Volume 48, Number 9 48th Spring North American Bridge Championships DAILY BULLETIN Saturday, March 19, 2005 Editors: Brent Manley and Karen Walker Greenberg, Vogel take Schwartz, Onstott Women’s Pairs title in Vanderbilt final After the two qualifying sessions of the Whitehead Women’s Pairs, Gail Greenberg and The squad captained by John Onstott rolled Laurie Vogel started making plans for playing in a into the final of the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams regional event. They felt like both their games were with a 180-98 pasting of the Billy Eisenberg below average and they never imagined they would sextet. Onstott will face Richard Schwartz and be playing in the final. company, who had to fight off a late surge by the They just barely qualified to play on in the Peter Schneider team to avoid defeat. event, but they made the most of the chance, Onstott (Jim Robison, Drew Casen, Chris emerging with a win by 20 matchpoints over Compton, Samuel Cohen and Jim Krekorian) runners-up Helen Abbott and Polly Dunn of the Continued on page 4 Seattle area. They won the Lebhar IMP Pairs: Blair Seidler There will be a vugraph presentation, with The victory was Vogel’s first in a North and Kevin Wilson. American championship. Greenberg has multiple expert commentary, of the Vanderbilt final at 1 wins in world and North American competition. p.m. and 8 p.m. today in Room 406 at the The two are business partners – they co-own the Wilson-Seidler convention center. Honors Bridge Club in New York City. They have champs in Lebhar been friends for nearly 20 years, and Greenberg has been Vogel’s bridge mentor for a long time. IMP Pairs “I’ve taught a lot of people,” said Greenberg, Kevin Wilson of Knoxville TN and Blair “and the wonderful thing about Laurie is that she Seidler of Fair Lawn NJ captured their first NABC isn’t just trying to win or get masterpoints. She championship with their win in yesterday’s Lebhar works very hard and tries to improve her game.” IMP Pairs. Vogel was all smiles as she reflected on what it After the afternoon session of the qualifying means to win an NABC event: “It’s fabulous.” round, they were in fourth place, 10 IMPs behind the leaders. They had a strong final session and were leading by 17 IMPs with just one round to go, but had a bad last round. Seidler said he thought their finish was disastrous enough to cost them the championship, but they held on to win by more than 7 IMPs. Wilson and Seidler have been playing together for about four years. Wilson is a financial services consultant and a former Junior player who has two They won the Bean Red Ribbon Pairs: Yeong- wins in the Junior Trials. Long Shiue and David Margolin. Seidler calls himself an “unemployed computer guy” who is currently looking for a new Connecticut pair Tops in the Whitehead Women’s Pairs: Gail job. “If anyone wants to hire me as a result of my Greenberg and Laurie Vogel. Continued on page 4 tops in Red Ribbon A pair of Connecticut players had a strong Peter Schneider, at the table, first final session, then survived a below-average game in the evening to win the Red Ribbon Pairs doing what he wants to do by about one-third of a board. The winners are David Margolin of Rocky By Linda Granell Hill and Yeong-Long Shiue of Manchester. Their “It is so black and white compared to the gray of score of 1624.92 (51 top) was just ahead of the the entertainment industry, where you never 1606.28 posted by Jim Lyle and Robert Todd of quite know the definition of success. At the end Tallahassee FL. of a day of bridge, you know exactly where you The winners, both retired, have been playing stand. You won. Or you lost. But it doesn’t Peter together for about 18 months. They both credited Schneider, really matter, because you just wake up and play James Cleary, another Connecticut player, for deep in the next day. Winning is inconsequential.” helping them learn to play better bridge. concentration Schneider, 54, knows both worlds at their “If it wasn’t for him (Cleary), we wouldn’t during the highest levels. The former chair of Walt Disney have won,” said Margolin. Shiue was more Vanderbilt. Studios was responsible for the creation of more emphatic: “He taught us everything.” than 50 films. And you may have noticed him at Margolin retired about two years ago from a the 1998 Tony Awards ceremony collecting the data processing job with his home state. Shiue is a award for “The Lion King” as best new musical. retired senior consultant to ABB Combustion Here in Pittsburgh, he starred in the Bridge Engineers. Base worldwide vugraph theater as he advanced