of 32, exits the competition with a narrow defeat, losing 23-26 to iti61.
Unfortunately, the same fate befell Gilles Péré, aka 8252. The player who previously eliminated Aramis Aramis (16th) in the Round of 32 was unable to repeat his feat, falling short against the French player titiboul.
Another victory for Laurent Devivery, aka Laurent D (18th in the world), as he triumphed over Pikarek.
In a tense match, Swedish player Hjalle71 faced off against our young Team Funbridge member, Léo Rombaut. Unfortunately, the victory slipped away from him by just 1 point, as well as the 100 Diamonds ♦️.
Italian bridge player Paolo Cittadini, currently ranked 4836th in the Live rankings, once again secured a narrow win over Swedish player Göran Linerud (647th in the rankings).
Crushing Victories
French player vertpomme triumphed in his duel against Lord Kyl with a dominant score of 39-6.
Another decisive win came from Hj201, who defeated #valoche# with an impressive score of 39-7.
Next Step: The Quarterfinals!
On the agenda, two all-French duels: iti61 and vertpomme will face off for a spot in the semifinals, while Laurent Devivery (18th in the world) will challenge Luc Devocelle.
Titiboul will clash with Italian Paolo Cittadini.
Finally, Léo Rombaut, aka Lélé, will go head-to-head with Hj201, and we’ve got an exclusive interview coming soon with this young prodigy!
Don’t miss the next exciting chapter of the competition ⚔️.
Quarterfinals: The Final Four in Sight
News of 28 November
The Bridge Cup Quarterfinals Are Here! 🎉 With thrilling matchups and high stakes, each duel promises to be captivating. It’s time for the battles to determine who will make it to the Final Four!
Tension Reaches Its Peak
The quarterfinals brought suspense and excitement as players gave their all to secure a spot in the semifinals. The results showcased exceptional performances across the board.
Iti61 delivered a commanding performance, defeating Vertpomme with a decisive 40-12 victory, securing his place among the final four.
Titiboul held his nerve in a tight battle against Italian player Paolo Cittadini, clinching a hard-fought 9-0 win.
In the highly anticipated all-French clash, Laurent Devivery, aka Laurent D, edged out Luc Devocelle in a nail-biter, triumphing 17-15 and reaffirming his status as one of the world’s top players.
Finally, the duel between Hj201 and Lélé showcased the brilliance of our Team Funbridge representative. Léo Rombaut, aka Lélé, delivered an outstanding performance, winning 27-11 to secure his spot in the semifinals.
To Crown His Remarkable Journey in the Bridge Cup, we had the privilege of conducting an exclusive interview with Léo Rombaut following his qualification for the semifinals:
– What were your first thoughts after your quarterfinal victory?
I was thrilled because the matches are getting tougher and tighter—I’ve won twice by just 1 IMP! 😅
– You’re now in the Top 4. How are you approaching this crucial stage of the competition?
I’m treating it like any other match, though now we’re really close to winning! Honestly, I don’t have a specific strategy. I love playing on Funbridge to relax and have fun. I enjoy being aggressive and creative in my play—it works out sometimes, though not always.
In two days, I’ll be participating in the National American Championships in Las Vegas, so the Bridge Cup is a great warm-up for that competition.
– Since the tournament began, has there been a particular strategy or opponent that stood out to you?
One opponent I didn’t know before really stood out, David9.
I made a few mistakes at the start of our match but managed to recover with several good plays. By the final five deals, I was leading 14–13 and felt confident about the rest.
David9 played the first three hands well, keeping the pressure on. But on the penultimate deal, he gained an overtrick by cleverly placing a strong card.
That brought us back to a tie before the final deal!
On the last hand, I lost a trick opposite dummy that I thought was insignificant, but it ended up being costly… Fortunately, my opponent also didn’t play the deal optimally, and I narrowly won 15–14. What a relief!
– How do you find the atmosphere and level of play in this tournament so far? Has anything surprised or impressed you?
The format is really enjoyable—16 deals feel just right. It’s enough to make an impact without taking too much time, allowing us to play daily.
I’ve noticed the level of competition has been quite strong in the recent rounds. I’ve faced some really skilled players.
Sadly, several friends were eliminated earlier in the competition—including my father, who is also my partner.
Keep an eye on Léo Rombaut, Iti61, Titiboul, and Laurent D as they battle it out in the semifinals, just one step away from the highly anticipated final. The last stages of the competition promise thrilling clashes for the coveted title!
