World Computer Bridge Championship
History of World Computer Bridge Championship
In 1996 the American Contract Bridge League established an official annual World Computer Bridge Championship to be held at a major international bridge event. The first event was held at the 1997 summer North American Bridge Championships in Albuquerque. Following championships were hosted by World Bridge Federation World Championships, ACBL North American Championships and the EBL first European Open Championship.
Before 1996 there had been some small-group championships with only 3 or 4 participants, and relatively short (12 to 16 boards) matches. From 1989-1992, there was an annual "Computer Olympiad" for thinking games, organised by David Levy, where one of the competitions was for bridge. In 1993 David Levy had other commitments and some of the programmers decided to gather and hold a competition. In the years 1994-1995 an event was organised by Bridge Baron but by 1996 this had crumbled into non-existence.
When in 1996 New York Times bridge editor, Alan Truscott, asked ACBL's Al Levy (no relative of David Levy) why the computer contest scheduled for the 1996 spring Philadelphia NABC didn't take place Al Levy decided to revive the championship and petitioned for an official ACBL computer competition.
With Al Levy as the organizer and coordinator the ACBL managed to get the majority of the leading bridge programs to compete.
It has since then been held once a year. Since 1999 as joint activity between ACBL and WBF. Organizer since the start has been Al Levy.
The first winner was Bridge Baron (1997) and the last Micro Bridge (2019).
World Computer Bridge Championship: Allowable bids and Conventions and Explainable bids.
Deals from the 2019 final in HTML format: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4
Information and articles about all Championships.
Detailed info about all Championships 1997-2019
There was no Championship in 2023.
Videos from the Championships
Video from the Champioship 2018
Video from the Championship 2014
Interview with Al Levy from 2018
Interview with Al Levy from 2011
Interview with Al Levy from 2016
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Video Recording of past Championship
Based on avilable PBN files, LIN files has been created and adapted for play with HandViewer. Then has a number of finals been recorded on video and stored on YouTube for public view.
Finals for the following years are included: 1999, 2001-2112, 2014-2019.
All 64 boards from the Open Room are included. Contracts in the Closed Room and the acumulated score are shown during the play. The pace of the recording is rather fast, but can be slowed down in the player
The LIN files are available for those who are interested in also view the play in the Closed room. The LIN files can be viewed with BridgeVu and NetBridgeVu. Handviewer (Only available on BBO online) can also be used, but it's required that the LIN file is embedded in HTML format.
Jack is the most successful program that has played 12 of 15 finals from 2001 to 2015 and won 10 of them. After 2015 it has not attended the WCBC. Not far behind is WBridge5 with 11 finals and 8 wins.. Third is Shark Bridge, far behind with 2 finals and 2 wins.
Final 2019 - Micro Bridge vs Synrey.
Final 2016 - WBridge5 vs Micro Bridge
Final 2012 - WBridge5 vs Jack
Final 2009 Jack vs WBridge5
Final 2006 Micro Bridge vs Jack
Final 2003 Bridge Baron vs Jack
Final 1999 WBridge5 vs GIB
Final 2018 - WBridge5 vs Synrey.
Final 2015 - Jack vs WBridge5
Final 2011 - Shark Bridge vs Q-Plus Bridge
Final 2008 - WBridge5 vs Jack
Final 2005 WBridge5 vs jack
Final 2002 Jack vs WBridge5
Final 2017 - WBridge5 vs Synrey.
Final 2014 - Micro Bridge vs SharkBridge
Final 2010 WBridge5 vs Jack
Final 2007 - WBridge5 vs Bridge Baron
Final 2004 Bridge Baron vs Jack
Final 2001 Micro Bridge vs Jack