Bridge Cup: A Look Back at the November Edition
Contents
- A November that thrilled bridge players
- The four heroes of November
- Exclusive interview with François Hauseux
- Staff, ambassadors and BP Top 10
- Figures and unusual anecdotes
- Thank you to all participants
A November that made bridge players vibrate 🍁
The November 2025 Bridge Cup brought together 2,688 players from all around the world — a rising number that confirms the ever-growing enthusiasm for this now-essential knockout event.
Throughout the month, the 16-board duels followed one after another, offering a thrilling spectacle where every card could change the outcome of a match. Suspense, turnarounds, and unexpected brilliant plays: this November edition delivered on all its promises.
What were the most breathtaking matches? Who managed to handle the pressure all the way to the end?
Dive into the full recap of this edition filled with surprises and emotions! 🌟
The four heroes of November 🏆
🥇 François Hauseux
Solid from start to finish, François Hauseux claimed the title after a perfectly controlled 28–9 final against Veselin Barakov.
Remarkably consistent throughout the competition, he imposed his strong analytical skills and his ability to stay focused on every board. A clear, well-deserved victory, achieved with impressive composure.
🥈 Veselin Barakov (VBRK)
Level 38 in the BP Circuit, Veselin Barakov reached the final thanks to disciplined play and remarkable control of the key moments. After winning 13–11 in an extremely close semifinal against bigslicer, the Bulgarian player then fell to François. A strong performance that highlights his consistency in knockout tournaments.
🥉 Christer Edlund (bigslicer)
With his calm, analytical style, Bigslicer (Level 17) impressed with his ability to stay in the competition. His 13–11 semifinal loss to Veselin was one of the tightest matches of the tournament. A discreet yet remarkably efficient player, he managed his run to the final four with perfect control.
🥉 Kai Eckert (BridginWithKai)
Streamer, tournament director, and content creator, Kai Eckert brings a breath of fresh air to the international bridge scene. Known for his aggressive style — pushed games, ambitious slams — he bowed out 21–16 after an intense and spectacular match, against our winner ;).
Your turn to play!
Here’s a board from the semifinal between Kai and our champion… Which slam will you manage to bid?
You’ll be able to see François Hauseux’s score at the end of the deal.
Kai also stands out for his commitment to promoting bridge to a younger audience: educational videos, humor, accessibility… a personality that brings a breath of fresh air to the game and resonates strongly with the Funbridge community.
🎙️ Exclusive interview with François Hauseux
François Hauseux discovered bridge at the age of 16. That was 37 years ago… and it was love at first sight.
I was immediately hooked by the beauty of the game: the reasoning, the clues that reveal themselves little by little, that feeling of solving a puzzle on every board. But the pleasure didn’t stop there: the post-tournament atmosphere, the passionate discussions at the bar until one or two in the morning, the analyses with friends…
During this November Bridge Cup, the rounds kept coming… and François realized he was on the verge of achieving something remarkable:
I saw the rounds go by, and that’s when I started to believe in it. I focused on every board, taking the time to carefully analyse each situation.
💪 The final was extremely close, but François hung on, point after point. The verdict came in: he won the competition.
A great joy! Yes, I’m a competitor — but I always accept defeat… when it’s deserved!
François plays around fifty boards a day on Funbridge, and also organises private tournaments for his students, from beginner level to advanced training. His next goal on Funbridge is already set: “The December BP1000!”
I appreciate being able to play whenever I want, track my progress, compare myself with my friends, and launch challenges. I also love being able to fill in my conventions in great detail.
The Masterclasses, the reports, the challenges against celebrities (like you — Margaux 😊)… it’s really great! I met Dominique Fonteneau in juniors 35 years ago, and he still remembers me. And also Jérôme Rombaut.
🎯 His advice to participants: “Stay focused, and above all: forget a bad board. It’s much easier on Funbridge than at the table!”
Your turn to play!
Here is the first board of his final against Veselin Barakov. Will you manage to score 10 IMPs and take the lead right from the start? You’ll be able to see his score at the end of the deal.
Staff, ambassadors and BP Top 10 🎯
As every month, many well-known Funbridge personalities took on the challenge of the November Bridge Cup, mixing staff members, ambassadors, and pillars of the BP Top 10.
On the Funbridge Stars side, several familiar faces dove into the competition:
- Jérôme Rombaut (staff & Funbridge Star) reached the 3rd round,
- Vanessa Reess delivered a beautiful run up to the 7th round,
- Milan Macura distinguished himself up to the 6th round.
On the BP Top 10 side, we saw an impressive lineup of heavy hitters:
- Aviram1 pushed through to the 8th round,
- Tidou and Dominique Fonteneau (always leading by example!) reached the 5th,
- Timour stopped in the 4th,
- Bloedi, Barrois Xavier, Paweł Wittenbeck, Pikarek… all fought hard before leaving the competition.
Figures and unusual anecdotes
The November Bridge Cup was marked by constant suspense and a level of intensity rarely reached. Here are a few numbers that speak for themselves:
- 50 matches ended in a perfect tie, decided only by the timer.
- 77 duels were settled by just one point — stress levels peaking all the way to the last card 💥
In terms of participation, this edition showed a truly international dimension, with a top 10 countries ranking led by:
1. France — 947 players
2. Poland — 129 players
3. United States — 103 players
4. Belgium — 101 players
5. Great Britain — 93 players
6. Netherlands — 91 players
7. Norway — 85 players
8. Sweden — 84 players
9. Switzerland — 58 players
10. Italy — 50 players
💥 The match with the most IMPs exchanged
A completely unrestrained encounter that ended on a spectacular score: 63 to 50. An offensive duel from start to finish, where every board added tension and the IMPs kept flying until reaching the highest total of the entire edition.
An incredible comeback ⚡
In another memorable match, one player found himself trailing by 23 IMPs after the 13th board (out of 16). Against all odds, he lined up three perfect boards, racking up 24 IMPs, and managed to win by a single point. An exceptional turnaround!
⏱️ When time decides everything
Finally, our future silver medallist played a highly unusual duel: all neutral boards, one at +7, one at –7. With a perfect tie after 16 boards, everything came down to… the timer. Faster than his opponent, he advanced thanks to time management alone — a rare but decisive finish.
Thank you to all participants 💙
A huge congratulations to François Hauseux for his victory, as well as to Veselin Barakov, Christer Edlund, and Kai Eckert for their outstanding runs.
And of course, congratulations to all 2,688 players who took part in this November edition and helped create such a competitive atmosphere.
💬 And you — what was your most memorable board?
Share your thoughts in the comments… and see you very soon in the various December tournaments! 🎄
