The eBridge Cup 2026 semifinals closed on July 5. Over four weeks, more than 1,290 players competed across the world. Four of them took a minute to share their experience and stories. Here is what they said.
Alberto Gerli — elbec
Alberto came to bridge through his twin brother Aldo, who now represents Italy at the highest level and is currently competing at the European Championships in Riga.
"I was recruited by family pressure, curiosity, and a little bit of twin rivalry."
He played in the first edition of the eBridge Cup, and came back this year with a clear strategy.
"I really enjoy Daylong tournaments. This year's qualification format suits me quite well, because it rewards consistency over several results rather than one single perfect tournament. I tend to play very aggressively with the robots. Let's say I take out all my frustrations on GIB."
"Usually I play when I wake up in the morning. Then I start working, and I play again during small breaks in the day. I play very fast."
Vladimir Stemkovski — vaskor
Vladimir came to bridge through a novel. In 2012, he and his wife were reading Wallace Stegner in a book club when a chapter featuring social bridge caught their attention.
"We liked the idea of playing together as a team, so we decided to give it a try."
He played in the first edition and came back this year for the format itself.
"I like that it's self-paced with clear objectives. The bidding is unorthodox, but it forces me to improve my declarer skills. And the competition is tough."
"I try to play when I'm rested and my mind is sharp. Otherwise, it's pretty much impossible to get a competitive score in these games."
Baylind
"I have been playing for more than 30 years. Many national championships. Many times in the national team. Many times in Europe and the USA."
He played in the first edition of the eBridge Cup and finished 6th in the Finals. This year he came back, and qualified again.
"I can play at every time when I have free time. Morning. Night. No matter."
Geza
Geza plays from Budapest, and has been playing bridge since the beginning.
"Family got me into bridge, especially my aunt, who was a quite good player."
"It is an interesting tournament which can show where I stand in the big international field."
"Usually I play several tournaments a day and I always begin with the IMP Daylong. That is the warm-up."
Standings of the four players · July 5, 2026
elbec 🏟 Katowice
IT Italy
vaskor 🏟 Katowice
US USA
Baylind 🏟 Katowice
TR Turkey
Geza
HU Hungary
GezaHU Budapest
"It is always inconvenient to play a grand slam with three missing aces, and it happened here."
Grand slam · 3 aces missingAlberto GerliIT Italy
"Scoring over 88% with GIB, in a 12-board event, felt like a very good result."
88% · 12 boardsVladimir StemkovskiUS Raleigh, NC
"I enjoy analyzing hands from people who have mastered the art of playing with robots, and learning from them."
Studying the top playersAlberto, Baylind, and Vladimir will be there. The Finals take place on August 18 and 19 in Katowice, Poland. Here is what it means to them.
Baylind· 🇹🇷 Turkey · #26
"I want to be in Poland."
Vladimir Stemkovski· 🇺🇸 Raleigh, NC · #10
"I've never played in European tournaments. This would be a great experience. I'd also love to use it as an opportunity to see friends in Poland and visit family in other European countries."
Alberto Gerli· 🇮🇹 Italy · #2
"I think I'm in a pretty good position now, so I hope I can win the ticket. I really like the idea of playing the final face to face. I'll do my best."
The eBridge Cup is full of stories like these. Players from every corner of the world, brought together by the same game, the same competition, the same drive to play their best.
Now the semifinals are over, and the Finals begin. The Challenger Final takes place online on July 25 and 26. The Open Final follows on August 18 and 19, with players competing live in Katowice and online at the same time.
Did you compete in this year's eBridge Cup? How did it go for you? And whether you played or not, will you be following the Finals? Tell us in the comments.