Semi-final: One Step Away from Victory
News of 29 November
The four best players faced off in tense matches during this semi-final. After an intense day of competition, the finalists are now known. Here’s a recap of the key moments and standout performances from the semi-finalists.
A 100% French semi-final!
This semi-final marked a pivotal moment in the competition, with a 100% French lineup, bringing together national talents for unforgettable clashes. The matches were full of suspense and notable surprises.
Léo Rombaut, representing the Funbridge Team, was unfortunately eliminated despite an impressive run. With that, we have the name of the first finalist, who also earns 100 Diamonds for his victory against a member of the Funbridge Team: Laurent Devivery, aka Laurent D, currently ranked 18th in the global Live rankings. 🎉
The second match saw Titiboul face off against Iti61 in a contest where every hand counted for these two skilled players. After a tough battle, it was Titiboul who came out on top, clinching his spot in the final with a close score of 10-6. 🎉
Congratulations to both players!
After a competition full of twists and turns, we finally know the two finalists of the Bridge Cup! 🎉
Stay tuned to the blog for the announcement of the grand winner and enjoy an exclusive interview that will take you behind the scenes of this much-anticipated final. 🏆
Bridge Cup Final: The Ultimate Duel for Victory !
News of 2 December
After several days of intense competition and numerous surprises, the highly anticipated final of the Bridge Cup has finally taken place. This captivating tournament not only crowned a champion but also reshuffled the cards in the Bridge Point Circuit, shaking up the established rankings.
A duel that lived up to expectations
Lors de cette finale, deux joueurs exceptionnels se sont affrontés dans un duel captivant. Malgré un parcours impressionnant et sa victoire contre Léo Rombaut, Laurent Derivery, alias Laurent D, n’a pas réussi à surpasser Laurent Boulle alias Titiboul, qui s’impose en finale avec un score de 40-2.
In this final match, two exceptional players faced off in a captivating duel. Despite his impressive journey and victory over Léo Rombaut, Laurent Derivery, aka Laurent D, couldn’t outplay Laurent Boulle, aka Titiboul, who claimed victory in the final with a commanding score of 40-2. 🏆
Congratulations to all the participants of this incredible Bridge Cup for their outstanding performances and competitive spirit. A huge round of applause to Titiboul, who emerges as the grand champion of this edition! 🎉🏆
You all contributed to making this tournament unforgettable, and we can’t wait to see you again for more exciting adventures. 👏🎯
Discover the exclusive interview with Laurent Boulle, aka Titiboul, the grand winner of this edition of the Bridge Cup! 🎙️
- What did you feel upon winning this final? Was it a goal you had set for yourself from the beginning?
Great pride, as I faced many strong opponents. Yes, my objective, as always when I participate in a knockout tournament, was to win.
- What was the most memorable or decisive moment for you during this competition?
Surprisingly, it was in the earlier rounds, where my qualification was decided by very narrow margins. It sometimes required bold bidding choices and scoring IMP by IMP to make a comeback.
- How did you prepare for your matches, especially this final against Laurent D?
For the final, Laurent and I agreed to play at the same time. I do think it’s an advantage to play the boards after your opponent has finished. You can adjust your bidding and sometimes your card play based on the score and your opponent’s skill level. The only risk is ending up with a tie…
- Can you share your journey in the bridge world?
It’s a long story. I started playing bridge while studying engineering in 1991. In my second year, we were runners-up in the French Promotion Pairs Championship with Pascal Chalibert, which led to the best year of my life.
After earning my engineering degree, I had the opportunity, thanks to Mike Dennery, to be hired as a GO bridge instructor. I found myself on a Club Med cruise ship in the Caribbean. Every day, we discovered extraordinary islands, with the pinnacle being the Venezuelan islands of Los Roques and La Tortuga. We all agreed upon seeing them that it was paradise…
My professional and family commitments led me to step away from competitive bridge, but I resumed three years ago. Even during that period, I maintained my bridge skills by playing on Funbridge.
- How did you discover Funbridge, and what are your favorite game modes?
Actually, I know Jérôme Rombaut, although it’s been a long time since I last saw him. We started playing bridge at the same time and both played in the Yvelines region.
Naturally, when he created Funbridge, I subscribed. I’ve always loved TPP, which, in my opinion, is the most challenging and enjoyable form of bridge. I especially enjoy playing the daily MP tournament, which keeps me focused and allows me to measure my performance against other enthusiasts. Online pairs tournaments also bring back memories of my early competitions, where every decision mattered for the final score.
