Home Page

Henri  SZWARC

 

 Henri nacque a Lublino in Polonia nel 1930 e si trasferì in Francia, poco prima della seconda guerra mondiale, seguendo il padre.

 Ha sempre vissuto a Parigi dove si è spento nel 2005 dopo essere stato direttore di una industria tessile e dopo aver conquistato più titoli bridgistici di qualsiasi altro giocatore francese.

 World Grand Master ha conquistato per i colori della Francia 4 titoli Europei a Squadre (nel 1966, 1970, 1974 e 1983) ed è arrivato 5 volte secondo (1954, 1956, 1959, 1970 e 1973) ed una terzo (1981), ha vinto le Olimpiadi del 1980 e del 1996 ed è arrivato secondo in quelle del 1984, Inoltre ha conquistato l'argento nella Bermuda Bowl del 1971 ed il bronzo nel 1967, nel 1975 e nel 1983.

 Tra gli altri numerosi titoli, ricordiamo: primo ai Campionati del MEC a Squadre del 1969 e terzo in quelli del 1996, argento nell'Europeo Seniores Teams del 1999, terzo al White House del 1997, primo nel Patton di Biarritz del 2001, primo nel Sunday Times Pairs del 1977.

 Nel 1966 fu nominato con il suo partner Jean Michel Boulenger, migliore coppia europea.

Henri Szwarc était le joueur français le plus titré de tous les temps.

L’une de ses grandes qualités était un entêtement sans faille pour gagner. Si cette caractéristique l’a bien aidé pour la compétition de bridge, souvent dans la vie mettait-il le même acharnement à se défendre…

A Juan 2003, à la suite d’un arbitrage défavorable et d’une commission d’appel ne lui donnant toujours pas raison, il vint me voir pour tenter une dernière démarche.

Après lui avoir spécifié que, d’une part je ne pouvais intervenir après l’appel et que, d’autre part, j’étais en plein accord sur les décisions prises contre lui, je tentais de lui expliquer combien tous ces arbitrages étaient parfois si ‘pointus’ qu’il fallait accepter les choses.

Non convaincu, je tentais le lendemain de l’éclairer : je lui demandais de participer à une commission d’appel, mais en tant que membre et jury.

Quelques minutes plus tard, sortant de la réunion, il vint me voir et me glissa à l’oreille : « c’est trop difficile, tu avais raison. Désormais, je regarderai à deux fois pour faire appel ! ».

Le lendemain, dernier jour de l’open, dernière commission d’appel, demandée par… Henri Szwarc. Je vais le voir, m’étonne et lui répète ses propres mots. Sa réponse fuse : « Ca n’a rien à voir, moi j’ai raison !!! ».

  Henri Szwarc, has been the most decorated of all French bridge players.

Throughout his career as a high level bridge player, Henri Szwarc accumulated many international achievements.

What is most remarkable is that he obtained some of these successes with undeniably talented but young players, whom he inspired with his dogged determination to win.

Philippe Soulet (Olympiad in Valkenburg 1980), Hervé Mouiel (European Open Championship in Wiesbaden 1983, Bermuda Bowl in Stockholm 1983, Olympiad in Seattle 1984) and Franck Multon (Olympiad in Rhodes 1996) among others passed through the hands of this giant.

It is impossible to cite here all his dozens of French championship titles, follow the listing his international medals:

Bermuda Bowl - Silver: Taiwan (1971) - Bronze: Miami (1967), Hamilton (1975), Stockholm (1983)

Olympiad - Gold: Valkenburg (1980), Rhodes (1996) - Silver: Seattle (1984)

European Open Teams Championship - Gold: Warsaw (1966), Estoril (1970), Herzlia (1974), Wiesbaden (1983) - Silver: Montreux (1954), Stockholm (1956), Palermo (1959), Dublin (1967), Ostend (1973)

European Senior Teams Championship - Silver: Malta (1999)

Besides, with his benchmark partner, Jean-Michel Boulenger, Henri received the award for the best European pair in 1966.

M. Szwarc, known affectionately as “Old Henri,” not because of your age but more for the exceptional longevity of your remarkable career as a champion.

Together with talent, these are the qualities that are indispensable to the successes you sought with such pugnacity.

International and French bridge owes you a great deal and paid the tribute to you that you deserved when I had the pleasure of presenting you with the insignia of ‘Chevalier’ of the National Order of Merit. You did not disguise your pleasure that day, nor on any other day of victory. So much so, that one can say, without fear of being mistaken, that bridge made you happy.

He died on 22 April 2005.

Indice / Index

Precedente / Précédent / Previous

Successivo / Prochain / Next