1. ISRAEL: Adi Asulin, Hila Levi, Adel Petelko, Ziv Tottman, Dana Tal, Noga Tal, Israel Yadlin npc

2. TÜRKİYE: Asli Acar, Tuna Elmas, Berrak Erkan, Özlem Kandolu, İrem Özbay, Hatice Özgür, M. Gokhan Yilmaaz npc

3. CHINA: Huang Yan, Liu Yan, Ran Jing Rong, Yu Xiuting, Zhou Meiling, Zuo Xiaoxue, Wang Yannan npc, Li Xin coach

1.SWEDEN: Kathrine Bertheau, Sanna Clementsson, Louise Hallqvist, Ylva Johansson, Jessica Larsson, Emma Övelius, Tobias Törnqvist (npc), Carina Wademark (coach).

2.TURKEY: Özlem Kandolu, Serap Kuranoğlu, Eren Özan, İrem Özbay, Hatice Özgür, Dilek Yavaş, Belis Atalay (npc), Halil Atalay (coach).

3.ENGLAND: Sally Brock, Fiona Brown, Heather Dhondy, Catherine Draper, Gillian Fawcett, Nevena Senior, David Burn (npc).
POLAND: Cathy Bałdysz, Sophia Bałdysz, Katarzyna Dufrat, Danuta Kazmucha, Anna Sarniak, Joanna Zalewska, Mirosław Cichocki (npc).

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After four of the six session Sweden led by 30 IMPs and they pulled away over the last two to retain the title they won in Wuhan in 2019.

Kathrine Bertheau, Jessica Larsson, Emma Övelius and Sanna Clementsson were members of the winning team in 2019. Kathrine had three prior medals, Jessica, Emma and Sanna one (Venice Cup bronze in 2017). Sanna Clementsson because a Women’s World Grand Master.

Sally Brock took her medal tally at World Championships to 16. Nevena Senior now has eight medals (one of them representing Bulgaria). Heather Dhondy has seven medals, Fiona Brown six, Catherine Draper five. Cathy Bałdysz previously won a bronze on the Women’s team in 2012. Her daughter Sophia won a silver on the Girl’s team of 2018. Danuta Kazmucha, Katarzyna Dufrat and Joanna Zalewska were also on that Girls’ team, with the first two also winning a Women’s team bronze in that same year. Danuta has an additional Girls team gold from 2010. Turkey had previously won a silver and a bronze at Junior level, with one individual (Nafiz Zorlu) getting a gold as part of a transnational Mixed team.

1.SWEDEN: Kathrine Bertheau, Sanna Clementsson, Ida Gronqvist, Jessica Larsson, Emma Ovelius, Cecilia Rimstedt, Kenneth Borin (npc), Carina Wademark (coach).

2.CHINA: Yan Liu, Yan Lu, Qi Shen, Nan Wang, Wen Fei Wang, Xiaoxue Zuo, Xiaojing Wang (npc), Xiaojing Wang (coach).

3.ENGLAND: Heather Dhondy, Catherine Draper, Gillian Fawcett, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, Yvonne Wiseman, David Gold (npc), David Burn (coach).

The final was nail-biting affair before Sweden with an exciting last session (plus 27) managed to draw away at the end for a famous victory beating China 189-169. England defeated Netherlands 162-157 for the bronze medal with a comeback in the last session. The Swedish rising star Sanna Clementsson (19 years old) won her first World Title, after the Gold Medal won in Portugal in february at the European Mixed Teams Championship. Kathrine Bertheau, Cecilia Rimstedt, Ida Gronqvist, Emma Sjoberg (Sweden), Fiona Brown (England), Nan Wang, Jie Zhao, & Qi Shen (China) became Women World Grand Master. Nicola Smith has advanced her total of medals to 20. That draws her level with two other bridge immortals, none other than Giorgio Belladonna and Bobby Wolff. Only one player has succeeded in winning more than 20 medals, the incredible Bob Hamman, whose total currently stands at 31. Nicola won her first medal in 1976 and she has since won six world title, eight silver medals and six bronzes.

