Sunday, July 20, 2014 Volume 86, Number 3 Daily Bulletin 86th North American Bridge Championships [email protected] Editors: Brent Manley, Paul Linxwiler and Rob Clark Bridge according to Hicks: GNT finals today The Grand National Teams contests conclude today in all four flights. civility returning to the game Championship Flight: Richard Coren’s By Michael Cobden District 9 crew takes on the District 21 team led Chief Tournament Director Karl Hicks has just “If only we could by Richard Spitalnick. Both squads advanced sat down for an interview when he is interrupted video them and show by narrowly defeating their respective semifinal by one of the other directors. There’s been an them what they look opponents. Coren beat Josh Donn’s D17 team incident at one of the tables. A player, a member like, they would smarten 146-121, while Spitalnick took out the D23 team of the Canadian Bridge Federation’s Hall of Fame, up,” Hicks says. “I’d captained by Mitch Dunitz 122-109. has been abusive to another player at the Can-At hope they would.” Flight A: The D11 squad of John Hinton and Regional in Halifax NS that concluded earlier this Hicks’s fellow Co. will square off against the D21 team led by month. director decided not Crispin Barrere. Hinton won a squeaker against Should he be ejected? to take action against their D12 opponents captained by Cono Emanuele, Hicks, 70, has been a director for 43 years. For yesterday morning’s 148-146, after trailing by 40 IMPs at the end of him, nothing is more stressful than dealing with “difficult customer.” the third quarter. Barrere cruised in their semifinal what he calls difficult customers. “That’s a nice If he’d been “a little match, winning in three quarters of play against the way of saying they’re a proctologist’s delight,” he louder,” he would have been ejected, Hicks says. D16 team captained by Anthony Bianchi. adds. “Director, please!” someone calls. Hicks Flight B: The Texas-based D16 team led by As he heads towards the end of his career, answers the call. It’s a problem with the continued on page 5 Hicks is pleased to see how much more civil bridge Bridgemate. Hicks explains what the player needs players are to each other than they used to be. Some to do. No problem. players, however, still tend to forget that bridge is He loves the new technology for how Platnick, Fleisher lead a game. And when they’re top players they should much easier it makes the lives of players Life Master Pairs remember that they are supposed to set an example and directors. “You used to have to enter all Brian Platnick and Martin Fleisher posted a to other players. Their behavior at the table should the scores by hand. With 20 or 30 old ladies 66% game in the second semifinal session of the be impeccable. continued on page 5 von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs to take the lead with two sessions to play. They start play today Roy D. Fox with a carryover of 156.58, nearly a full board ahead of second (51 top). 1946–2014 Platnick is a four-time North American champion with a world title to his credit. Fleisher Two-time NABC champion Roy Fox died May boyhood home and, while waiting to begin college, is the 2013 Player of the Year. In second place are 18 from respiratory distress caused by ALS (also took a factory job and learned to play bridge during George Jacobs and Claude Vogel, followed closely known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Fox, a Diamond lunch hours. After earning a math degree, Fox went by Barry Rigal and Glenn Milgrim. Last year’s Life Master from Murphy NC, was 67. on to many careers, including law-office manager, winners, Mark Itabashi and Ross Grabel, are 43rd Fox’s bridge career included a first-place finish computer-store owner, after two days of play. in the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs with Eugene professional bridge O’Neill in 1975. Playing with Paul Swanson, Fox player and options trader. won the Cavendish Invitational Pairs in 1978 and Fox’s work took him to West Coast players lead the Wernher Open Pairs in 1979. In the Spingold many different cities, final in 1987, Fox was a member of the runner-up and he was a well- Bruce, Young LMs team captained by Jim Mahaffey. known bridge player Ronald Kay of San Diego and Joe Houde of Born in Pittsburgh PA, Fox joined the U.S. Air in Washington DC, Vista CA are in first place after the semifinal round Force in the ’60s serving as a Russian-language Kansas City, Tampa, and of the Bruce 0-5000 LM Pairs. The Californians specialist. After discharge, Fox returned to his