Saturday, July 28, 2018 Volume 90, Number 2 Daily Bulletin 90th North American Bridge Championships [email protected] | Editors: Paul Linxwiler and Sue Munday GNT Open: Vegas vs. NYC, A Teacher for the 21st Century Chicago vs. Florida Henry Meguid has earned the 2018 Teacher of In today’s semifinal action in the Grand National the Year award from the American Bridge Teachers’ Teams, the Championship Flight features two Association. The announcement of the award – battles. In one bracket, the District 17 squad of Josh sponsored by Master Point Press – was made at the Donn and his Vegas-based teammates takes on the ABTA’s meeting this week in Atlanta. District 24 team of Raluca Dobrescu and company Meguid, who operates the Bridge Academy of from the New York City area. In the other bracket, North Carolina in Durham, is an extensive user of Jeff Wolfson’s Chicago-based team (District 13) modern technology in his teaching. faces the Florida powerhouse captained by Warren Richard Braunstein, the chair of the committee Spector, representing District 9. that selects the annual Teacher of the Year recipient, In the quarterfinal round, Donn trailed the says, “Henry’s lessons provide a multimedia New England-based team led by Doug Doub by experience to the students. With cards on the table, 31 IMPs after three quarters, but rallied in the final Henry gives excellent explanations of bridge set to advance 103-96. Dobrescu led the defending concepts, and at the same time, has slick slide-show champions from District 21 (captained by Chip presentations projected on screens from his computer. Henry Meguid accepts the Teacher of the Year Martel) throughout their match and successfully held He backs up his lessons with excellent notes provided award from the ABTA’s Richard Braunstein. off a last-quarter challenge by the Bay Area team to to the students. He also conducts group lessons via In addition to the ACBL’s Longest Day, Henry win 101-95. the internet using web-casting software and small- runs charity events for a veterans support group continued on page 5 group lessons on Bridge Base Online. Henry also called ‘Hope for the Warriors’ and a local charity serves the American Bridge Teachers’ Association as organization, Town & Country Garden Club, which Brenner-Caprera lead the chairman of its Technology Committee. “Henry is an active participant in charity events. continued on page 5 von Zedtwitz The Denver duo of Anne Brenner and David My Tryst with Bridge Caprera topped yesterday’s qualifying round in By Kiran Nadar, HCL the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs. Brenner and Caprera scored more than 64% in both the first and The will witness participation from 45 countries. The second sessions to lead the 156 pairs of qualifiers for Commonwealth nervous anticipation leading up to the championship today’s semifinal round. Their carryover is 142.06 Games, an and the excitement of having the privilege to matchpoints. international multi- represent our country in yet another historic event is Narrowly in second are New Yorkers Kent sport event involving a unique experience for us. Mignocchi and Joel Wooldridge. Their carryover athletes from 53 My own tryst with bridge began as a child, when today is 140.22. member states of my father introduced me to the game around the Third place belongs to Canadians Michael the Commonwealth, time I was 10 and encouraged my siblings and me to Roche and John Carruthers with 136.57. hosted in Australia practice it. Playing bridge was a family ritual with all in 2018, saw India of us bonding over it and I have loved the sport ever register a momentous since. Californians set pace in win when my team My husband – Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman Bruce LM Pairs (The Formidables) won the bridge championship. of HCL, a global technology conglomerate – and The long hours of practice that we put in came to I share our passion for this sport. Playing bridge James Weeks of Palm Desert CA and Neil Stern fruition as India won the gold in the sport after 12 together created a special bond between us when we of Indio CA posted the best score in the qualifying long years. Our performance at the Commonwealth first met. Later, I began playing bridge professionally round of the Bruce Life Master Pairs, restricted Games has built our appetite to win more, and we are continued on page 7 to players with less than 6000 masterpoints. The now preparing to represent India at the 2018 Asian leaders scored a modest 57.10% in the afternoon Games in August, to be held in Indonesia, where session and combined it with a 61.32% effort in the bridge is included as a competitive sport for the first evening session. Their carryover is 509.67. time. The