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1. CHINA: Yan Huang, Yan Liu, Yan Lu, Qi Shen, Nan Wang, Wen Fei Wang, Jianxin Wang (NPC), Xiaojing Wang (coach).

2. ENGLAND: Sally Brock, Fiona Brown, Catherine Draper, Sandra Penfold, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, Derek Patterson (NPC), David Burn (coach).

3. SWEDEN: Pia Andersson, Kathrine Bertheau, Ida Gronkvist, Emma Ovelius, Cecilia Rimstedt, Sandra Rimstedt, Kenneth Borin (NPC), Carina Wademark (coach).

China powered their way to their second Venice Cup title forcing England to concede after five sessions of what turned out to be a one-sided final. Although Sweden lost three of the five sets against Poland, they never gave up up the lead they took in the first one to secure the bronze medals.

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1. FRANCE: Debora Campagnano, Bénédicte Cronier, Elisabeth Hugon, Vanessa Rees, Sylvie Willard, Joanna Zochowska, Laurent Thuillez (NPC).

2. USA: Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Joann Glasson, Beth Palmer, Janice Seamon-Molson, Tobi Sokolow, David Sokolow (NPC).

3. ENGLAND: Sally Brock, Fiona Brown, Heather Dhondy, Catherine Draper, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, Derek Patterson (NPC), David Burn (Coach).

In a very close and exciting final, fought up to the last board, France defeated USA (179,7-171) and captured its third Venice Cup. Joanna Zochowska achieved the title of Women’s World Grand Master.
For the Bronze Medal England defeated Netherlands.

Morella Pacheco: By qualifying and playing in the 2015 Venice Cup, Morella obtains the Guinness record of participations in WBF Women’s events. She played: Montecarlo 1976, Valkenburg 1980, New York 1981, Sao Paolo 1985, Ocho Rios 1987, Yokohama 1991, Salsomaggiore 1992, Santiago 1993, Albuquerque 1994, Beijing 1995, Rhodes 1996, Maastricht 2000, Pairs 2001, Montreal 2002, Menton 2003, Istambul 2004, Estoril 2005, Verona 2006, Beijing 2008, Sao Paulo 2009, Philadelphia 2010, Veldhoven 2011, Lille 2012, Chennai 2015.

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1. USA: Hjordis Eythorsdottir, Jill Levin, Jill Meyers, Janice Seamon-Molson, Jenny Wolpert, Migry Zur-Campanile, Sue Picus (NPC).

2. ENGLAND: Sally Brock, Fiona Brown, Heather Dhondy, Nevena Senior, Nicola Smith, Susan Stockdale, Jeremy Dhondy (NPC), David Burn (Coach).

3. THE NETHERLANDS: Carla Arnolds, Marion Michielsen, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Meike Wortel, Wietske van Zwol, Alex van Reenen (NPC), Hans Kelder (Coach).

In the final, which was a very close and exciting match, with the lead changing almost board-by-board and finally decided over the last few boards, USA won its 11th Venice Cup defeating the Champions from Lille, England. Jill Meyers (picture) won her 4th World Teams Championship, a result never achieved in the history of the Venice Cup. Jenny Wolpert and Migry Zur-Campanile (USA) and Fiona Brown and Susan Stockdale (England) achieved the title of World Grand Master.
The Netherlands team – which had easily won the round robin, leading the ranking throughout – were defeated in the semifinal by USA 2 and then won the bronze medal against China.

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1. FRANCE: Danièle Allouche Gaviard, Véronique Bessis, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine d’Ovidio, Joanna Neve, Sylvie Willard, Thomas Bessis (NPC), Romain Tembouret (Coach).

2. INDONESIA: Lusje Olha Bojoh, Fera Damayanti, Suci Amita Dewi, Kristina Wahyu Murniati, Riantini, Julita Grace Tueje, Bert Toar Polii (NPC), Hasyim Arif (Coach).

3. THE NETHERLANDS: Carla Arnolds, Laura Dekkers, Marion Michielsen, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Bep Vriend, Alex Van Reenen (NPC), Hans Kelder (Coach).

