Saturday, 8 January 2000 Jean Paul Meyer, Co-ordinator Mark Horton, Editor Brent Manley & Brian Senior,Assistant Editors Issue: 1 Stelios Hatzidakis, Layout Editor Golden Anniversary The Opening Ceremony of the Orbis World Bridge Championships, under the patronage of Orbis Investment Management Limited and the Ministry of Tourism,Bermuda, was a stupendous affair. Following a welcome from E. Michael Jones, the resplendent Town Crier of St. George's, the audience was entertained in splendid sty le by The Bermuda Regiment under the direction of Major Barrett Dill, and the spectacular dance troupe, Gombey Magic. Master of Ceremonies David Ezekiel was the link man 'par excellence' as he introduced The Honourable Jennifer Smith, J.P. M.P. Premier of Bermuda, The Honourable Alex Scott, J.P. M.P. Acting Minister of Tourism, Geoffrey Gardner, Director, Orbis Investment Management Ltd, and Sheena Rayner, President of the Bermuda Bridge Federation. Following an address by the President of the World Bridge Federation, José Damiani, the teams were introduced in alphabetical order. That was fol- lowed by the formal opening of the event by the WBF President, and the unfurling of the WBF flag. Afterwards everyone was able to partake of some spectacular Bermudan hospitality, the chocolate cake being a particular favourite! 2 Issue: 1 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS ORBIS BERMUDA BOWL - PROGRAMME ROUND - 1 ROUND - 2 ROUND - 3 1 Bulgaria Pakistan 1 New Zealand Bulgaria 1 Bulgaria Chinese Taipei 2 Chinese Taipei New Zealand 2 Italy Chinese Taipei 2 Bermuda New Zealand 3 Bermuda Italy 3 Brazil Bermuda 3 Norway Italy 4 Norway Brazil 4 Poland Norway 4 Argentina Brazil 5 Argentina Poland 5 South Africa Argentina 5 China Poland 6 China South Africa 6 Sweden China 6 Australia South Africa 7 Australia Sweden 7 USA 1 Australia 7 USA 2 Sweden 8 USA 2 USA 1 8 France USA 2 8 Canada USA 1 9 Canada France 9 Indonesia Canada 9 Guadeloupe France 10 Guadeloupe Indonesia 10 Pakistan Guadeloupe 10 Indonesia Pakistan ORBIS VENICE CUP - PROGRAMME ROUND - 1 ROUND - 2 ROUND - 3 11 Australia New Zealand 11 China Australia 11 Australia Great Britain 12 Great Britain China 12 Canada Great Britain 12 Hong Kong China 13 Hong Kong Canada 13 The Netherlands Hong Kong 13 France Canada 14 France The Netherlands 14 Argentina France 14 Bermuda The Netherlands 15 Bermuda Argentina 15 USA 1 Bermuda 15 USA 2 Argentina 16 USA 2 USA 1 16 Indonesia USA 2 16 Egypt USA 1 17 Egypt Indonesia 17 Austria Egypt 17 Colombia Indonesia 18 Colombia Austria 18 Brazil Colombia 18 India Austria 19 India Brazil 19 Denmark India 19 Germany Brazil 20 Germany Denmark 20 New Zealand Germany 20 Denmark New Zealand Bulgaria Bulletin Tips Dessy Popova, direct VuGraph Matches from the Bulgarian capital, At the European Championships in Sofia, kindly supplied this Malta last summer, I failed to tip Italy to information. make the top six in the Open series - They Saturday 8 January 2000 Rumen Trendafilov, 36, won, going away. For obvious reasons, and Kalin Karaivanov,33, are Guido Ferraro has requested that I do not both from Varna, the famous resort tip Italy to make the later stages of these on the Black Sea.They play a natural sys- championships in Bermuda so, my selec- tem. They have been National Teams tion for the semi-final places in the Champions five times. They have also Bermuda bowl is: taken first place in several important Indonesia events, including the famous Cino del Duca, Norway and the Cairo Festival pairs in 1998. Sweden Vladimir Mihov, 30, is from Sofia while his partner van Nanev, 27, lives in Varna.They USA1 play a strong club.They won the National Pairs My foursome for the Venice cup is: 10.00 USA I v USA II Championship in 1998, and in 1999 they were Austria members of the team that took first place in the Teams Championship at the Egyptian China 14.00 Sweden v China Festival. USA1 Georgi Stamatov, 27 and Borislav USA2 Popov, 36, both hail from Sofia.They also play 17.20 Norway v Italy a natural system.They have won the National Brian Senior Teams Championship three times. BERMUDA Saturday, 8 January 2000 3 MUD in the Third Dimension WBF PRESIDENT'S by Jon Sveindal (Norway) OPENING ADDRESS There are a few people present for the Bermuda Bowl that attract crowds most play- ers can only dream of. Geir Helgemo is one of those. This latest board from Reisinger may help to illustrate why Geir has risen to star- dom, and why Rita Shugart's team defended their title so convincingly. The lead of the middle card from three, followed by the highest, is conventionally called MUD - middle-up-down. Third