Asian Games are a continental multi-sport In second with a carryover of 505.67 are John event, held every four years, and the 2018 edition Bridgewater II of Columbus IN and Rajasekhar Menon of Southlake TX. The third-place pair is the St. Louis-based duo of John Sutherlin Mark Boswell and Mark Zellmer with 499.13. Sixty-four pairs will play in today’s semifinal 1936–2018 round. John Sutherlin died which he lost after breaking an ankle. Young 0-2500 Pairs May 12 in Dallas TX. The Before he retired, John was vice president of Michael Heins of Champaign IL and Bharat Grand Life Master was 81 Crocker Investment Management Corporation, Rao of Berwyn PA had the best performance in the years old. which merged with Wells Fargo. He also served six first round of the Young 0-2500 Pairs. They lead the John won the World years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. qualifiers with a carryover of 30.00 matchpoints. Senior Team Championship John served the ACBL as national recorder from In second with 26.89 are San Francisco-area at the 2000 Olympiad in 1986–1996, and continued through the years to work players Charles Riffle and Douglas Grant, while Maastricht, Netherlands. He behind the scenes, analyzing deals from tournaments third place after the qualifying round is the Toronto also won two silver medals, to detect possible misconduct. duo of Jacob Freeman and Martin Zhao with 26.01. including a second-place John and Peggy were both honored for their finish in the World Mixed Pairs in 1982 with his extensive contributions to the game when they were wife, Peggy. (John and Peggy met playing bridge in continued on page 7 1959; they married in 1967.) Goodwill Message John amassed 13 North American titles, Pre-registration information including two Vanderbilt KO trophies and a • Pre-registration for the Spingold KO Teams is Spingold KO. He won his first NABC title, the required before 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 29. See Today is Junior Day. Have a word of Rockwell Mixed Pairs, with Peggy in 1962. TD Matt Smith in the Atrium Ballroom. encouragement for our young players, for they are John was born in Mishawaka IN. His family • Pre-registration is required for the Mini-Spingold the future of our game. moved to California in 1946. After graduating from KO Teams (6000 and 2500) before 11 a.m. on Sandy DeMartino, Chair San Mateo High School, he attended the University Tuesday, July 31. Entries may be purchased in Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee of California at Berkeley on a track scholarship, the Atrium Ballroom. Page 2 Saturday, July 28, 2018 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS All events are at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. 10-11:30 am Board of Governors meeting and ACBL General Saturday, July 28 Membership meeting. All members of the ACBL Board of JUNIOR DAY Governors are invited to attend the Summer NABC meeting. 8 am-Noon Best Practices Teacher Workshop. ACBL’s seminar for This meeting is also open to the general membership of the people interested in learning how to teach bridge. (Atrium ACBL. (Atrium Ballroom) Level, A703) Noon-2 pm BridgePlus+ Game. A special game for newer (0-20 9:30 am-Noon ACBL Educational Foundation meeting. (Lobby Level, MP) players. 14 boards, no card fee. (International Level, L401) International Hall) 10 am-Noon Laws Commission. (Lobby Level, L405) 2-6 pm BP Teacher Assessment. (Atrium Level, A703) 10 am-Noon Free Bridge Lesson with Jerry Helms followed by a special 1-5 pm Notrump in a Day™ Be one of the first to experience the game for newer players. (Atrium Level, A601) new “In A Day” workshop series, Notrump in a Day. This Noon-2 pm Bridge-Plus+ Game. A special game for newer (0-20 workshop explores basic notrump bidding and the most MP) players. 14 boards, no card fee. (International Level, common responses, from raises to Stayman and Jacoby International Hall) transfers. If you need help knowing when to use which 1-6 pm Learn Bridge in a Day?™ This popular session is designed convention, what your second bid should be or what your especially for true beginners, those returning to bridge after partner is telling you, this workshop is for you! $20 at the long absences and those merely wanting to “test the waters” door. Course includes student workbook, presentation and before committing to formal classes. The concentrated course practice hands. (Atrium Level, A601) includes both class instruction and coached play. No pre- Monday, July 30 registration required. Fee: $20 covers textbook and door GOODWILL DAY prizes. (Atrium Level, A601) 9-10:30 am K–12 School Bridge Discussion Panel. Hear from teachers 6:30-9 pm Learn Bridge in a Day?™ Teacher Accreditation.