France won its second Venice Cup, following their first victory in Estoril 2005, defeating the young
Indonesian team 193-103 who had put up an impressive performance to reach the final and win their first world medal.

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1. CHINA: Dong Yongling, Liu Yiqian, Sun Ming, Wang Hongli, Wang Wenfei, Yan Ru, Lin Yafu (Coach).

2. USA I: Lynn Baker, Lynn Deas, Irina Levitina, Karen McCallum, Beth Palmer, Kerri Sanborn (formerly Shuman), Sam Dinkin (NPC), Eric Kokish (Coach).

3. FRANCE: Danièle Allouche Gaviard, Véronique Bessis, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine d’Ovidio, Elisabeth Hugon, Sylvie Willard, Julien Gaviard (NPC), Thomas Bessis (Coach).

In São Paulo, in each of the three main events, the 22 teams played a complete round robin of 16-
board matches, three a day for seven days, followed by 96-board quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. This was the first Venice Cup victory for China who had previously taken two silver and three bronze medals. It came in a dominating 220-148 victory over the strong USAII team. China won five of the six sets, losing only the last 19-18 when the issue was just about settled.
France took the bronze medal, beating USA I in the play-off.

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1. USA I: Jill Levin, Irina Levitina, Jill Meyers, Hansa Narasimhan, Debbie Rosenberg, Jo Anna Stansby, Gail Moss (NPC).

2. GERMANY: Anja Alberti, Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Barbara Hackett, Beate (Pony) Nehmert, Mirja Schraverus-Meuer, Bernard Ludewig (NPC), Michael Yuen (NPC).

3. CHINA: Gu Ling, Liu Yiqian, Sun Ming, Wang Hongli, Wang Wenfei, Zhang Yalan, Lin Yafu (Coach).

Germany made it to the final once again, but were defeated by USA I, who won 242-158.6. China took the bronze medal, beating France in the play-off. Jill Meyers won her third Venice Cup, joining several others at the top of the current ranking: Dorothy Hayden Truscott, Emma Jean Hawes, Betty Ann Kennedy and Sue Picus.

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1. FRANCE: Danièle Allouche Gaviard, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine d’Ovidio, Nathalie Frey, Vanessa Rees, Sylvie Willard, Gérard Tissot (NPC).

2. GERMANY: Anja Alberti, Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Barbara Hackett, Beate (Pony) Nehmert, Mirja Scharaverus, Bernard Ludewig (NPC), Nikolas Bausback (Coach).

3. THE NETHERLANDS: Carla Arnolds, Femke Hoogweg, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Bep Vriend, Wietske van Zwol, Ed Franken (NPC), Erik Leufkens (Coach).

For the first time in a World Championship all scores were entered directly from the tables using the new Bridgemate machines. This made the scores posted on the side Vugraph screens much more reliable and cohesive than in the past. The final was once again France versus Germany: we can be sure that none of these players had forgotten the Venice Cup final in Paris 2001, in which Germany wiped out a 47-IMP French lead in the last session. In Estoril France took its revenge beating Germany 191/136 and winning their first Venice Cup after previously winning two silver and two bronze medals. The Netherlands took the bronze, beating USA I in the play-off.

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1. USA: Betty Ann Kennedy, Jill Levin (formerly Blanchard), Sue Picus, Janice Seamon-Molson, Tobi Sokolow, Katherine Wei-Sender, Kent Massie (NPC).

2. CHINA: Gu Ling, Zhang Yalan, Wang Hongli, Wang Wenfei, Zhang Yu & Wang Xiaojing (NPC).

3. THE NETHERLANDS: Carla Arnolds, Marijke van der Pas, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Bep Vriend, Wietske van Zwol, Ed Franken (NPC), Christoffer Niemeijer (Coach).

Kathie Wei-Sender, the WBF Ambassador for Bridge, played on the victorious USA I team, beating her own students, the Chinese Venice Cup Team, in a close match, the final score being 229.3-210.
The Bronze Medal went to The Netherlands, beating USA II in the play-off. Betty Ann Kennedy and Sue Picus won the Venice Cup for the third time.

