Bulletin 1 Saturday, 16 June 2007 WOW! WORLD OF WONDERS An opening ceremony orchestrated by Anna Maria Torlontano and Oosghe’ Atalay saw speeches of welcome by the General Manager of WOW Kremlin Palace, Mr. Fikret Demirtürk, Mr. Ata Aydin, President of the Turkish Bridge Federation and the Deputy Governor of Antalya, Mr. Fazli Akgün. Then the President of the European Bridge League, Gianarrigo Rona closed his speech by formally opening the 3rd European Open Bridge Championships. The distinguished speakers drew attention to the natural beauty of Antalya and the surrounding areas of this ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean.’ There was a delightful audio-visual presentation of the flags of the participating counties and a dazzling display of danc- ing by members of the Kremlin palace ensemble. Contents Today’s Schedule Welcome Speech from the EBL President . .2 Welcome Speech from the President of the Turkish Federation . .3 Mixed Teams Qualification in Groups, 5 rounds 10.30 Obituary of Dorothy Shanahan . .3 Captain’s Meeting 20.30 Shanghai Countdown . .4 3rd EUROPEAN OPEN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Antalya, Turkey WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE EBL PRESIDENT Authorities, distinguished guests, dear EBL NBO Presi- end, going back home, you can state that we have been dents, dear EBL and TBF colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, able to fulfill all our propositions. dear friends, I wish to thank the Chairman of the Organizing Com- Good evening and welcome to Antalya. mittee, my colleague and dear friend Sevinç Atay, the Turk- ish Bridge Federation and particularly its great President, After Menton 2003 and Arona 2005, we are here in An- Ata Aydin, under whose guidance the TBF has achieved so talya to celebrate, all together, the European Open Cham- much, both with the quality of their players and with the pionship. number of members. I also wish to express our gratitude to the Antalya Authorities, led by the Mayor, Mr. Menderes As per the past two editions we have worked very hard Türel, MNG Company and its CEO Tayfun Turanlioglu, and together with the Organizing Committee, the Turkish Bentour International, represented by Armagan Dayioglu Bridge Federation and the Bentour Company to enable and the tireless Oktar Zengin. Without their support this the participants to enjoy this event would have been im- event both while playing and possible to organize. Finally I relaxing. want to express my special appreciation to all our spon- We have already had the sor friends, who have of- opportunity to experience fered such an important in Turkey two great bridge contribution and particularly events, the Youth Teams to my friend Mehmet Championship here in An- Akkaşoğlu, the real “deus ex talya in 2000 and the Bridge machina” of this event. Olympiad, the main event in our sport, in Istanbul in Now the curtain goes up 2004. Both were an enor- and the stage is for you, the mous success and we all players, the true protago- have still its memory in our nists of the event. There are minds and in our hearts. more than 1500 people rep- resenting 60 Countries from As I have already said the everywhere in the world great sport of bridge, re- who, I am sure, will heighten turning once more to once again the true values of Turkey, has the chance to our discipline with fair-play, enjoy once again its atmos- friendship and solidarity, phere, its colours, tastes and above and against any differ- smells and enjoy its natural ence and discrimination. beauties, the art and the cul- ture of this land of extraor- In this period, one of the dinary treasures. most sad in the history of human life, sport in general We have adopted the most sophisticated bridge tech- and bridge in particular wants to show and is always able nology for the competitions and are offering outstanding to show, that it is possible to stay together, to enjoy every- facilities to the participants during their stay. thing together in peace and serenity. We can count on an extraordinary international staff to Bridge For Peace: this is our motto. This is our message manage and run the championship. The World of Wonders to forward everywhere in the world. We are all proud of Resort seems to have everything needed to be an optimal it. venue. It will allow the participants to combine the de- mands of the competition with relaxing moments, through Under these auspices, I declare open the 3rd European the many complementary high standard services designed Open Bridge Championship. to offer the maximum comfort. Of course you will be the