The final cards are being played and the scores tallied as the 2nd edition of the Winter Transnational Championships draws to a close today. After days of intense competition, participants are packing their bags, carrying with them memories of hard-fought matches and the vibrant atmosphere of Prague.
This year’s championships have been a resounding success, attracting bridge enthusiasts from across the globe to the heart of Europe. The event showcased the very best of transnational bridge, fostering a spirit of friendly rivalry and shared passion.
While the curtain falls on this edition, anticipation is already building for the future. The 3rd edition of the Winter Transnational Championships could return to Prague in February 2026. Bridge lovers can mark their calendars, with precise dates to be announced in the coming months.
To reflect on the success of the 2nd edition and look ahead to the next, EBL President Eric Laurant, EBL Treasurer Igor Chalupec, and Mr. Milan Macura, Manager on-site and organizer of the 2nd European Winter Transnational Championship in Prague, sat down for an insightful interview:
Thank you all for joining me today. To start, how would you describe the event’s overall success in Prague?
Mr. Eric Laurant: It has been a great success. We have a record of 88 teams participating, which is fantastic.
The venue worked perfectly, and we couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.
That sounds wonderful. Were there any notable collaborations that contributed to the event’s success?
Yes, there was very fruitful cooperation with Milan Macura. It was a smooth collaboration, and it helped make the event run smoothly.
What about the participants? How did they feel about the event?
Mr. Igor Chalupec: The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. The participants seem really satisfied with the experience. Of course, as with any big event, there were a few normal challenges, but they were solved quickly and efficiently.
It’s great to hear that the participants had such a positive experience. You mentioned challenges being resolved—could you elaborate on any changes or improvements in the event this year?
Mr. Igor Chalupec: One key aspect that seemed to resonate with participants was the way we handled the fees. We introduced a discount for amateur players, which was very well received by them. It helped attract players who typically wouldn’t participate in such events. The idea behind this was to make the event more inclusive and support a broader group of bridge enthusiasts.
Have there been any ongoing discussions regarding the “amateur” status? How are you working to define it?
Mr. Igor Chalupec: Yes, we are still in discussions about how to best define “amateur.” It’s a nuanced topic, but we are committed to finding the most fair and equitable criteria possible. To do so, this year we introduced the distinction between “titled player” and “non-titled player”. It’s important for us to support all participants while maintaining the integrity of the competition.
It sounds like a lot of thought is going into it, you’ve been involved in organizing this event— how would you assess the preparation process?
Mr. Milan Macura: It’s been a pleasure to help organize this event. I was involved from the beginning, and I must say that the investment of time and effort proved worthwhile. Now that we’ve had this experience, we’d be happy to host again next year and make the event even better. By hosting such events we can make Bridge more visible in our country. If we approach all the challenges correctly and involve more people from the Czech Bridge Federation we can grow our small bridge community and be the perfect example that nothing is impossible.
Mr. Laurant, do you agree with that? Would you consider returning to Prague for future events?
Mr. Eric Laurant: I think organizing in eastern/central Europe was a good idea. Prague has proven to be an excellent location for this event, and if conditions are met, we’d be open to returning, but of course, we will also consider other alternatives. The provisional dates we are looking at for 2026 are between the 9th and the 19th of February.
It sounds like Prague is on the map for future events. To wrap up, can you tell us about the upcoming European Championships?
Mr. Igor Chalupec: We are very excited about the 11th European Transnational Championships next June in Poznan, Poland. We expect a massive turnout across all categories, and it promises to be an incredible event for the international bridge community. Poznan is a lovely city. Please note that a discount will be applied to amateurs.
Thank you all for your insights today. It sounds like there are exciting things ahead for the European Bridge League!