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1. GERMANY: Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken, Barbara Hackett, Katrin Farwig, Beate (Pony) Nehmert, Andrea Rauscheid, Joerg Fritsche (NPC).

2. FRANCE: Véronique Bessis, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine d’Ovidio, Catherine Fishpool, Elisabeth Hugon, Sylvie Willard, Patrick Grenthe (NPC), Pierre-Jean Louchart (Coach).

3. USA: Mildred Breed, Petra Hamman, Joan Jackson, Robin Klar, Shawn Quinn, Kay Schulle, Charlie Weed (NPC).

The 2001 Venice Cup initially scheduled in Bali (Indonesia), was held in Paris because of the terrorist attack on September 11 in New York. In a final of epic proportions, Germany defeated France by 218 to 215.5. The Bronze Medal went to USA II, beating Austria in the play-off.

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1. NETHERLANDS: Marijke van der Pas, Jet Pasman, Anneke Simons, Martine Verbeek, Bep Vriend, Wietske van Zwol, Ed Franken (NPC), Chris Niemeijer (Coach).

2. USA: Renee Mancuso, Jill Meyers, Janice Molson, Randi Montin, Shawn Quinn, Tobi Sokolow, Jo Morse & Rita Seamon (NPCs).

3. DENMARK: Anne Katrine Bilde-Kofoed, Dorte Cilleborg, Mette Drogemuller, Bettina Kalkerup, Charlotte Koch-Palmund, Kirsten Steen Møller, Jacob Ron (NPC), Lotte Skaanning-Norris (Coach).

The 1999 Venice Cup was sponsored by Orbis Investment Management Ltd. and held in Bermuda in January 2000. The final was probably the closest match ever in a World Championship, with The Netherlands beating a very strong USA team by just 0.4 of an IMP, 249.7-249.3 and winning its first Venice Cup. The Bronze Medal went to Denmark, beating Austria in the play-off.

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1. USA I: Lisa Berkowitz, Mildred Breed, Marinesa Letizia, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Tobi Sokolow, Sue Picus (NPC).

2. CHINA: Gu Ling, Zhang Yalan, Sun Ming, Lu Yan, Wang Wenfei, Zhang Yu, Hu Jihong (NPC).

3. USA II: Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Irina Levitina, Beth Palmer, Kerry Shuman, Katherine Wei-Sender, Dan Morse (NPC).

USA beat a popular young Chinese team in the final by 244-184. USA II took the bronze medal, beating France in the play-off.

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1. GERMANY: Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken (formerly Zenkel), Karin Caesar, Marianne Moegel, Pony Nehmert, Andrea Rauscheid, Klaus Reps (NPC).

2. USA: Karen McCallum, Kitty Munson, Sue Picus, Rozanne Pollack, Kerri Shuman, Carol Simon, Steve Sanborn (NPC).

3. FRANCE: Véronique Bessis, Claude Blouquit, Bénédicte Cronier, Catherine d’Ovidio (formerly Saul), Colette Lise, Sylvie Willard, Max Coppolani (NPC), Jean-Christophe Quantin (Coach).

In this event, sponsored by Marlboro, Germany took their revenge on America, beating them by 312-248. This was the first time a non-American team had won the Venice Trophy since 1987. The Bronze Medal went to France, beating China in the play-off.

1. USA II: USA II: Sharon Osberg, Karen McCallum, Jill Meyers, Sue Picus, Kay Schulle, Kerri Shuman, Jo Morse (NPC).

2. GERMANY: Sabine Auken (formerly Zenkel), Daniela von Arnim, Karin Caesar, Marianne Moegel, Beate (Pony)
Nehmert, Waltraud Vogt, Klaus Reps (NPC).

3. SWEDEN: Lisa Åström, Pyttsi Flodqvist, Linda Långström, Mari Ryman, Catarina Midskog, Britt-Marie (Bim) Ödlund, Kerstin Strandberg (NPC).

USA II retained the NEC Venice Cup, comfortably beating Germany 325.5-272. The Bronze Medal went to Sweden, beating Argentina in the play-off.