judges and I hope that at the Gianarrigo Rona 2 15-30 June 2007 3rd EUROPEAN OPEN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Welcome Message from SINS OF OMISSION AND COMMISSION the President of the Turkish Bridge Federation Thou shalt not smoke….. No smoking is permitted on the fourth floor or in Mr. Gianarrigo Rona, the the playing room area. While you may president of the Euro- smoke almost anywhere else, the penal- pean Bridge League, Mr. ties for smoking in the playing room will Fazlı Akgün deputy gov- be severe. ernor of Antalya, dear AND… NO CELLPHONES are allowed in the playing participants and guests, I area! If you think the penalties for smoking are unpleas- am pleased to welcome ant, you really don’t want to find out what are the con- you all in Turkey and sequences of being caught with a cell-phone in the play- once again after seven ing room. years in Antalya. First, and foremost of all, DAILY ENTRANCE TICKETS I would like to extend our sincere appreciations to president Rona and Depending on the hotel you are staying in, his colleagues for their tireless efforts in the real- you might need to pay a daily amount ei- ization of uniting bridge players around the world ther of 20 Euros or 60 Euros to enter the in Europe, under the title of this great bridge event. venue hotel and the championships. With a blue or green sticker on your badge there is no extra payment needed; with a yellow sticker the I wish all participants, players, and our volunteer amount is 20 Euros, with a red sticker 60 Euros. When friends the best of success. you pay you will receive a ticket with a date on it. This ticket needs to be shown on request during that day. I hope you all enjoy your stay in Antalya and have Tickets can be bought in advance at the front of the an exciting championship. hotel to avoid queuing when entering. Without a ticket, you are NOT allowed to enter the Thank you all hotel. Ton Koeijman In Memoriam - Dorothy Shanahan Patrick Jourdain Mrs Shanahan was in the team that won the 1964 World Olympiad and the European gold medal in 1961, 1963 and 1966. The team The 1969 British team. took silver in 1957, 1965 From the left: Sandra and 1969 and bronze in Landy, Dorothy Shana- 1955, 1967 and 1973, han, Jane Priday, Alan Shanahan’s last appear- Hiron (npc), Joan Dur- ance for her country. ran, Fritzi Gordon, Rixi Markus. Miss. Shanahan also part- nered bridge author and With the death last columnist the late Mau- Sunday of Dorothy rice Harrison-Gray fea- Shanahan, Sandra Landy turing in his stories becomes the only sur- under the pseudonym viving member. The Dormouse. Mrs Shanahan was a civil ser- Dorothy Shanahan, vant for the National who has died aged 91, Coal Board. Her quiet was, for three decades, personality contrasted part of a golden era for strongly with her flam- British womens teams. boyant team-mates Rixi Markus and Fritzi Gordon. 3 3rd EUROPEAN OPEN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS Antalya, Turkey Shanghai Countdown by Mark Horton (I am indebted to Tim Bourke for supplying the deal records South led the queen of spades and declarer claimed, and Barry Rigal for some explanations of the bidding.) +1510 and 11 IMPs for Nickell, ahead 23-5. Although we are just starting out on a great bridge con- test, the next one is never far off the horizon. In Septem- Board 12; Dealer West; NS Vul. ber the world’s finest will assemble in Shanghai for the World Bridge Championships. Just before this tournament [ A J 7 6 5 the United States Bridge Federation held a trial to deter- ] A 9 mine who would qualify as USA II for the Bermuda Bowl { A K 6 3 2 and Venice Cup. } 2 The two teams vying for the Bermuda Bowl spot were [ K 4N [ 9 8 the runners-up in last years Championships, the Ekeblad ] J 8 7 5 ] K Q 6 4 team: Russ Ekeblad, Ron Rubin, Fred Gitelman & Brad W E Moss, last year with Geoff Hampson and Eric Greco, this { Q 5 4 { J 9 S year with Chip Martel and Lew Stansby, and Nickell: Nick } K J 5 4 } A Q 7 6 3 Nickell, Richard Freeman, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, [ Q 10 3 2 Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway. 120 boards, played in 8 sets of ] 10 3 2 15, to determine the winner. { 10 8 7 The match started quietly, but burst into life near the end } 10 9 8 of the first set: Board 11; Dealer South; Nil Vul. West North East South [ 10 7 3 Stansby Rodwell Martel Meckstroth ] 6 4 Pass 1}* Dble* Pass* { J 7 4 1{ 1[ 2} 2[ 3] 4[ Pass Pass } J 10 5 4 2 5} Dble All Pass [ A J 5 4 2N [ — ] 3 2 ] A K Q J 9 8 5 East’s double showed a two suiter and One Diamond was W E { A Q { K 9 8 5 pass or correct.