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2nd SMALL FEDERATIONS GAMES

The Monegasque team ( Henri Fissore, Jean-Charles Allavena, René Tognetti and Christophe Desmoulins) finished splendidly in second place at the 2nd Small Federations Games at Vilnius, Lithuania.

Organised for the first time in Monaco in 2007, inspired by the athletics Small States Games which were also held in Monaco that year,the bridge tournament included teams from federations which have less than 500 members ; 21 out of the 48 countries in the European Bridge League. These are teams from small countries such as Monaco,Malta,San Marino Luxembourg or young federations mainly from eastern Europe(where bridge was banned for many years) like Belarus,Ukraine and the Baltic countries…all developing rapidly now !

The aim of the Games is to reinforce ties between small federations, create friendly meetings and enable young federations to cut their teeth in competition before attacking the European Championships !

Proof of the European Bridge League’s interest in this monegasque initiative was the presence at Vilnius of Gianarrigo Rona,President of the EBL and future President of the World Federation accompanied by Yves Aubry, Vice-president of the EBL and President of the Federation Française de Bridge. Both attended the final between Lithuanians and Monegasques, then the prize-giving, followed the next day by a work session grouping representatives of the Small Federations, chaired by Jean-Charles Allavena,President of the Federation Monegasque de Bridge and of the Comité des Petites Federations de l’EBL.

This second place, following the third place in the Small Federations Games of 2007 in Monaco, the 11th place at the European Championships 2008 ( the big ones !!!)at Pau and the 8th finals at the European Open 2009 in San Remo, confirms the robust health of Monegasque bridge !