Tom Townsend


Tom Townsend is an English professional bridge player and writer.

Personal life

Townsend was educated at Wellington College and Cambridge University. He lives in Shepherd's Bush, London, with Polish ladies international Ewa Kater and their son.

Bridge career

Townsend has been a regular British and England international for over two decades. He is a World Bridge Federation World International Master. Townsend, since 30 September 2013, has been the Monday-Friday bridge columnist for The Daily Telegraph.

International honours

In partnership with Jeffrey Allerton, Townsend was on the British team that won the European and World Junior Championships in 1994 and 1995 respectively. He was a member of the England open team that were runners-up to Italy at the 2008 Bridge Olympiad in
Beijing. Partnering David Gold, Townsend was third in the 2005 European Pairs in Tenerife, and played for England in the 2005 Bermuda Bowl in Estoril. Partnering David Bakhshi he played on the England team finishing 4th in the 2012 European Championships in Dublin and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2013 Bermuda Bowl in Bali.

Domestic honours

David Gold was his partner in the winning team at the 2000 Brighton Four Stars Teams, in the 2004 and 2006 English International Trials and the 2008 English Premier League. With David Price he was part of the winning Crockfords team on two occasions and also won the 1999 Camrose trials. Partnering David Mossop, Townsend won the British Premier League twice, and also the Spring Foursomes. Townsend won the 2013 Lederer Memorial Trophy in partnership with Stelio di Bello, and the Premier League again that year partnering David Bakhshi.