1. USA: Lynn Deas, Nell Cahn, Stasha Cohen, Sharon Osberg, Nancy Passell, Sue Picus, Kathie Wei (NPC).

2. AUSTRIA: Gabriele Bamberger, Maria Erhart, Doris Fisher, Rosi Spinn, Terry Weigkricht, Britta Widengren, Ernst Pichler (NPC).

3. CHINA: Gu Ling, Sun Ming, Shi Shaomin, Wang Liping, Liu Yiqian, Zhang Yalan, Yi Hougao (NPC).

The final of the NEC Venice Cup saw USA II comfortably repel the challenge from Austria 358-258. Bronze medallists were China, who defeated USA I in the third place play-off. Lynn Deas won the Venice Cup for the third time.

1. USA: Kitty Bethe Munson, Lynn Deas, Margie Gwozdzinsky, Karen McCallum, Beth Palmer, Kerri Shuman, Dorothy Hayden Truscott (NPC).

2. THE NETHERLANDS: Carla Arnolds, Ellen Bakker, Ina Gielkens, Ellly Schippers, Bep Vriend, Marijke van der Pas, Jet Pasman (NPC).

3. CANADA: Gloria Silverman Bart, Francine Cimon, Dianna Gordon, Mary Paul, Sharyn Reus, Catherine (Katie) Thorpe, George Mittelman (NPC).

The Venice Cup was sponsored by NEC for the first time. The USA defeated the Netherlands by 352-318 IMPs after trailing by 23 IMPs with just 13 boards to play. Third were Canada, who defeated Germany in the play-off for the bronze medal.

1. USA: Cheri Bjerkan, Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, Judi Radin, Kathie Wei, Carol Sanders (NPC).

2. FRANCE: Danièle Allouche Gaviard, Véronique Bessis, Hélène Bordenave, Ginette Chevalley, Bénédicte Cronier,
Sylvie Willard, Gerard Le Royer (NPC).

3. ITALY: Marisa Bianchi, Luciana Capodanno, Marisa Baffi D’Andrea, Carla Gianardi, Gabriella Olivieri, Anna Valenti, Gianarrigo Rona (NPC).

USA defeated France in the final. Bronze medalists were Italy, who defeated the second USA team in the third place play-off.

1. GREAT BRITAIN: Nicola Smith, Sally Horton, Sandra Landy, Pat Davies, Michelle Brunner, Gillian Scott-Jones, Grattan Endicott (NPC not pictured).

2. USA: Betty Ann Kennedy, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Judi Radin, Carol Sanders, Kathie Wei, Dan Morse (NPC).

3. FRANCE: Véronique Bessis, Ginette Chevalley, Catherine Saul, Danièle Allouche Gaviard, Fabienne Pigeaud, Sylvie Willard, Alain Levy (NPC).

This Venice Cup was the first to be conducted under the new arrangement, which proved very successful. The full quota of ten teams participated, with Zone 4 – represented by India – taking part for the first time. The women played semi-final and final matches of 128 boards, compared to 160 and 176 in the Bermuda Bowl. Nevertheless it was a Venice Cup team – the British – that experienced the severest test of stamina in either series, playing 464 boards in the round-robin and then 256 in the last two matches; 720 in all. Horton and Landy actually played 656 deals during the course of the competition – more than any other pair in either series. By contrast, the Brazil and Israel Open teams each played 608, whilst the two Bermuda Bowl finalists, USA and Austria, having been exempted from the round-robin, played only 336 each; and the French Venice Cup team, only 224 boards. France and USA 1, as winners of the Zone 1 and Zone 2 Championships, were exempted to the semi-finals, in the same way as in the Bermuda Bowl. In the semi-finals USA 1 beat Chinese Taipei, playing in their first Venice Cup contest, by 342 to 246; but Great Britain had a stiff task against France, trailing early and taking the lead only at halfway before winning eventually by 276 to 241.Great Britain won the final by 323 to 213, having led from the start. France defeated Chinese Taipei for the bronze medal.

