Veldhoven 2011 Bulletin
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Co-ordinator: Jean-Paul Meyer • Chief Editor: Brent Manley • Editors: Phillip Alder, Mark Horton, Jos Jacobs, Micke Melander, Brian Senior • Lay Out Editor: Akis Kanaris • Photographer: Ron Tacchi Issue No. 1 Sunday, 16 October 2011 A MAGICAL START Magician Hans Kazan, third from left, with five WBF leaders: former Presidents Bobby Wolff, José Damiani and Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, current President Gianarrigo Rona and former President Ernesto D’Orsi. In an appropriate kickoff for a competition in which players several illusions before Rona took the podium. will try to make magic with the playing cards, the 40th World The official welcome was offered by Dutch Bridge Federation Bridge Team Championships were declared open just before 8 President Peter Zwart. “I’m delighted to see so many people in p.m. Saturday in Veldhoven. Veldhoven,” he said. “This must be a bridge championship for As the World Bridge Federation pennant unfurled, a stately the players. It is a place for players to be at home.” gathering of WBF presidents, assisted by magician Hans Kazan, Veldhoven Mayor Jack Mikkers said the 40th Bridge Team made the start official. Play begins today at 10:30 a.m. Championships — featuring the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup, “The stage is yours,” declared WBF President Gianarrigo D’Orsi Senior Bowl and the World Transnational Open Teams — Rona. “Competing against each other in spirit of sportsmanship “is something to be proud of. A sport that requires such men- and high standard of ethics will be your contribution to the suc- tal gymnastics could not be held in a better place.” cess of this event.” Mikkers noted that the area, known as the Brainport Region, Moments later Rona was joined on stage by former WBF Pres- is a hotbed of technological creativity and innovation: “The ma- idents Jaime Ortiz Patino (now President Emeritus), Jose Dami- chine that produces the fastest chips in the world is in Veld- ani (WBF Chairman Emeritus and current President of the In- hoven, and the compact disc was invented five kilometers from ternational Mind Sports Association), Ernesto D’Orsi and here.” Bobby Wolff. The mayor added, “Our restaurants, bars and shops want to The master of ceremonies was Kazan, who performed card meet you in a friendly way. Feel at home.” tricks and other feats of legerdemain in between introductions Last year in Philadelphia, Damiani ended 16 year as WBF pres- of the speakers. Near the end of the program, three of Kazan’s ident, turning the reins of the organization over to Rona. offspring — Oscar, Renzo and Mara — wowed the audience with continued on page 2... Line-Up For online line-up visit http://87.213.232.196/ScoringUtil/LineupSystem.asp 40th WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Veldhoven, The Netherlands WBF President Welcome Mr. Mayor of Veldhoven, Jack Mikkers, Mr. I am pleased to underline that this event has President of the Nederlandse Olympic been realized thanks to the generosity of the Committee, Andrè Bolhuis, Mr. Deputy of Chairman of the BC ‘t Onstein, Mr. Hans the Province North-Brabant, Bert Pauli, Mr. Melchers, as well as the great support of the Chairman of the Dutch Bridge Federation, Nederlandse Bridge Bond, chaired by our Peter Zwart, Mr. President of IMSA, José friend Peter Zwart. Not forgetting, of Damiani, Mr. President Emeritus of the WBF, course, the great help received from the Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, Mr. the Ambassadors of City of Veldhoven, the Brainport Eindhoven Australia, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, and all our sponsor-friends to whom our Authorities, dear friends and colleagues of thanks goes. the World Bridge Federation, ladies and gen- I would like, in addition, to congratulate the tleman, dear players, dear friends, I am very pleased and Local Organizing Committee, with my dear friends Eric honored to welcome you here in Veldhoven at the Open- Laurant; the Chairman, Armand Trippaers, the Vice Chair- ing Ceremony of the 40th World Bridge Teams Champi- man and Just van der Kam, the On Site Organiser. I am sure onship and thank you for coming. that this event will achieve the deserved success rewarding This is my first official speech at such a great event, the the excellent work done by them with passion, enthusiasm most important in the bridge calendar and I hope that you and dedication. will forgive my emotion, due also to the presence of the Let me emphasize that this championship was conceived magician, as I am hoping that he does not decide to make and executed with the comfort and needs of the players in me disappear. mind. We have all the benefits of a magnificent venue, with The WBF comes back for the fifth time to Netherlands ample space and with the most modern bridge technolo- with a world event — after the World Pairs in1966 in Ams- gies. The innovative Card Reader System which, after ap- terdam, the Youth Teams in 1987 again in Amsterdam, and propriate tests, will be launched here, representing a real the Olympiad twice, in 1980 in Valkenburg and in 2000 in revolution in the field of application of technology for our Maastricht — but it is the first time that the World Teams competitions, and I am confident that it will be welcomed Championship has been held in the “orange” country. by the players, the championship’s officials and the specta- tors, too. Here in Veldhoven, we celebrate the 40th edition of the Teams Championship — born in 1950 in Bermuda — with Dear players, we tried to do our best in the preparation the patronage and under the auspices of the European and we will continue to do it in managing the event to meet Olympic Committees, the Nederlandse Olympic Commit- your expectations. tee, SportAccord and IMSA. This is the sign of the impor- Now the stage is yours. Competing against each other in tance of our role in the great sports families and we are spirit of sportsmanship and high standard of ethics will be rightly very proud of it. your contribution to the success of this event. The occasion is even more extraordinary because for the You have the great opportunity to enjoy once again a first time in our history we have here, all together, five WBF great bridge event in peace and harmony and, as Hans Presidents. I am glad to express both on behalf of the Melchers wrote, even if you are not winning, every hand whole bridge movement and personally our gratitude to you play represents another wonderful experience. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, Ernesto D’Orsi, Bobby Wolff and José Damiani. Enjoy and good luck. ...continued from page 1. as the Brainport. Rona’s address was his first at a world championship since he Although Damiani is busy as president of the mind sports as- took over as WBF president last year. He paid tribute to the sociation, he told the crowd, “My heart belongs to bridge. My tournament’s sponsors, including Hans Melchers, Honorary heart belongs to you. I’m pleased to be with all my friends.” Chairman BC ‘t Onstein. In his message in the tournament Andre Bolhuis, former international hockey player, is now program, Melchers said, “When I was offered the opportunity president of the Netherlands Olympic Committee. He noted to sponsor the Dutch Open Team, I said yes immediately … that the Netherlands Bridge Federation, with more than When I was invited to sponsor the World Bridge Team Cham- 100,000 members, is one of the largest such organizations in pionships 2011, once again I did not hesitate. A once in a life- the world. “Bridge is important in our country,” he said, not- time opportunity for the Netherlands to host this major ing that the world championships will help with the Olympic event.” committee’s efforts to attract the Games in 2028. The tour- Rona noted that the tournament in Veldhoven is the fifth nament he said, “contributes highly to our Olympic ambitions.” world championship in the Netherlands but the first time the Bert Pauli, representing the Province North Brabant, wel- World Bridge Team Championships will be played in the coun- comed visitors and described how the region became known try. 2 15-29 October 2011 40th WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS Message from the VUGRAPH PRESENTATIONS SportAccord President Round 1 (10.30) Series Match Room Teams Table Open BBO 1 8 (VG Studio) South Africa - Netherlands BB/1 50 Closed 12 Open BBO 2 USA 1 - USA 2 BB/2 24 Closed 13 Open BBO 3 Poland - Egypt BB/10 23 Closed 16 Open BBO 4 Australia - Israel BB/6 22 Closed 17 Open BBO 5 USA 1 - USA 2 VC/25 I am very pleased to be the patron of the 40th edition of 21 Closed the World Bridge Team Championships taking place here in 18 Open BBO 6 Sweden - Iceland BB/7 Veldhoven from 14-29 October. Every year, bridge players 9 Closed and fans from around the world eagerly anticipate this 19 Open OurGame New Zealand - China BB/8 event. We all look forward to the exciting performances by 11 Closed 14 Open (studio) top-level teams participating in this fascinating and very StepBridge Bulgaria - Netherlands OSB/46 popular Mind Sport! 10 Closed On this occasion, I would like to underline the excep- tional qualities of the Mind Sports. They are truly global, Round 2 (13.45) Series played passionately in most countries and throughout Match Room Teams Table countless cultures. Their power to bring people from dif- Open BBO 1 8 (VG Studio) USA 1 - China BB/5 ferent backgrounds and age groups together has been 50 Closed demonstrated throughout centuries. 12 Open BBO 2 Italy - Japan BB/4 In December of this year, the world of Mind Sports will 24 Closed 13 Open be introduced to a new and noteworthy international BBO 3 Germany - Netherlands VC/25 event: the SportAccord World Mind Games.