Austrian Bridge Federation

The Austrian Bridge Federation, known in German as Österreichischer Bridgesportverband, is the national governing organization for the card game of bridge in Austria. It is responsible for coordinating organized bridge activity, supporting clubs and regional structures, and representing Austrian bridge within the international bridge community. The federation is headquartered in Vienna and operates through four regional federations, known as Landesverbände, together with a network of 39 affiliated clubs. Reference material states that it had approximately 2,200 members in 2026. The organization was founded in 1929 by Paul Stern, who also became its first president. Its establishment placed Austria among the early organized national bridge bodies, and the federation is described as one of the oldest bridge federations in the world. Austrian bridge had already developed a strong international reputation before the Second World War. Austrian teams won the European Open Team Championship in 1932, 1933, and 1936, as well as the European Women’s Team Championship in 1935 and 1936. These results made Austria one of the leading bridge nations of the pre-war period. After the Second World War, Austrian players and teams continued to achieve notable results across open, women’s, pairs, and junior competitions. The country won the World Pairs Championship in 1970, the European Junior Team Championship in 1976, the European Women’s Team Championship in 1991, and the European Junior Pairs Championship in 1999 and 2001. These achievements indicate that the federation’s role extends beyond domestic administration: it also supports the development and international participation of Austrian competitors across multiple categories. The federation’s activities are centered on the organized sport rather than on commercial consumer products. Its functions include maintaining a national framework for clubs and regional bodies, encouraging participation, supporting competitive bridge, and serving as Austria’s institutional representative in the broader international bridge system. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about membership fees, tournament calendars, rankings systems, coaching programs, finances, or digital services. As of the cited reference material, Klaus Schilhan is president and Manuela Turcsanyi is vice-president. Other named members of the executive board are Susanne Buchmayr, Sophie Hermann, Otto Knapp, Klaus Köpplinger, and Clemens Wanha. The federation remains an active voluntary association with a nationwide Austrian remit.

The Austrian Bridge Federation was established in 1929 by Paul Stern, who served as its inaugural president. The federation emerged during a period when organized bridge was expanding internationally and Austria was developing into one of the sport’s strongest national centers. It is regarded as one of the oldest bridge federations in the world. In the years before the Second World War, Austria achieved a series of significant international successes. Austrian teams won the European Open Team Championship in 1932, 1933, and 1936. Austrian women’s teams also won the European Women’s Team Championship in 1935 and 1936. These results established Austria as a major competitive bridge nation during the pre-war era. Following the war, Austrian bridge continued to produce internationally successful players and teams. The country won the World Pairs Championship in 1970 and the European Junior Team Championship in 1976. Austrian women’s bridge recorded another major achievement with victory in the European Women’s Team Championship in 1991. Austrian junior competitors later won the European Junior Pairs Championship in 1999 and 2001. Institutionally, the federation functions as Austria’s national body for bridge. Its responsibilities include organizing and supporting the country’s bridge structure, working with four regional federations, and maintaining links with 39 clubs. It also provides the national framework through which Austrian players participate in international competitions. The federation is based in Vienna and is described as a voluntary association. The cited reference material identifies Klaus Schilhan as president and Manuela Turcsanyi as vice-president. It also lists Susanne Buchmayr, Sophie Hermann, Otto Knapp, Klaus Köpplinger, and Clemens Wanha among the organization’s members of the executive board. In 2026, the federation was reported to have approximately 2,200 members. No reliable source material supplied for this entry establishes a more detailed chronology of constitutional changes, tournaments administered, finances, staffing, or recent strategic initiatives.

• 2001

  Second cited European Junior Pairs Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austria again won the European Junior Pairs Championship.

• 1999

  European Junior Pairs Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austrian competitors won the European Junior Pairs Championship.

• 1976

  European Junior Team Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austria won the European Junior Team Championship.

• 1970

  World Pairs Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austrian competitors won the World Pairs Championship.

• 1936

  Double European championship success

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austria won both the European Open Team Championship and the European Women’s Team Championship.

• 1935

  European Women’s Team Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  The Austrian women’s team won the European Women’s Team Championship.

• 1933

  European Open Team Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austria retained the European Open Team Championship.

• 1932

  First cited European Open Team Championship victory

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Austria won the European Open Team Championship, beginning a run of three cited pre-war victories.

• 1929

  Federation founded

  [1]Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org

  Paul Stern founded the Austrian Bridge Federation and became its first president.

A national governing and development body for organized bridge, combining domestic coordination with representation of Austrian players and teams in international competition.

1. 1Austrian Bridge Federationen.wikipedia.org