1. GREAT BRITAIN: Pat Davies, Maureen Dennison, Sandra Landy, Sally Horton (formerly Sowter), Nicola Smith, Diana Williams, Derek Rimmington (NPC).

2. USA: Nancy Gruver, Edith Kemp, Betty Ann Kennedy, Judi Radin, Carol Sanders, Kathie Wei, Chuo Wei-Chi (NPC), Ron Andersen (Coach).

3. BRAZIL: Maria Lena Brito E Silva, Sylvia Figueria De Mello, Agota Mandelot, Maria Elizabeth Murtinho, Susy Powidzer, Alice Saade, Lia Cintra (NPC).

The 4th Venice Cup took place concurrently with the Bermuda Bowl held at Port Chester in the State of New York. Using the same deals as the Bermuda Bowl contestants, the five Venice Cup teams played a 15-session round-robin of 32-board matches to qualify two teams for a final. The round-robin was notable for a promising performance by Brazil, who entered the last round only needing to beat Great Britain by 11 IMPs to reach the final – win they did but only by 1 IMP, so they finished third in the standings. In the final, the United States at last surrendered the trophy they had held since it was first contested seven years earlier. Their opponents, Great Britain, started with a ‘carryover’ from the round-robin of 21 2/3 IMPs and won the 96 board encounter by 160 2/3 to 122.

1. USA: Emma Jean Hawes, Mary Jane Farrell, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Dorothy Hayden Truscott, Ruth McConnell (NPC).

2. ITALY: Marisa Bianchi, Luciana Capodanno, Marisa Baffi D’Andrea, Enrica Gut, Andreina Morini, Anna Valenti, Guido Barbone (NPC), Anna Maria Torlontano (Coach).

3. ARGENTINA: Maria Teresa B. De Diaz, Maria Elena Iacapraro, Adriana C. De Martinez De Hoz, Marta Matienzo, Clara Monsegur, Adolfo Campos (NPC).

Having been adopted by the WBF as a fully-fledged world championship, the Venice Cup was staged in New Orleans alongside the World Pairs and World Knock-Out Teams. There were five contestants: the United States as defending champions; Italy as winners of the 1977 European Championship, Argentina, representing South America, Australia, from Zone 7 and the Philippines, representing the Far East. In the second round-robin, the teams finished in that order. In the 64-board final, Italy started by scoring 47 IMPs before the opponents scored but in the end the USA again won decisively, by 229 IMPs to 140. The American pair Emma Jean Hawes & Dorothy Hayden Truscott, registered their third successive victory along with NPC Ruth McConnell.

1. USA: Dorothy Hayden Truscott, Emma Jean Hawes, Betty Ann Kennedy, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Carol Sanders, Ruth McConnell (NPC).

2. GREAT BRITAIN: Charley Esterson, Nicola Smith (formerly Gardener), Fritzi Gordon, Sandra Landy, Rixi Markus, Rita Oldroyd, Graham Cooke (NPC).

The 2nd Venice Cup took place along with the ‘jumbo’ series of world championships held that year in Monte Carlo. Europe’s representatives on this occasion were Great Britain who earned their place by winning the 1975 European Women’s Championship. The victors, however, were again the USA, this time by the wide margin of 395 IMPs to 211 over 140 boards. The USA were represented by four players who had been on the 1975 winning team (Truscott, Hawes, Sanders and Kennedy).

1. USA: Bette Cohn, Dorothy Hayden Truscott, Emma Jean Hawes, Betty Ann Kennedy, Marietta Passell, Carol Sanders, Ruth McConnell (NPC).

2. ITALY: Marisa Bianchi, Luciana Canessa, Rina Jabes, Maria Antonia Robaudo, Anna Valenti, Maria Vittoria (Mavi) Venturini, Giovanni Pelucchi (NPC).

Italy’s claims for the honour of representing Europe in this inaugural contest were strong: their women’s teams were at the time the holders of the European Women’s Championship and of the World Olympiad Women’s Teams. Nevertheless Italy was beaten, albeit narrowly. The margin in the 136-board match was 297 IMPs to 262 in favour of the United States.