In almost any other sport, it would be unheard of for a parent and child to reach the highest level together, let alone be partners. Apart from anything else, most young people don’t particular want to eat, sleep, compete and socialise with a parent. But bridge appears to be the exception. There are several famous parent-child partnerships. Age is no barrier; there’s no fear of being called a ‘nepo baby’ (if you can’t play, you’re out), and it seems to suit everyone.
Two of these well-known pairs are father-and son Jerôme and Leo Rombaut, who play on the French open team, and mother-and-daughter Cathy and Sophia Baldysz, who play for the Polish women. During the world championships in Denmark in August, I enjoyed seeing them in their matching national shirts, chatting animatedly between matches. I was also very taken by the affectionate Facebook post from Sophia to her mother shortly after the tournament finished. ‘I witnessed a world class play during the bronze medal match against France,’ she wrote. ‘It took around two minutes for my mom to play. Brilliance! So proud of you!’ She was right to be proud:
Cathy (South) won West’s ♠️10 lead with the ♠️K, then successfully ran the ♦️10. Next came the ♦️A and ♦️Q, and a heart to the ♥️K. East should of course have won and played a club. But she ducked, and Cathy took advantage of this defensive slip. She cashed the ♦️K and the long diamond, pitching hearts from her hand, then advanced the ♠️J. East covered with the ♠️Q, Cathy won with the ♠️A and exited with her remaining spade. West took her two spade winners but then had to concede Cathy’s ninth trick to the ♣️Q.
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