July 23-August 2, 1998 70th Summer North American Bridge Championships Chicago Vol. 70, No. 6 Wednesday, July 29, 1998 Editors: Henry Francis and Paul Linxwiler DAILY Comeback of decade:BULLETIN Reiman, down 60, defeatsIt looked as if it was Root all over. The by team 24captained by Bill Root was 60 IMPs ahead of Jim Reiman’s squad with only 16 boards to go in their second-round Spingold match. Sixteen boards later REIMAN had advanced to the third round and ROOT was on the sidelines. The score after 48 boards was ROOT 130, REIMAN 70. But a spectacular set saw REIMAN picking up 99 IMPs, more than six per board, while holding the opponents to just 15. Playing with Reiman were Frederick Allenspach, William Doroshow and James Ward. Root’s team consisted of Bob Jones, David Lindop, Dan Gerstman, Harry Tudor and Boris Baran. The comeback by Bobby Wolff’s team ordinarily would have been our lead story today. WOLFF was Continued onpage 7 Goldman discusses Canadas youngest Bobbyfuture, Goldman is one bridgeof the most enduring fig- 8 Theadvance top-seeded team ofin Jill MEYERSWagar (Randi ures of the contemporary American, and indeed world, Montin, Renee Mancuso, Shawn Quinn, Tobi bridge scene. The 59-year-old Goldman is still per- LMWhen -- David David Sabourin of SabourinOttawa became a Life Sokolow and Mildred Breed) survived a scare in haps best-known to the majority of players from his Master in the Midnight Swiss night before last, he yesterday’s round of play in the Wagar Knockout role as a member of the original Aces, Ira Corn’s became a very special Life Master -- he now is Teams to advance to the quarterfinals along with seven Texas-based squad created to bring the world cham- Canada’s youngest Life Master ever. He achieved the other squads. pionship title to the U.S. feat at the age of 14 years, 0 months and 11 days. The MEYERS was down 21 IMPs after three quar- A cursory examination of Goldman’s accomplish- previous record holder was Gavin Wolpert of Toronto, ters of play to Eunice PORTNOY (Jacqueline Sincoff, ments is sufficient to reveal his status as an icon of who was 14 years, six months and 19 days when he Barbara Clinton, Candace Fowler, Barbara Lehman the game. An ACBL and WBF Grand Master, got his gold card. and Joan Eaton), but won the last set by 23 IMPs, to Goldman has amassed 25,000 masterpoints, won four David began playing two and a half years ago, narrowly win the match 112-110. world championships, and has 19 NABC titles. and he started right out in duplicate. “I’ve never played In an upset, 12th-seeded Julie ROWE (Beverly He is also an author (Aces Scientific, Winners and house bridge in my life,” he said. His mother, Eliza- Bluth, Lynne Schaeffer, Brenda Bryant, Nancy Sachs Losers at the Bridge Table), bidding theorist and beth Scott, and her boyfriend, Paul Hardy, both Life and Sondra Schubiner) defeated the number five seed teacher. Continued on page 10 Sally WOOLSEY (Jan Martel, Judy Pede, Carren Hinds, Goldman has given back to the game as well, Katarina Midskog and Jill Mellstrom), 130-94. serving as ACBL recorder from 1968-88, and as a This deal from the last quarter of the Meyers- prominent member of the Competition and Conven- Portnoy match was a big part of the Meyers rally: tions Committee. Barrow team leads Continued on page 8 Continued on page 9 The teamin Seniorcaptained by SwissJim Barrow of Lake Charles LA will lead the qualifiers into today’s eight- match final in the Senior Swiss Teams. Playing with Barrow are John Wong, Rowland Heights CA; Paul Stern, Arlington Heights IL and Wayne Hascall, Grandville MI. Their score of 114 Victory Points gave them a three-point edge over two teams tied for second. Sharon and Van Christenson, Minneapolis; Brooks Harris, Berwyn PA, and Shou-Ling Wang, Bethesda MD have 111, as do George Bartunek, Laguna Hills CA; Eileen Niesen, Huntington Beach CA; Patgricia Elms, Newport Beach CA, and Andy Pounds, Westminster CA. Californians pull ahead Jackin MargidRed ofRibbon San Francisco Pairs and Susan Furchtenicht of Santa Maria CA had two strong ses- sions in the Red Ribbon Pairs qualifying and will lead the way into today’s two final sessions. Their score of 822.48 gave them a 25-point lead over runners-up Larry Ascher of New York City and Mike Botwin of Baldwin NY. In third place were Bob and Kay Korte Zia, the one with the cards in his hand, had a new experience yesterday -- he played a bridge match with partner of Woodstock IL, half a point out of second. Michael Rosenberg against a computer. The humans defeated the inhumans -- but it wasnt all that easy. (See Matt Granovetters article on page 3 and the computer article on page 10). Page 2 Daily Bulletin