We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the French bridge scene: Christophe Grosset, one of IntoBridge’s founders, has just won last weekend the Inter-City Teams Championship of France as part of the Bridge Club Saint Honoré – Paris team!
The winning squad featured a young and talented lineup: Philippe Bellosta, Romaric Guth, Théo Guillemin, Maxence Fragola Jarjaille, Nao Tabata, and of course, Christophe. Notably, four of Christophe’s teammates are rising stars of the game, proudly representing France in the Under-26 category. Their energy and skill played a crucial role in this impressive national victory.
Together, the team battled through a highly competitive field, ultimately emerging as champions. This success is particularly satisfying given the heartbreak of May, when Christophe and Théo (with different teammates) narrowly missed winning the French National Teams Championship, losing painfully on the final few boards. That close call could have dampened anyone’s spirits—but not Christophe’s.
Though he’s not one to brag, Christophe’s dedication to the game speaks for itself. As a founder of IntoBridge, his vision has always been about building a supportive, global community of bridge players. This victory is more than a personal achievement—it’s a moment of pride for everyone who believes in that mission.
To Christophe and his talented teammates: Bravo! Your win inspires us all to keep playing, growing, and enjoying the game we love.
Here’s a big deal where a strong opening lead at one table and trust between partners at the other paid off beautifully…
At Christophe’s table, after South quickly escalated the auction, North liked the vulnerability and decided to sacrifice in 6♢. Théo passed (forcing), and Christophe felt it was too risky to bid on to 6♤, so he calmly doubled. The play didn’t hold many surprises, and the defense collected three quick tricks for down two, yielding +300 points.
In the other room, the auction didn’t go as fast, but it reached an even higher contract!
There were plenty of IMPs at stake on the opening lead, but Nao Tabata was merciless, finding the ♧K — the only lead to beat the contract. Moments later, down one was claimed, earning +100 points and a valuable 9 IMPs for Christophe’s team!
Another interesting hand worth mentioning is one where a rarely seen passivity from the younger players paid off…
Both sides vulnerable, do you open weak 2s in first seat with this hand:
Maxence Fragola chose to pass, which gave his partner the chance to bid 1♡ and ultimately land in 4♡ — a better contract than 4♤, which was reached in the other room after a routine 2♤ opening. Here’s the full hand:
In July, Christophe’s teammates will be representing France at the World Youth Teams Championships — and this win was an ideal preparation. In fact, the level of play in this Inter‑City Championship was so high that it may well have been as challenging as the worlds themselves. It’s a testament to their talent, resilience, and teamwork, and a promising sign for their upcoming international campaign.
