Monday, March 12, 2018 Volume 61, Number 4 Daily Bulletin 61st Spring North American Bridge Championships [email protected] | Editors: Paul Linxwiler and Chip Dombrowski Levin-Weinstein grab Platinum win Rogers-Grantham Robert Levin and Steve Weinstein won the six-session Kay Platinum Pairs, capitalizing on a top qualifiers in commanding performance in the first final session. Entering Sunday’s final in 16th place, Levin and Silver Ribbon Weinstein posted a 66.21% score in the first set of The sister-brother duo of Rebecca Rogers the final to push them into the lead. Their second- and John Grantham set the pace in the opening session score of 53.40% was enough for them to round of the Levetritt Silver Ribbon Pairs. Rogers hold off a challenge from runners-up Dror Padon and Grantham scored 64.08% and 57.15% in the and Vincent Demuy, who finished a half board qualifying sessions to start today’s final with a behind the winners. carryover of 197.29 matchpoints. Narrowly behind in third place were Ishmael In second with a carryover of 190.33 are Claudia Del’Monte and Ashley Bach. and Jack Feagin of Atlanta. Although Levin and Weinstein are among the In third are Californians Edward Nagy and Gene most successful partnerships in the world, this Simpson with 188.55. was their first victory in the Platinum Pairs as a partnership. Levin won the event in 2014 playing Winners of the 2018 Kay Platinum Pairs: Steve with Richard Coren. Weinstein and Robert Levin District 16 pair Yes Man leads Flight B NAP Jeff Dater and Scott Nason of Dallas topped Pete Misslin is 2017 Volunteer of the Year the qualifying round of the Golder North American By Sue Munday Pairs, Flight B. Representing District 16, Dater and Volunteering starts with a single (By comparison, the 2017 Spring NABC Nason have a carryover of 92.47 matchpoints for word: Yes. in Kansas City drew 8700 tables.) today’s two-session final – more than three and a Pete Misslin has said yes many Marlene Wass and Judy Nolan, half boards on a 25 top. times through the years, and look the first winners of the Nadine Wood In second with 82.37 are Californians Shailesh where he is now: He is the 2017 Volunteer of the Year award in 2004, Gupta and Dustin Stout from District 22, while Nadine Wood Volunteer of the Year. co-chaired the Gatlinburg Regional for third place is occupied by Michael Shaw and Terry A man of several hats, Pete 24 years. Visentin of Winnipeg MB, who represent District 2. has been known for the past six “When Judy and I decided to retire, Fifty-two pairs qualified for the final. years primarily for co-chairing I was looking for someone else foolish the gargantuan Gatlinburg (TN) enough to take it on,” says Wass. “I Regional. (The tournament this year considered several people, but didn’t get is April 16–22.) the right vibes. Then I watched Pete as District 25 pair 2017 ACBL President Bob Heller calls Pete’s he ran a sectional near here. So I approached him, appointment an easy choice. “There are great and he immediately responded, ‘Yes, I will run it.’ It leads NAP Flight C volunteers throughout the League,” Heller says, “but was amazing how quickly he accepted!” A District 25 pair is leading the North American the magnitude of Pete’s commitment stands out. Pete says Wass popped the question in 2009, and Pairs Flight C after Sunday’s qualifying sessions. What he does with Gatlinburg is like chairing an he and his wife, Julia, agreed that they would accept Susan Lincoln of Boxford MA and two-time Mini- NABC every year.” the Gatlinburg committment “under Marlene’s McKenney bracket winner Keith Kimball of Nashua Traditionally held in mid-April, Gatlinburg is guiding wings” for two years. Wass compiled a NH start today’s final sessions with a four-board frequently called the fourth North American Bridge comprehensive how-to notebook for the new chairs carryover on a 25 top. In second are New Yorkers Championship. Last year, more than 3200 players before pushing the nestlings out to fly on their own Yoko Sobel and Harry Faivus from District 24, flocked to the small mountain-resort town 39 miles in 2011. whose carryover is 97.90. southeast of Knoxville; the table count was 7936. continued on page 5 On the Rubber bridge room Boardwalk For the first time ever at a North American See photos Championship, there is a rubber bridge room. It will from Sunday have continuous bridge play from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. night’s Atlantic Monday through Friday. Entry is free, but ACBL City Boardwalk membership is required. Temporary