WednesdayWhats is WUMBA doing Day. today WUMBA is the SPECIAL EVENTS Wisconsin-Upper Michigan Unit of District 13. WUMBA will be distributing pens during the game. 9 a.m. - Noon Club Directors’ Course,Wednesday, Waldorf Room. July 29 9 a.m. - Noon Annual Workshop for Education Liaisons, Conference Room 4-D. No charge. The PeterEntertainment Hix Band will dazzle the audience Session Three: The Intermediate/Novice Program; Bridge in the Schools; with array of Rock & Roll, oldies and Motown in the Brainstorming. Boulevard Room on the second floor of the Hilton & 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Randy Pettit: Conventional Wisdom, Towers after the evening session. Originally from Los Williford Room. Pettit, Marietta GA, piled up more than 2100 masterpoints to win Angeles, Peter is an energetic guitar-playing vocalist the 1997 Barry Crane Top 500 contest. Pettit is the first player in more than 25 who is well known for his upbeat performances. years to win the annual masterpoint contest without being a professional player or hiring a group of pros to assist. 7:15 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Kathie Wei-Sender: Championship Chicken wingsHospitality and crudite will be served in the Bridge, Williford Room. Wei-Sender, Nashville, Ambassador of Bridge for the Boulevard Room after the completion of the evening World Bridge Federation and ACBL Honorary Member in 1987, has won three session. Everyone is welcome to munch on the good- women’s world events: the World Women’s Pairs in 1978, the World Olympiad ies while enjoying the Rock & Roll. Women’s Teams in 1984 and the Venice Cup in 1987. She is a contributor to various national and international bridge publications, including a regular weekly Around Town column with Alan Truscott in China’s People’s Daily. The Chicago White Sox return tonight for a home Midnight Peter Hicks’ Rock & Roll Band, Boulevard Room. stand. It is very easy to get tickets to the games, and the new Comiskey Park is well worth seeing. A cab ride to the park is cheap or you can get there on the el. There are fireworks when White Sox hit home runs 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/NoviceThursday, Speakers Program July -- Billy 30 Miller: Dear Billy Live, Williford and after the game if they win. Grab a hot dog; enjoy Room. Miller, Las Vegas, is a professional player whose Dear Billy columns the lake breeze; and root, root, root for the home team! appear in the Bridge Bulletin. He attended the New England Conservatory of Music Big Frank Thomas and Albert Belle will be glad from ages three to five where he studied piano. At age 10, he was teaching guitar. you’re there. Miller was the last person to play bridge with Barry Crane (Bridge Week Master Pairs, 1985) and a member of Crane’s knockout team that went on to win the event (after Crane’s death) with substitute Kerri Sanborn. 7:15 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Alan Truscott: First Trick, Williford Room. Truscott, New York City, is a leading international player-writer who came Whats doing tomorrow to the U.S. in 1962. He has been bridge editor of the New York Times since 1965 Magic SlimEntertainment & the Teardrops, with their raw, and is a former president of the International Bridge Press Association. He has been passionate, no-frills intensity, will entertain bridge executive editor of all five editions of The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge. players after the evening session in the Boulevard He has represented Europe, Great Britain and the U.S. in world competition. Room on the 2nd floor of the Hilton & Towers. With Truscott completed the 1986 New York Marathon when he was 61. Slim’s unique biting guitar and gritty voice, and the band’s dedication to their Mississippi roots, it’s no wonder they’ve become one of the busiest and best- 9 a.m. - Noon Seminar: Bridge TeachersFriday, and Bridge July Cruises 31 with Val Covalciuc and Lynn Berg, loved blues bands around Chicago. Slim’s latest Black Waldorf Room. $25 fee at the door. Learn to be a successful bridge teacher/game Pig release, “Black Tornado,” shows why they are director on a cruise ship. Tips on how to get assignments. Certificates to participants. considered to be the last real Chicago blues band. 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Novice Speakers Program -- Dorothy Truscott: Bid Better, Play Better, Williford Room. Truscott, New York City, was inducted into the ACBL Bridge Hall of Fame at the beginning of the Summer NABC. She has won four world titles -- Pizza will be servedHospitality in the Boulevard Room after the Venice Cup in 1974, 1976 and 1978 and the World Women’s Teams in 1980.