Thanks to the generosity of Pierre Zimmermann, the EBL was able to launch a new event, the Winter Transnational Championships, in the famous alpine resort, Alpe d’Huez.
48 teams ascended the climb that is an annual highlight of the Tour de France in search of the title.

Over the first three days they played 12 rounds of Swiss, the top 16 teams advancing to the knock-out phase, while the non-qualifiers commenced a contest for the Les Etincelles BAM Trophy.
Although there were occasional flurries of snow, these were usually at night, and the morning sunshine rapidly removed all traces of the precipitation.
With special concessions on offer for amateur teams, it was an opportunity to play against the very best that was taken up by numerous non-professional squads.
Teams comprising more than four players could enjoy a trip to the piste in the morning, returning to the tables in the afternoon. With play finishing early in the evening, there was plenty of time to enjoy the après ski/bridge, which included a free ice-skating Gala.
The reigning World Champions were the favorites but they were made to work hard at times, especially in the round of 16 by the talented Dutch Juniors.

There were several spectacular deals, let me share some of them with you.

I have always been fond of writing about ‘unheard melodies’ hidden possibilities on a deal that are usually too difficult to find. On Board 14 of the 10th qualifying round in the European Winter Transnational Championship, North held ♠96 ♥AK5432 ♦3 ♣J864 and saw East open 1♦, partner overcall 1♥ and West double to show spades. At both tables North jumped to 4♥ and then bid 5♥ over East’s 4♣, which cost -300.
My au pair asked why North didn’t jump to 4♦. Over 4♠, South, looking at ♠Q4 ♥QJ986 ♦A642 ♣32 can lead the ♦A, give partner a ruff and get in with the ♥J to deliver a second ruff. The stuff of dreams?

Here is the full deal:

Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.

In the match between Bridgemagique and Scorway this was the auction in the Closed Room (N/S: Grude/Johansen, E/W: Saporta/ Saporta-Tworzydlo):

Closed Room

Dble Spades
4♦ Splinter

South led the ♦A and continued with the ♦6, North ruffing and returning a low heart to get a second ruff. They were the only ones to defeat 4 Spades.

There was no doubting which two deals caused the most excitement:

Board 19. Dealer South. E/W Vul.

This incredible deal appeared in the semifinal between Zimmermann and Bici.
The probability of a 0-3-10-0 is of 0.0000015. More than 2500 spectators were on hand to witness the deal.

Open Room

1♦     Hearts

West’s opening bid could be made on two cards – not the case here! Have you discussed how to deal with a solid ten-card suit? It was not difficult for East to realize that his partner had a solid suit and that there must be an abundance of tricks in no-trumps. He was not wrong ‒ there were 18 tricks on top.

Closed room

West brushed aside South’s interference over East’s grand slam force. South’s brave effort at a sacrifice was countered by a brisk 7NT from East. Fantastic bidding from both teams!

This deal from the final between Nikos and Zimmermann illustrates the high standard of play:

Board 37. Dealer North. None Vul.

1♣ Polish Club

South led the ♣5 ducked to North’s king and declarer ducked the ♦K took the next diamond with the ace, cashed the ♥A, played a heart to the jack, pitched a spade on the ♣A, ruffed a club and played his trumps. This was the position as the last one hit the table:

North tried pitching the ♠5 but declarer cashed the ♠A for a magnificent +620.

Closed room

1♣ 11-14 balanced or 441♦4, 15+ 5(4)♣ or 18+ any

North led the ♦K but there were nine top tricks, +600 – to lose an 1MP.

Incredibly a second 10-card club suit appeared in the final:

Board 40. Dealer West. N/S Vul.

Open Room

East led the ♥K and declarer claimed for three down, -800.

Closed Room

South led the ♦2 and North ruffed, one down and a 14 IMP swing that sealed Zimmermann’s victory in the final.

At the closing ceremony the EBL President Éric Laurant announced that the event will return to Alpe d’Huez in April 2025!

Final Ranking WTC

1. ZIMMERMANN (Bas DRIJVER, Jacek KALITA, Fernando PIEDRA (captain), Pierre ZIMMERMANN, Michal NOWOSADZKI, Sjoert BRINK, Michal KLUKOWSKI)
2. NIKOS (Krzysztof BURAS, Patryk PATREUHA, Kiki WARD-PLATT, Nikos DELIMPALTADAKIS, Jacek PSZCZOLA, Vassilis VROUSTIS)
3. FRANCE BLUE (Olivier Desages (coach), Nicolas LHUISSIER, Pierre ZIMMERMANN, Julien BERNARD, Érick MAUBERQUEZ, Alain LÉVY)
4. BICI (Ettore BIANCHI, Alfredo VERSACE, Leonardo CIMA, Antonio SEMENTA, Giorgio DUBOIN)

Final Ranking Les Etincelles BAM Trophy Final A

Orca: Mikael et Ola RIMSTEDT, Andrew DYSON, Glyn LIGGNIS, Richard Mark PLACKETT, Espen ERICHSEN
Bici: Ettore BIANCHI, Alfredo VERSACE, Leonardo CIMA, Antonio SEMENTA, Giorgio DUBOIN
Altshuler: Gilad ALTSHULER, Yoram AVIRAM, Ami ZAMIR, Oren TOLEDANO, Alon BIRMAN, Stefano TOMMASINI