Fritzi Gordon (1906[a] – 8 February 1992) was an Austrian-born British bridge player, half of the most famous and tempestuous female partnership in the game's history.
Following her long-time partner Rixi Markus, she was the second woman to attain the rank of WBF World Grand Master.
[b] But she made up for it soon after arriving in Britain ... Paul served in the war with the Pioneer Corps so Fritzi was freed of all restrictions imposed on aliens.
My grandmother, a world champion bridge player, had been dealt a royal flush just as she went into labour, and she chose to play the hand, rather than go to hospital.
Her gambling addiction, although it may sound glamorous, proved to be just as damaging as any substance or alcohol dependency.According to Truscott, Gordon had learned bridge from her brother Hans in Austria, and she was a "world-class player" by the end of the war.
[10] Victor Mollo agreed that she played like a man: Terence Reese thought she was at least as good as her more famous partner: Rixi Markus herself wrote: