Pjēram Gestemam - 100

Info: fmjd.org.

13.02.2022

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Ghestem

Born in Lille February 14th 1922 Pierre Ghestem was champion of France in 1942 and 43, Worldchampion in 1945 and 1947. He lost his title during the first FMJD tournament organized in 1948.

After short interest for chess (championship of France in Roubaix) he converted to bridge and his career in this mind sport was also exceptional. He was champion of Europe in 1953, 1955 and 1962, Worldchampion in 1956, Olympic champion in 1960, he was in 3d place in the worldchampionship of prepared data in 1990 (A problem-solving competition with the 30 best players of the world)

In both international draughts and bridge games he was not only a top player but also the games exceptional theoretician who marked his era and these disciplines: in draughts his time theory and Ghestem variant (Ghestem push), in bridge he invented the artificial bidding system Monaco, called like that because used first in worldchampionship in 1954 in Monte Carlo.

Pierre Ghestem authored books : « How I became Worldchampion » (in french and dutch) in 1945, « Tomorrow's bridge in 1964 and Le Monaco » 2 tomes in 1966 (in french).

In memoriam of Pierre Ghestem (note from l'Effort, n°388 Feb/March 2000)

 Photo collection Richard Przewozniak: