A successful first FISU World University Championship Mind Sports in the books!

FISU Vice-President and World University Championship Committee Chair Marian Dymalski“On behalf of the International University Sports Federation I would like to congratulate all on the completion of the 2020 FISU World University Championship in Mind Sports,” said FISU Vice-President and World University Championship Committee Chair Marian Dymalski upon the completion of this inaugural event, that was conducted online from 26-30 October. The Organising Committee was based in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

“We had to change the format to online, due to the pandemic,” he continued. “However, I am happy to see it has taken place. The organisers had to face new challenges, but this situation will only enrich our knowledge and teach us to adapt.”

“In my opinion, everyone did a great job. I would like to thank the Polish University Sport Federation and the Organising Committee for their commitment and persistence to make it happen. The Championship that gathered hundreds of people was a success. Congratulations to the winners!”

The bridge tournament was played out on the online platform Bridge Base Online and saw the enthusiastic participation of 151 players, representing 26 teams from 13 different countries. The qualification stage of the competition lasted three days (15 rounds) during which each team played 120 deals. The best 8 teams advanced to the play-offs where they fought for positions in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.

After the play-off stage, which lasted two days, the winners of the tournament were finally announced:

1st place: China 1

2nd place : Italy 1

3rd place: France

In the history of the World University Championship, it is the third time a team representing China won the bridge tournament (earlier in 2006 and 2018). Poland has won the Championship four times and other previous winners include Denmark, Netherlands, and Czech Republic. The next Championship will be held in Antwerp, Belgium in 2022 and then in Kampala, Uganda in 2024.

The chess tournament witnessed five days of fascinating matches, hundreds of tactics and countless emotions. For the first time in the FISU history, the chess event was so big that it brought together almost 400 players from four continents. Due to the online format, some players were participating very early in the morning while others did not sleep at night!

This did not turn out to be a problem for Team China 1, who won the event, playing most of their games late at night. The system of playing qualifications with nine rounds of Swiss system and then play-offs with the sixteen best teams was exciting for both, players and supporters all around the world.

After 1,432 chess games, China took gold, Ukraine silver and Armenia the bronze medals. At the next events in Antwerp and Kampala, hopefully held ‘over the board’, all players will compete for six sets of medals; team and individual in classical chess and blitz.

It was the first time that chess and bridge were streamed live from one virtual studio. Experienced and well known commentators Keti Tsatsalashvili and Marcin Tazbir explained all the moves and tactics that happened on virtual boards.

The stream also showed some players on their zoom cameras, and included them in discussions with interesting guests. Among the studio guests were: Chief Arbiter of the event, IA Tomasz Delega, Tomasz Sielicki, famous entrepreneur and medalist of both chess and bridge Polish championships and IO Lukasz Turlej, Vice President of the International Chess Federation, FIDE.

The chess event was coordinated by Lukasz Turlej. As he said during the live interview, “It was a wonderful event, I am very glad to see the outcome. It was a great decision by FISU and the Polish University Sport Association to hold it online. When FISU will organise an eSport league online, chess is ready to join in!”