Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Volume 90, Number 6 Daily Bulletin 90th North American Bridge Championships [email protected] | Editors: Paul Linxwiler, Sue Munday and Brent Manley Top seeds plow Barrere takes Senior Swiss crown forward in Spingold The top 10 seeds in the round of 64 in the Spingold Knockout Teams had little difficulty advancing, many by lopsided margins, although Winners of many of the mid-range seeds were not so lucky. the Truscott/ No. 11 George Mittelman survived a challenge USPC from the team captained by local Kevin Collins, the Senior Swiss No. 54 seed, but Mittelman held on to win 115-111. Teams: The Francophone team led by Paul Street (No. 15), Bruce Noda, however, could not handle the challenge presented Cris Barrere, by the No. 50 seed, the Indonesian Super Mixed Bill Harker squad (so named because the team is composed of and Mark men’s pairs and women’s pairs), falling 144-115. Ralph. The Indonesian Men’s team (No. 39), also took out a higher-seeded team, the No. 26 squad led by Kevin Rosenberg. Indonesia advanced 124-108. A strong final match propelled the squad For the winners, this was the first NABC+ title In a battle of multinational squads, the No. 18 captain by Cris Barrere into the winner’s circle in for captain Barrere and Harker. With the victory, seed led by Nick Demirev is on the sidelines after the Truscott/USPC Senior Swiss Teams. Barrere, of Harker, who has more than 15,000 masterpoints, losing to the No. 47 squad (Hyatt, npc). Berkeley CA, played with teammates Bruce Noda of became a Grand Life Master. Paul Lewis captained a strong team this year Corte Madera CA, Mark Ralph of San Francisco and For Noda, this is the second time he has won the (Linda Lewis, Mike Passell, Eddie Wold, Marc Bill Harker of Santa Fe NM. Their four-session total Senior Swiss – he won in 2004 – and it is his third Jacobus and Mark Itabashi), but the No. 24 seed with carryover was 134.27 victory points. NABC title. He and Ralph won the Silver Ribbon met their match at the hands of the No. 41 seed led In second with 121.36 was the team of Robert Pairs in 2014, making this Ralph’s second national by Mike Rippey of Orinda CA. Rippey was playing Katz, Robert Cappelli, Robert Bitterman, Jerry win. with the legendary Benito Garozzo, Poles Woaciech Helms, David Caprera and Anne Brenner. Strzemecki and Kamil Nowak, and Italians Leonardo Cima and Gandogua Alessandro. Rippey won 137- 77. Schubiner, Wynston win Wagar Women’s Pairs Mini Spins Enter Sondra Schubiner and Linda Wynston, sitting in 11th place after the first final session of the Wagar Second Day Women’s Pairs, came through with a strong game in The Mini-Spingold 0–6000 KO teams attracted the final set to win the event by 3.07 matchpoints on 36 teams; opening round action reduced the field to a 25 top. 16 tables for today’s second round. Eight head-to- The winners’ 59.69% game was good enough head matches will cut the field in half for Thursday. to hold off a hard charge by Sharon Goldman and In the Mini-Spingold 0–2500 Teams, 20 Justyna Zmuda, who scored 59.31% in the final set teams played four three-way and four head-to- to climb from 12th place to the runner-up spot. head matches in yesterday’s opener. Like the 6000 Schubiner, of Franklin MI, and Wynston, of contest, eight teams will advance. Toronto, play regularly. The victory was Schubiner’s first North American championship. Wynston has a second in a nationally rated pairs event and two national championships in Canada. Goodwill Message Goldman, of New York City, and Zmuda, a Polish star, were playing together for the second time. They debuted as partners at the Spring NABC Winners of the Wagar Women’s Pairs: Sondra Remember: It’s nice to be important, but it’s in Philadelphia. Schubiner and Linda Wynston. more important to be nice. Sandy DeMartino, Chair Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee Koppel’s Kingdom Over the course of eight short years, Reese fictional Koppel has gone from knowing nothing about bridge story about ATTENDANCE to being one of its fiercest advocates. a teenager “Bridge can be here to stay if we help my who, “forced” through Tuesday generation appreciate its essence, and it is my goal to to drive his do everything I can to ensure this happens,” he says. great-uncle 6666.5 tables This enthusiasm prompted the ACBL to the local Educational Foundation’s selection of Koppel as bridge club 2018 King of Bridge. four times According to Barbara Heller, Ed Foundation a week and president, “Reece