Riga 2026: three titles for Poland, a last-day comeback for the Netherlands
76 teams from 26 countries played the European Youth Teams Championships in Riga, Latvia, from 9 to 15 July 2026.
The 30th European Youth Teams Championships were played at the Ķīpsala Exhibition Centre in Riga, right after the European National Championships for Open, Women’s, Seniors and Mixed teams. There were five series: Under 31, Under 26, Under 26 Women, Under 21 and Under 16. The Latvian Bridge Federation hosted the event, which even had its own mascot, Rigo.
Poland won three of the five titles, the Under 26 Women, Under 21 and Under 16, and took silver in the Under 31.
Under 26: decided on the last day
The closest race came in the Under 26, the biggest series with 23 teams. Israel led for most of the week and started the final day almost 17 VP ahead of the Netherlands. The two teams met in the first match of the day, and the Dutch won it 85-19 in IMPs, a maximum 20-0 in VPs, to go top. After the penultimate round only 0.18 VP, about one IMP, separated them. The Netherlands scored well in the last match and took gold by 7.39 VP. Estonia, who had briefly led after 11 rounds, won bronze.
Under 21: a head-to-head finish
The Under 21 lead changed hands between Poland and Israel all week. Israel went top with two matches left, Poland took the lead back in the penultimate round, and the draw put the two teams against each other in the final match. Poland won it and finished 16.81 VP clear, with Norway third.
Under 16: gold by 2.15 VP
The youngest series was the first to finish. Israel led early on, Poland went in front after seven rounds and held on to win by just 2.15 VP. Norway took bronze.
Under 26 Women: Poland from start to finish
Poland led the Under 26 Women from the first day and won by more than 80 VP, with Denmark second. Italy passed England on the final day to take bronze.
Under 31: France in front
Bulgaria set the early pace in the Under 31, but France went top on the third day and stayed there to win by 14.04 VP. Behind them the last day was tight: Poland climbed to silver, and Türkiye took bronze by 3.11 VP from Bulgaria. Denmark, second going into the final day, finished fifth.
The champions
- Under 31, France: Luc Bellicaud, Arthur Boulin, Maxence Fragola, Theo Guillemin, Romaric Guth, Nao Tabata
- Under 26, Netherlands: Lotte de Wijs, Sarah de Wijs, Xavier Friesen, Ronald Goor, Mark Ottens, Reinder van der Weide
- Under 26 Women, Poland: Milena Gryzlo, Magdalena Kapala, Dominika Lucka, Ewa Morawska, Natalia Suszanowicz, Joanna Zalewska
- Under 21, Poland: Jakub Adamczak, Maksymilian Blicharz, Milena Klimiuk, Jakub Michalski, Wojciech Tokarski, Wojciech Wnuk
- Under 16, Poland: Michal Adamczak, Gabriela Banas, Blazej Mroz, Hubert Ozibko, Adam Stachura, Krzysztof Turant
Next stop: Herning
The top eight teams in the Under 31, Under 26, Under 26 Women and Under 21 qualified for next year’s World National Youth Teams Championships in Herning, Denmark.