Ep. 103: Ella & Julie – Denmark's Rising Stars in Women's Bridge

In this episode, John McAllister sits down with Julie Marina Sigsgaard and Ella Rosthøj, two young Danish players whose friendship, partnership, and love of bridge have taken them from neighborhood kids to representing Denmark on the world stage. Despite only playing bridge for a handful of years, their dedication and countless hours at the table have already earned them national titles, international medals, and unforgettable experiences around the world.

Ella and Julie share how they grew from casual juniors to key members of Denmark's women's team, the story of their dramatic run at the Champions Cup, what it's like balancing bridge with school and gap years, and why having boyfriends who also play bridge is essential! With warmth and humor, they also open up about temper at the table, tears after tough losses, and the joy of winning B finals (again and again).

 

Key Highlights:

• 🌟 From Neighbors to Teammates: How growing up just 200 meters apart led to a lifelong friendship and eventual bridge partnership.

• 🏆 Venice Cup Debut: Their first appearance on Denmark's women's national team — finishing 5th in qualification and nearly upsetting China.

• 🎉 Champions Cup Drama: The heartbreak of an 88–88 tie decided on a technicality — and why they're determined to come back stronger.

• ❤️ Bridge & Boyfriends: Both partners found love through the game and share how bridge shapes their relationships.

• 😂 Badminton Battles & Bloopers: From live-streamed badminton matches against the Bilde brothers to funny tournament moments.

• 📸 Building Junior Bridge DK: How their Instagram page is helping grow the game — and how they're planning to secure a Pepsi Max sponsorship.

 

Resources & Next Steps:

• 📲 Follow Ella & Julie's journey on Junior Bridge DK Instagram

• 📰 Learn more about the Venice Cup and international women's bridge events

• 🎥 Watch the documentary Double Dummy featuring the USA junior team (with familiar faces from their opponents!)

• 🎤 Catch up on past episodes featuring Christina Lund Madsen and other Danish stars

• 🎧 More Stories Like This – Subscribe to The Setting Trick wherever you listen to podcasts for more deep dives into the world of bridge.

• 📱 Follow @thesettingtrick – Stay connected on Instagram and for episode drops, tournament pics, and more.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Start

6:33 Representing Denmark at the Venice Cup

7:36 Facing China in the knockout rounds

17:05 Champions Cup run and the controversial ending

21:38 Growing Junior Bridge DK Instagram and chasing sponsorships

23:16 Life as juniors, gap years, and constant bridge practice

31:18 Traveling the world for tournaments (Memphis, Iceland, Prague, Cyprus)

44:17 Denmark's Bermuda Bowl run and watching at Fox & Hounds bar

57:02 Fun stories: badminton matches and team camaraderie

1:08:22 Balancing relationships, studies, and bridge ambitions

1:22:39 Christina as a mentor and "guardian angel" for Danish juniors

1:26:29 Reflections on their journey and what's next