hand MUD is a technique used by a defender when he wants to keep the communication lines José Damiani with his partner, for example playing the President of the World Bridge Federation queen from A-Q-x when he knows daclarer has the king. We are clearly here in Bermuda for a very special event. Dealer South. N/S Vul. The World Bridge Federation is going to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bermuda [ K J 10 9 6 3 Bowl that, more or less, covers the whole of the history of our Organization. ] 9 7 4 Bridge has made enormous progress since 1950 and, as you all know, we are entering {7 2 the 3rd millennium as a sport. Bridge is, as of now, a recognized sport which means, }6 5 hopefully, a new status for you, the champions, who deserve to be admired for your particular skills and to be rewarded for your dedication to the game.And you have known [ 7 5 4N [ A Q 8 2 ] K J 8 5 ] 10 3 2 for a long time that you are our main concern. W E { 9 8 6 3 { A J 5 We could not have found a better place to launch our new image. } 8 3S } A K 4 You will find here a perfect environment for play, the best, most courteous and [ charming people and I don't doubt that you will join me in thanking the Bermuda ] A Q 6 Government and people as well as Mr.Allan Gray, Chairman of Orbis Investment { K Q 10 4 Management Ltd., and all the staff of Orbis who did such a very professional job for us. } Q J 10 9 7 2 Without their sponsorship and help, we could not possibly have achieved such high West North East South standards of quality. 1} But let me tell you that even with this financial support, we always need the goodwill Pass 1[ 1NT 2} and the enthusiasm that we have got from the Bermuda Bridge Federation. Pass 2[ Pass 3} In giving a warm hand of appreciation to their President, Sheena Rayner, you will also All Pass be thanking all the staff and the volunteers from the island.They have all worked very hard Lead: six of diamonds to make this event a success and I know they will continue to do so. Believe me, it is not that easy, as we have really enlarged these Championships. At both tables the contract was Three Clubs, and the lead was the same. The other Besides the Orbis Bermuda Bowl with 20 teams and the Orbis Venice Cup of the same East player put up the Ace (who wouldn't), size, we will be holding, for the first time, a Seniors Exhibition match with 6 teams and a which incidentally gave declarer three diamond Transnational World Open teams event of approximately 70 teams. tricks, and a total of eight. Knowing that declarer was likely to hold That shows how attractive Bermuda is. the King at least, Geir played the JACK! There Everything is now ready for the start and it is my pleasure and honour to declare the was no way South could get more than two 2000 Orbis World Bridge Championships open. diamond tricks, and following a perfect defence team Shugart won the board when declarer had to go two down. Results & Bridge Magazine To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Bermuda Bowl, the world's first bridge magazine, founded in 1926, is offering a special rate of US$50 for a subscription. On line VuGraph The list of contributors features many of the stars present at these Championships, including Eric Kokish, Sandra Landy, Barry Rigal, Brian Senior, Liz McGowan & Phil If you want to follow the results King. on the internet or see the online All you have do to subscibe is make your way to the Daily Bulletin office on the mezzanine floor and give your details (and your cash!) to the Editor, Mark Horton. VuGraph simply go to: The first 50 subscibers will recieve a free copy of The Complete Book of Bols Bridge Tips by Sally Brock. www.bermudabowl.com 4 Issue: 1 ORBIS WORLD BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS The World Bridge Championships - This time it's a SPORTS competition By Henry Francis The bridge SPORTS competition gets send out all the information to the competi- under way today. At yesterday's pre-tourna- tors all over the world. It worked very well." ment press conference, Jose Damiani, presi- dent of the World Bridge Federation, empha- Thorough coverage on Internet sized that the 2000 Orbis World Bridge Gijsman also offered information on how Championship tournament is a SPORTS event, the tournament news will be disseminated officially recognized by the International here. "Through our database system all boards Olympic Committee. in all matches will be recorded. Play-by-play "Many people were surprised when our reports will be available on all vugraphed game received official recognition as a sport," matches.