Tony Forrester
Tony Forrester | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 West Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Bridge player, author, columnist |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Known for | World International Master in bridge; leading English bridge player; bridge columnist for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph |
Anthony R. (Tony) Forrester (born 1953) is a distinguished English bridge player and author. He has earned the World International Master designation from the World Bridge Federation and has represented both Britain and England in international competitions. Forrester contributed as a bridge columnist to The Daily Telegraph from 1993 until 2019, as well as to The Sunday Telegraph between 1996 and 2019.
Personal life
Originating from West Yorkshire, Forrester now lives in Gloucestershire with his spouse, Diana.
International honours
In 1978, Forrester claimed victory at the European Youth Team Championship, followed by winning the European Team Championship in 1991 alongside his partner Andrew Robson, with whom he maintained a seven-year playing partnership. Together, they also triumphed in the Cap Gemini and Sunday Times-Macallan competitions. During this era, the English Bridge Union acknowledged Forrester as England’s leading player.
Forrester and Robson made history in 1998 by becoming the first British players to win the esteemed US Major event, the Reisinger, representing Rita Shugart's team; they successfully defended this title in 1999. Additionally, Forrester secured the US Board-a-Match Teams championship twice, in 1999 and again in 2013.
Reuniting in 2014 on the England squad, Forrester and Robson earned a silver medal at the European Open Championship and qualified for the finals of the 2015 World Championships.
With 43 appearances in the Camrose Trophy, Forrester holds the record as Britain's most capped player.
Domestic honours
Forrester boasts 14 victories in the Gold Cup, Britain's foremost team competition, spanning from 1983 to 2019—more than any other player. He has also captured the Spring Foursomes title eight times between 1983 and 2022, setting an all-time record. His achievements include ten wins in the Crockfords Cup (English Teams of Four Championship) from 1982 to 2019 and seven Premier League titles.
In 2010, he won the Brighton Four Stars A Final alongside Alexander Allfrey, Andrew Robson, and Peter Crouch. In recognition of his sustained excellence representing England and Great Britain, Forrester was honored with one of the first English Bridge Union Diamond Awards in 2015.
Publications
- Forrester, Tony (1993). Secrets of Success (Faber Bridge Books). London: Faber and Faber.
- Forrester, Tony; Senior, Brian (1994). Over Your Shoulder: Learn from the Experts. Batsford Ltd. .
- Forrester, Tony (1994). Play Bridge at Home (Daily Telegraph). Batsford Ltd. .
- Forrester, Tony (1995). "Daily Telegraph" Improve Your Bridge at Home. Batsford Ltd. .
- Forrester, Tony (1996). "Daily Telegraph" Winning Bridge at Home. Batsford Ltd. .
- Forrester, Tony (1997). The Bridge Player's Bedside Book. R&L Yeatman. .
- Forrester, Tony; Bird, David (1997). Secrets of Expert Cardplay. Batsford Ltd. .
- Forrester, Tony (1998). Vintage Forrester: Selected Writings from the "Daily Telegraph". Batsford Ltd.
- Forrester, Tony; Bird, David (1999). Secrets of Expert Defence. Batsford Ltd. .