Chicago. are narrowly ahead of David Sokolow and Louis At a 1987 regional in Sachar of Austin TX. Sixty-four pairs remain in the Important notices for Myrtle Beach SC, Fox’s event. team picked up now–Bridge Bulletin columnist In the Young 0-1500 LM Pairs, Douglas Grant players in national events Jerry Helms to fill out their roster. Looking back of San Francisco and Charles Riffle of Emerald Playing in an NABC+ pairs game? on that event, Helms said, “I had never played CA are in front going into today’s final round. professionally in my life, but there could not have In second are Sherman Gao of Pomona CA and Buy your entry early! been a better person to indoctrinate me into what Andrew Collins of Roland AR. Twenty-six pairs NABC+ pairs events requires time to allow has become a portion of my life as a professional will play in the final. for proper seeding. The ACBL asks participants to bridge player. Roy’s bridge skills were obvious, but please buy entries at least 15 minutes before game his ability to make me comfortable made an impact Evans, Tucker ahead time. This is especially true if you expect to be a that I have tried to remember when playing with seeded pair. lesser experienced partners over the years. We won in 0-10,000 Pairs Pre-registration required the event, and I believe this single encounter helped Steve Evans of Centennial CO and Ben Tucker launch the career I am still pursuing today.” of Vashon WA take a slim lead into the two final for Spingold, Wagar and Fox struggled for many years with substance sessions of the NABC 0-10,000 Pairs today. Their Mini-Spingold KOs abuse, but overcame all addictions – including carryover score of 139.30 puts them just ahead of New Yorkers Beverly Pogoda and Joseph Meyers, Entries for the Spingold Knockout Teams, cigarettes – a decade ago. He was an empathetic who are tied with Steve Bruno and Ray Loftis at the Wagar KO and the Mini-Spingold KO Teams volunteer with Narcotics Anonymous. 135.20. Top on a board today is 47. (0-5000 and 0-1500) are required before 6 p.m. In recent years, Roy played only an occasional on Sunday, July 20. Entries may be purchased in bridge tournament, With his wife, Susan Fredriksen, Ballrooms A, B and C in the playing area. he built a home in the North Carolina mountains, Final Four set in Collegiate and it became his favorite place to be. According to Susan, his last years before ALS were his happiest. Championship “The brightness and sparkle in his eyes that faded In the semifinals of the Collegiate Goodwill Message here on earth from the ravages of disease now can Championship, the University of California at be seen in the stars,” she said. Berkeley will face the University of Chicago and You can be competitive and still be caring, Fox is survived by his wife, Susan, of Murphy, the University of Illinois will meet the University friendly and ethical. his daughter, Betty Lou Fox of Tampa, and several of North Carolina. The winners of each match will Sandy DeMartino, Goodwill Chair beloved dogs and cats. meet in a 32-board final tonight. Page 2 Sunday, July 20, 2014 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS All events are located at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (formerly the LVH). Monday, July 21 Sunday, July 20 10 am-Noon Competition & Conventions Committee. Second floor, 8-10 am Audrey Grant’s Continuing Education for Teachers and Conference Room 7. Club Managers. Audrey Grant’s hands-on approach and 10 am-Noon Zero Tolerance workshop. TD Dan Plato’s lively creative use of the table, cards and bidding boxes keeps workshop goes well beyond the Laws to address how to students engaged and eager to learn more. She will share communicate with problem players. The goal is to make the her teaching techniques in this breakfast seminar. Fee: $20 club experience more inviting for new members and more covers breakfast and materials. First floor, Pavillions 9-10. pleasurable for everyone by encouraging and empowering 10 am Board of Governors Meeting and ACBL General directors and managers to deal with unacceptable behavior. Membership Meeting. Members of the ACBL Board Free. Second floor, Conference Room 9 of Governors are invited to attend the Summer NABC 10 am-Noon Free Bridge Lesson with Barbara Seagram. Note: No meeting. This meeting is also open to the general game follows. First floor, Pavillions 9-10. membership. Discussion will include recent actions of the 10:30 am-Noon USBF Board meeting. Second floor, Conference Room 8 Board of Directors, reports from the CEO and treasurer and 12:30-2 pm Bridge-Plus+.