Alfredo VERSACE
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Alfredo VERSACE |
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Alfredo è un altro dei giovani campioni del vivaio torinese, nato il 4 giugno del 1969, figlio unico di un attore radio e TV, ha iniziato a giocare a bridge a soli 11 anni avendo come maestro il nonno ed è a quella età che ha vinto il suo primo torneo di circolo giocandolo in coppia con la madre.
Poi, infastidito dalle troppe attenzioni dei giocatori, non ha più frequentato il bridge agonistico per un paio di anni.
Il papà era amico della Lavazza e così Alfredo ha potuto formarsi alla scuola dei grandi campioni del tempo.
Ben presto è divenuto, assieme al norvegese Helgemo, uno dei più forti juniores del mondo, vincendo nel 1992 sia i Campionati Mondiali Juniores che quelli Europei .
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Alfredo, che si è trasferito a Roma quando si è sposato con Giuliana, ha incrociato le carte con diversi dei più forti giocatori italiani fin quando non ha costituito una partnership leggendaria con Lorenzo Lauria.
Alfredo, che ha giocato a lungo sia per la squadra Angelini che per quella Lavazza, è andato così a completare quello che forse diventerà il più forte team bridgistico di ogni tempo: il Nuovo Blue Team guadagnando costantemente una delle prime posizioni nella classifica dei World Grand Master.
Sul piano nazionale Versace ha vinto, tra l'altro, 15 titoli Nazionali a Squadre Open (1985, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 200, 2009 e 2011) e 15 Coppe Italia (1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 e 2012).
Tra le sue innumerevoli affermazioni internazionali lo ricordiamo Campione del Mondo nel 2005, Vice Campione del Mondo nel 2003 e nel 2009 e terzo nel 2011, 7 volte Campione d'Europa (1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008), tre volte consecutive Campione Olimpico (2000, 2004 e 2008), una volta campione europeo a squadre miste (2002), vincitore delle Spingold (2001 e 2002), di entrambe le competizioni Forbo (2001, 2002), dei Cavendish Teams (1997, 1998), dell'Australian Summer National (2001), delle Reisinger (2000, 2007, 2010 e 2011), degli IOC Grand Prix (1999), delle Vanderbilt (1999, 2004), delle Rosenblum (1998 e 2002), dei Cavendish Team (1996, 1197), del Mitchell (2002 e 2011), del Biarritz a Coppie Open (1990) e Patton (2010) e di ben 7 Champions Cup.
L'ultimo titolo guadagnato è stato il bronzo agli Europei Open a Squadre del 2012.
Alfredo che in gioventù ha giocato un poco a tennis ed al calcio, ama le corse dei cavalli e, considerata la sua giovane età, potrebbe forse diventare il più vincente giocatore di ogni tempo.
Pensate che a 42 anni ha già vinto 7 Campionati Europei!
EBL interview
by Patrick Jourdain (1999)
Alfredo, congratulation on winning the Rosenblum in Lille, giving Italy their firsto world title since 1975. Please tell us something about your family life.
I was born in Turin on 4th June 1969. My father was an actor on the stage, radio and TV. I have no brothers and sisters.
At school were you good at sport?
No, thought I played a little tennis, and was interested in football. My subject at school was maths.
When did you start Bridge?
I was 11 years old when I played in my first bridge tournament partnering my mother and we won it, but I was annoyed by an opponent who asked "Who is this little boy who plays like an angel?" and did not play again until I was 13. Then I started playing regularly.
My father was a friend of Mrs. Lavazza who sponsors bridge teams, and, when I was 15, I was invited to partner Italo Santià, in her team. We won the Italia Open, but as our teammates were Benito Garozzo and Giorgio belladonna people were not so surprised!
When did you first step represent Italy?
The next year, 1986, when I was 17, I partnered Norberto Bocchi in the European Junior Teams in Buapest. Italy was not in the medals. Two years later, in Plovdiv, when I was partnering Giovanno Delfino, we came second to France.
What did you do when you left school?
I was a bridge pro straight away. I also teach bridge privately. My first time for the Italian Open team was 1991 in Kilalrney partnering Santià but we just missed qualifying for the Bermuda Bowl. The following year, partnering Claudio Nunes in the junior Europeans at Palaiseau we won the title.
When do you start the partnership with Lorenzo Lauria.
It was the European Teams in Menton in 1993. I was still a junior, but Arnhem the next year was my last appearance as a junior. I married Juliana that year and we now live in Rome where Lauria also lives.
1995 was the year you became European Champion?
Yes, in Vilamoura. Lauria and I also won the Butler scoring where each pair was assessed separately. We went on to Beijng for the Bermuda Bowl but did not qualify for the knockouts. Early in '96 we came secondin the Macallan Invitational in London and we won in the following year. Then Italy retained the European the in Montecatini and we went to Hammamet for the Bermuda Bowl, where we lost to Norway in a very close quarterfinal.
How did youe team created by Francesco Angelini begin?
The team first played together You missed the World Individual three years ago and we have won two Italian Championship. Francesco is the owner of a private pharmaceuticals company. He was going to play in Lille but has not been feeling very well so we played there as a five man team. I partnered Lauria and sometimes Antonio Sementa.
If you had a magic wand and could change something about bridge, what would it be?
I am very tolerant of little misdemeanors by the opponents so I don't like the very legalistic players who try to use any tiny infraction to obtain an advantage.
What are your interests outside bridge?
I follow hose-racing and like betting. And I play football in Team Angelini.
Have you any special tip for the readers of EBL Review to improve their game?
They should watch the top players in action more!
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