Daily Bulletin
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Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Volume 86, Number 5 Daily Bulletin 86th North American Bridge Championships [email protected] Editors: Brent Manley, Paul Linxwiler and Rob Clark Spingold enters Bridge VIPs hailed at Goodwill meeting round of 64 At a time when bridge is on the upswing, it’s Having eliminated 30 teams from the original not difficult to identify key players in the game’s field of 94, the Spingold Knockout Teams enters forward progress. Many of them of them gathered the round of 64 today. There were some close in a meeting room on Monday to share their love matches, but most of the higher seeds performed as of the game and devotion to promoting friendly expected. The exception was No. 26, led by Mary behavior. Ann Berg. Her strong squad was the only loser in a They are members of the Aileen Osofsky four-way match with three survivors. Goodwill Committee, charged with being out front The No. 1 seed, captained by Hemant Lall, in the campaign to make the duplicate experience romped over No. 94 (Shelley Lapkoff, Berkeley pleasant for everyone. CA) 233-101. No. 2 Nick Nickell won 124-10 over ACBL President Phyllis Harlan told the group, No. 93 (Anam Tebha, Las Vegas) and No. 3 Martin “You are the best of the ACBL. You epitomize how Fleisher easily topped No. 92 (Kevin Rosenberg, every bridge player should be.” Cupertino CA) 210-120. Goodwill Chair Sandy DeMartino started the No. 5 Mark Gordon had a scare, just getting by meeting off by thanking the official members of No. 90 (Yuandong Ren, Burnaby BC) 113-107. the national committee, using a quote from Peggy World Bridge Federation President Gianarrigo Sutherlin during her induction into the ACBL Rona with ACBL President Phyllis Harlan after she presented him with a Goodwill pin as the Head-to-head newest member of the committee. Bridge Hall of Fame: “Bridge is great because of KOs in Mini, Micro all of you.” A highlight of the meeting was the surprise Spingold introduction of the newest member of the Goodwill The opening round of the 0-5000 and 0-1500 Committee – World Bridge Federation President Mini-Spingold KO Teams reduced the field to 32 Gianarrigo Rona. and 16 squads respectively. Today’s action features When Harlan attached the Goodwill pin to his head-to-head matches in both contests. shirt, Rona said, “I’m here as a friend. I’m very proud and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will wear the pin proudly.” Wagar QF Robert Hartman, ACBL’s chief executive, praised the assembly. “I see so much goodness, action today Volunteers Barbara Vasilevsky and Justine kindness and neighborliness here.” The quarterfinal round of the Wagar Women’s Hancock with NABC Chair Bonnie Bagley, who NABC Chair Bonnie Bagley, who represents KO Teams begins today after Monday’s opening gave the two special recognition for their work the host district (17) on the ACBL Board of round reduced the field of 13 entrants to eight. on behalf of the players and District 17. The highest-ranked team to exit in yesterday’s play was the No. 8 squad captained by Peggy Preparing the pre-dupes Sutherlin who lost bot segments of a four-way match. Sutherlin was playing with Shawn Quinn, allows the directing staff to have enough boards Pam Wittes, Stasha Cohen, Cheri Bjerkan and for the first few days of the tournament. But once Rozanne Pollack. the NABC begins, ACBL staff begins preparing additional sets to keep up with the daily demand for new boards. In Las Vegas, more than 100 sets Gupta squad ahead in of boards are prepared each day. A half dozen staff members are required to run the duplicating Senior Swiss Teams machines, to label the sets for their respective The team captained by Naren Gupta takes a events, and to transport them to their respective carryover of 30 victory points into today’s two final destinations such as Ballroom A or Pavilion 6. sessions of the Truscott/USPC Senior Swiss Teams. Because it takes an experienced operator six Gupta, of Woodside CA, is playing with Leo Bell, or seven minutes to prepare a set of 36 boards, it Long Beach CA; Dan Jacob, Vancouver BC, and would require a 10-hour day for a single person to Jurek Czyzowicz, Gatineau QC. generate the required number of sets. Therefore, More than 14 VPs behind in second place is the several operators are busy at the same time to team led by Joseph Fox, Oakhurst CA. In third, less make the workload easier, a necessity for a highly than a VP behind second is the team captained by One of the best features of modern tournament repetitive task that requires