received the most votes by the serve as the trustees who recognized his dedication to spreading blind man’s the bridge bug by teaching bridge at a local cardturner, retirement home and several local schools. Reece develops his is also a teacher/counselor at residential summer own interest bridge camps in Illinois and Michigan, which the in the game. Educational Foundation proudly supports with Reese’s grants.” grandmother mailed him his first Audrey Grant The 18-year-old from Metairie LA was turned “Bridge at a Glance” pamphlet when he was 10. With onto bridge by “The Cardturner,” Louis Sachar’s continued on page 7 Page 2 Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS All events are at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. 11 pm-til ACBL Board of Governors Strategic Planning Meeting. Wednesday, August 1 (Room 3834 Marriott) 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course, session 2. A continuing Thursday, August 2 education course for club directors to increase their skills. 10 am-6:30 pm Youth NABC. (Atrium Level, A707) Participants must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both 10 am-Noon Social Bridge Room. (Marquis Level, M101) days. (Lobby Level, L401) 10 am-Noon Hall of Fame Committee. (Lobby Level, L402) 10 am-Noon Social Bridge Room. (Marquis Level, M101) Friday, August 3 10 am-Noon Bridgescore+ Class. Learn how to use the ACBL-certified 10 am-6:30 pm Youth NABC. (Atrium Level, A707) Bridgescore+ to speed up KOs and Swiss teams at your next 10 am-Noon Social Bridge Room. (Marquis Level, M101) tournament. Taught by Nicolas Hammond. Optional signup Saturday, August 4 sheet outside Daily Bulletin office (508 Lobby Level).Room 10 am-6:30 pm Youth NABC. (Atrium Level, A707) 705, Atrium Level. 5:30-7:30 pm Youth NABC Closing Reception. (Atrium Level, A707) 6-7 pm College Player Meeting. (Lobby Level, L402) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures by some of the best-known players in the game! Talks will be held in the International Hall on the International Level. Thursday, August 2 Wednesday, August 1 9:15 a.m. GS Jade Barrett How to Succeed in Bridge 9:15 a.m. Ellen Kent Panicville 6:45 p.m. Carole Budnick The Strip and Endplay 6:45 p.m. Norma Sands Opening Leads ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment from Saturday, July 28, through Friday, Aug. 3, will begin Thursday, Aug. 2 immediately following the evening session. The performers are happy to take Nathan Sexton on keyboard with Travis Jones on drums will perform classic song requests. tunes that span the decades. Wednesday, Aug. 1 James Meadows, keyboardist and singer, will provide a variety of soul and contemporary music. HOSPITALITY Wednesday, August 1 10:30 p.m. Marquis Level Noon Atrium and Marquis levels Fried chicken bites with condiments Cheesecake (plain and fruit) Thursday, August 2 2 p.m. International Level 10:30 p.m. Marquis Level Cheesecake (plain and fruit) Hamburger sliders Bridge Bucks and Desk Hours Rubber bridge room NABC Welcome Desk 8:30–10 a.m. Enjoy a round of rubber bridge. Featuring Check Cashing 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. continuous bridge play from 10 a.m. to Noon. Bridge Bucks and check-cashing 2:30–3 p.m. Monday through Friday, the rubber bridge room is services will be available each day at 6:30–7:30 p.m. M101 on the Marquis Level. Entry is free. Some of the following times and locations: Partnership Desk 8:30–10 a.m. the best players in the world will sit in and play a • 9:30-10 a.m. on the Marquis 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. few hands. Here’s your chance to play a hand or two Level (near the escalator to the 6:30–7:30 p.m. with a bridge luminary. International Level) • Noon to 1 p.m. on the Atrium Level Prize Desk 8:30–10 a.m. Appealing a ruling Players may use VISA, MasterCard, Discover and Noon–1 p.m. Players in NABC+ events who want to appeal American Express to purchase Bridge Bucks. There 2:30–3 p.m. a director’s ruling initiate the process by speaking is a $500 limit on check cashing. 6:30–7:30 p.m. with the director who delivered the original ruling. Information Desk 8:30–10 a.m. The table director will fill out paperwork regarding Vendors Noon–1 p.m. the appeal, and the appellants will explain what For all your bridge-supply needs – whether it’s 2–3 p.m. they believe to be wrong with the initial ruling. books, clothing, jewelry or games – check out the 6:30–7:30 p.m. From there, the case may be handled by a variety vendors on the Marquis Level.