memberships entertainment are available at the door for $8 if you are not yet one in the online of us. version of From 10 to noon each day, some of the best today’s Daily Bulletin. Go to players in the world will sit in and play a few hands ACBL Live or – Gary Cohler, Eric Rodwell, Bob Hamman, Zia, BridgeFeed to Jeff Meckstroth, Sylvia Shi, Jerry Helms, just to see it. name a few. Here’s your chance to play a hand or two with a bridge luminary. Players can cut in at any time. Tom Smith will be hosting the room, which is located in Room 403 on the fourth floor of the Marriott. Pre-registration required Goodwill Message for national knockouts Today is Goodwill Day. Maintain a courteous ATTENDANCE Teams entering the 0–10,000 Knockout must attitude toward both your partner and opponents; pre-register no later than 10 a.m. Monday, March 12 through Sunday treat others as you would treat yourself. (the day of the event). Pre-register with TD Brian Sandy DeMartino, Chair Russell in Franklin Hall A, 4th floor Marriott. Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee 3685 tables Page 2 Monday, March 12, 2018 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Meetings are at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. 11 am-Noon USBF Board meeting. (Conference Suite 2, 3rd floor) 5-7 pm Goodwill Reception. Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Monday, March 12 Committee members only. (Liberty Ballroom, 3rd Floor) 10 am-Noon Competition and Conventions Committee meeting. (Conference Suite 1, 3rd floor) Tuesday, March 13 10 am-2 pm Rubber Bridge Room. Enjoy relaxed bridge, where you can 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. A continuing education come and go as you please. There are no game fees for ACBL course for club directors to increase their skills. Participants members. Nonmembers can buy a temporary membership for must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both days. Sign up at $7.99 that will cover you for the entire month. Everyone is the door. (Room 310) welcome. Top experts from around the world will be on hand 10 am-Noon ACBL Hall of Fame Committee. (Conference Suite 3, 3rd between 10 a.m. and noon to play and discuss hands. (Room floor) 403) 10 am-2 pm Rubber Bridge Room. Enjoy relaxed bridge, where you can 10:30 am-Noon Club Managers: Eliminate Sit-outs Using BBO Robots. come and go as you please. There are no game fees for ACBL Eliminate sit-outs using BBO Robots to fill in half tables. With members. Nonmembers can buy a temporary membership for two laptops or tablet computers, it is an easy process to have $7.99 that will cover you for the entire month. Everyone is two robots fill in at your club games to avoid irritating and long welcome. Top experts from around the world will be on hand sit-outs. Learn the process, see it in action, and hear from clubs between 10 a.m. and noon to play and discuss hands. (Room that are already doing it. Besides the developers of the process, 403) we will have representatives from The Common Game and BBO to answer any questions at this free seminar. Designed for club owners, managers and directors. (Room 307) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures by some of the best-known players in the game! Tuesday, March 13 Room: Franklin 5-8, 4th floor. Speakers and topics are subject to change. 9:15 a.m. John Dickenson Responses and Rebids Monday, March 12 6:45 p.m. TBA TBA 9:15 a.m. Ala Hamilton-Day Upside-Down Discards 6:45 p.m. Jeff Hand Notrump HOSPITALITY Late night snacks will be served nightly, following the evening session, in the pre-function space outside the Marriott ballroom on the fifth floor. Tonight, build your own hot dog. Getting to the Entertainment Philadelphia Sightseeing Tours Convention Center See Philadelphia The shortest route to the playing area in the – $20 discount tickets Convention Center is to exit the Marriott through the (usually $32) – with doors near the front desk. Make a left going west on ACBL convention card. Filbert Street Convention Center Get tickets at the Hotel and then a Tour Desk in the lobby ARCH ST right onto of the Marriott. Board 13th Street the Big Bus on 12th Street outside the front door of and go one the Marriott at 10:15 and hourly thereafter. block north to N 13th ST Arch Street. FILBERT ST The best Convention Marriott Center entrance to use is on the northwest corner of 13th and Arch. This is a short walk, less than a quarter of a mile. We strongly suggest that you do not use the skybridge from the Marriott to enter the Convention Center.