attention to detail. Geoffrey Brod, Avon CT. bridge is the use of pre-duplicated boards The event concludes tonight. — pre-dupes in tournament lingo — and the accompanying hand records. Once reserved for top-level games at the NABCs, players at all levels are now able to enjoy the convenience and fun of pre-duplicated deals. Goodwill Message Preparing a sufficient number of boards for the North America championships, however, is no Treat others as you would treat yourself. small task. Hundreds of sets — each consisting of Sandy DeMartino, Goodwill Chair 36 boards — are prepared at ACBL Headquarters outside of Memphis before each NABC. This ATTENDANCE through Monday Important notices for players in national events Playing in an NABC+ pairs game? Buy your entry early! 7627 tables NABC+ pairs events requires time to allow for proper seeding. The ACBL asks participants to please buy entries at least 15 minutes before game time. This is especially true if you expect to be a seeded pair. Page 2 Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS All events are located at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (formerly 10 am-Noon GNT/NAP Coordinators. Second floor, Conference the LVH). Room 14. Tuesday, July 22 10:30 am-Noon Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education Bridge. Second floor, Conference Room 13. for bridge directors to increase their skills, including updates to chapters four and five of the ACBL handbook. Wednesday, July 23 Continues on Wednesday, July 23. Must attend both 9 am-noon Club Director Refresher Course. Second day of the sessions. Sign up at the door. Fee: $15 covers both sessions. continuing education seminar. Must attend both sessions. Second floor, Conference Room 9. Second floor, Conference Room 9. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Be sure to hear these free expert lecturers by some of the best-known players Wednesday, July 23 and teachers in Ballrooms E-G on the first floor.* 12:15 p.m. Emily Harrell How to Talk to Yourself to Win 6:45 p.m. Kitty Cooper Opening Leads Tuesday, July 22 12:15 p.m. Phillip Alder Cornerstones of Competitive Bidding Thursday, July 24 6:45 p.m. Kevin Wilson Fitting Honors 12:15 p.m. Lisa Berkowitz Playing to Trick One 6:45 p.m. Jeff Hand Play These Notrump Contracts * Speaker schedule subject to change. ENTERTAINMENT and HOSPITALITY Don’t miss the great entertainment and treats offered every night after the evening session. Wednesday, July 23 Tuesday, July 22 10:45-11:45 p.m. Ice cream bars 10:45-11:45 p.m. Mashed potato bar Classic country night Sock hop: Jumpin’ 50s and 60s Youth and Junior entries Bart tops 20,000 Golf deal for Coupons will be made available for junior Les Bart of Bardenton FL crossed the bridge players 20,000-masterpoint barrier at the Las Vegas members in good standing for entry into events at Bridge players who like to take a day off for NABC. Bart is a three- NABCs: some outdoor activity are invited to play at the time NABC champion Any player under the age of 26 years who is a Bear’s Best Las Vegas – at a reduced rate. The (the 1972 Nail Life full-time student (must provide proof of eligibility) course features 18 of the signature holes from Master Men’s Pairs, the will be entitled to coupons that can be used for any courses that golf legend Jack Nicklaus designed. 2010 Leventritt Silver event. These coupons will have a value of $10 per The book rate of $149 is reduced to $49 for Ribbon Pairs and the session. players at the Summer NABC. Rental clubs – new 2011 Keohane North Any player under the age of 21 years will from Taylor Made – are available for $15. Mention American Swiss Teams) be entitled to coupons that can be used for any the special bridge rate when you book. and is the inventor of event. These coupons will have a value of $10 per For more information, contact Bob LaFleur at the Bart convention. session. 702-804-8500 or Google Bear’s Best Las Vegas. Any player 19 years and under will be granted free plays for each session of regionally rated Check cashing events. Entries Players under the age of 26 years named and Bridge Bucks All North American championships with no to teams to represent Zone 2 NBOs in world The check-cashing and Bridge Bucks desk is upper masterpoint limit $20 competitions for NABCs occurring between the located in the Board Room on the first floor of the (Note: only ACBL members are eligible to play time they are named to the team and the world Convention Center. Hours of operation: in NABC+ events. $1.50 per person per session championship will receive free plays at NABCs Daily Noon to 1 p.m.