This was the PCU BRIDGE@HOME 2020
The 2nd PCU Bridge Trophy was organized – due to Covid 19 – online on the BBO platform from 27 to 29 November 2020. Despite the online setting, the host University of Antwerp facilitated the necessary logistic support to ensure again a succesful edition.
The 2020 edition welcomed a tremendous number of 170 students from 25 universities divided over 16 countries, with some of the most prestigious and well known universities in the world present.
On Friday 27 November, Organizing Committee President, Dr. Koenraad Keignaert of the University of Antwerp, opened the PCU Bridge Trophy with a motivating video message.
During the Qualification Round on Saturday 28 November all teams played three rounds (of 8 boards) in a group phase, with randomly assigned groups. Due to the different time zones in which teams were playing, the Chile team started their first game at 6AM. After this group phase 4 more rounds of qualifiers were played in a Swiss System (-1). With the ranking board changing continuously, it was a challenging race to the top-8 spots for Sunday’s Quarter Finals. At the end the following teams qualified: University of Zagreb (Croatia), University of Montpellier (France), University of Antwerp (Belgium), University of Technology of Compiègne (France), University of Leiden (Netherlands, last year’s silver medallists), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Bangladesh), University of Angers/ENSAI (France) and NOVA University of Lisbon (Portugal). Players from Indonesia and Thailand turned off their computer only after 2AM.
The teams not qualifying (ranked 9 and lower) started Sunday 29 November in the Consolation Round, with 5 more rounds to determine the final ranking. The Dutch Utrecht University – last year’s bronze medal winner – was the proud winner of the Consolation Cup. Meanwhile, University of Montpellier, UTC, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and NOVA University of Lisbon qualified for the Semi-finals, playing 2x 10 boards. After half of the boards played, both French teams were facing the necessary difficulties but the Montpellier team managed to overcome their deficit against the Lisbon team and qualified for the final. The team from Bangladesh held on to their lead and qualified at the expense of the Compiègne team. Final games led to a bronze medal for the University of Technology of Compiègne and, after an exciting last boards in the final, the first title for the University of Montpellier (France). Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology ensured the silver medal.
All results and rankings are available on the webpage of the PCU Bridge Trophy 2020. As it was not possible to award cups, medals and certificates physically, these items will be sent to all participants in the next weeks. A special thanks goes out to our Technical Team (international referee Kuba Kasprzak and Aleksander Krych) for insuring the smooth running of the online tournament!
“I’m very pleased with the Fair Play attitude during all competition interaction”, said PCU Committee Secretary General Gabriel Kotchofa. “Even online, students express their will to ensure Universal Friendship through sport. We thank all participants for their constructive contributions.”
