Gunnar Hallberg started his bridge life as a Swede and was a regular on their national team during the 1980's. He was 6 times Swedish teams champion, Nordic champion and European silver medalist.
He moved to England to play bridge professionally in 1995 - and is still an even more unpopular opponent in London’s rubber clubs than on the tournament scene. A losing semi-finalist for England in the 2000 World Olympiad, he has won the Cavendish (teams), the Australian championships and North America's prestigious Vanderbilt trophy (becoming the first Brit ever to do so).
In 2002 at the Rosenblum in Montreal, Gunnar reached the quarter final stage. He finished fifth place at the 2005 European Open Teams and the European Mixed Teams in Tenerife.
In the Summer of 2009, Gunnar reached the final of the European Pairs at the European Open Championships in Sanremo, Italy.
Later in the year , Gunnar partnered John Holland and won the Gold Medal in the Senior Bermuda Bowl together with the English team. More details can be seen here.
In 2010 Gunnar partnered John Holland in Philadelphia and won what was called the World Championship for Seniors (Team). Reese Milner was the sponsor. They again beat the Polish team in the final.
In 2014, Gunnar was part of the England Seniors team which won the European Championships, and in 2015 he was part of the England team which reached the quarter-finals of the D'Orsi Trophy at the World Bridge Championships.
In February 2016 he won a silver medal at the EBL's European Winter Games in Monaco.
Read Gunnar's, A day in the life of... - February 2010
Last updated: November 2024
Major International Appearances^
European Championships: 2001
World Olympiad: 2000
Senior European Championships: 2010 2012 and 2014*
D'Orsi Bowl: 2009* 2015 and 2022
Senior World Olympiad: 2012
^ - appearances for England
* = 1st place
European Champions’ Cup: 2018
Camrose Trophy Selections: 2001 2002, 2004 and 2019(EBU team)
Teltscher Trophy Selections: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012^ 2013 2014^ 2016^ 2019 2020 and 2021
Gold Cup Winner: 2005 2010 and 2017
Spring Foursomes Winner: 2000 2004 and 2007
Brighton Four Stars Teams Winner: 1997
The Hubert Phillips Bowl Winner: 2014 and 2019
Tollemache Cup winner: 2006
Player of the Year Championship: 2017/18 - 9th=
^ - selections for GB/Patron's team