The two will represent District 25 in the North Peter Schneider knows exactly what he’ll be to the Vanderbilt semi-final. He was in the round American Pairs, Flight B, starting today. doing today. He will be playing in the final of of eight in the Spingold in New York. the Vanderbilt, or he won’t be playing in the Schneider was introduced to the game by his Today’s Goodwill final of the Vanderbilt. Either way, he’s got a father, a mathematics professor at the University bridge game. of Wisconsin, and he and his brother played at a Gesture: “I find the culture of the game to be as Madison club as teenagers before going on to Leave a tidy table. And while you’re at it, interesting as the game itself,” Schneider said. Continued on page 4 leave a tidy floor as well. Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Saturday, March 19 1 - 5 p.m. Vugraph. Room 406, Convention Center. 9:45 - Guided Walking Tour of Allegheny County Courthouse 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. Vugraph, Room 406, Convention Center. 11:15 a.m. “Richardson Romanesque.” Cost: $10. (For details, see story below.) BRIDGE TALKS Saturday, March 19 6:45 p.m. Intermediate-Newcomer Speakers Program: Jeff 12:15 p.m. Intermediate-Newcomer Speakers Program: Anne Roman, Game Tries. Rooms 319 - 321, Convention Center. Zwack, New Minor Forcing. Rooms 319 - 321, Convention Center. LATE NIGHT / ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, March 19 11 p.m. - 1 a.m. Doo Wop band, Rich Mansfield & the Rhythm Pigs. Band 5 - 7:30 p.m. Cabaret featuring Karen Dryer. Vocals and piano. Fourth and vocals. Rooms 403 - 405. After-game snacks: pretzels floor foyer. and chips after the Senior game and carved beef and turkey sandwiches after the evening session. NAP-C Pairs compete Golder NAP Flight B Pittsburgh Tours These morning tours in the Pittsburgh area are for President’s Cup kicks off play today available during the Spring 2005 NABC. Tickets are Players in the North American Pairs Flight C, Competition begins today in the Golder North available for sale at the Tour Desk at the Convention a grassroots event limited to players who have not American Pairs, Flight B — a grassroots event Center each day at the following times: 8:30–9:45 yet become Life Masters, will begin competition limited to players with 0-1500 masterpoints. a.m., 11 am.–12:30 p.m. and from 6:15–7:15 p.m. today for the President’s Cup. The first stage is conducted at the local club continuing through Friday, March 18. Since space is The trophy was presented in 1942 by Morgan level and qualifiers advance to unit competition. limited on the tours, advance registration and ticket Howard, ACBL president that year. The trophy Those qualifiers then advance to the district finals purchase is necessary. All tours using Molly’s was previously awarded to the winners of the where three pairs — more, depending upon Trolleys can accommodate wheelchairs. President’s Pairs event, held at the Summer attendance — qualify for the North American Saturday, March 19, 9:45–11:15 a.m. Guided NABC. final. Walking Tour of Allegheny County Courthouse The competition began last summer at the Winners will have their names inscribed on “Richardson Romanesque.” Cost: $10. Stunningly local club level and qualifiers then advanced to the Golder Cup and will also receive a certificate beautiful. Singularly graceful. A symphony of unit competition. Those qualifiers advanced to the of recognition. arches. Considered by many to be the leading district finals and three pairs from each district — The trophy is presented in memory of architect of the 19th century, Henry Hobson or more, depending upon attendance — qualified Benjamin M. Golder (1894-1946) of Philadelphia, Richardson’s 19th century neo-medieval design for the North American final. who died the day before the close of his term as combines stunning brickwork and crisp granite Winners: 1946 ACBL president. He was named ACBL detail. An outdoor fountain in the courtyard park 1987 1-2. Bill Thomas, David Deaderick Honorary Member of the Year for 1947. highlights the magnificent riverfront structure, while 1-2. Bernard Pollack, Leo Austern Winners: the Bridge of Sighs (mirroring the Venice original) – 1988 Brad Moss, Aaron Silverstein 1992 Peter Worley, Kevin Young at one time used to transport prisoners – connects 1989 Warren King, Jeffrey Brown 1993 Robert Sewell, Paul Janicki the Courthouse to the jail. What Richardson 1990 Philip Leung, Moske Harel 1994 Brendan Dempsey, Ian Crowe considered his best work remains among elite 1991 Eric Greco, Philip Greco 1995 Jay Levy, William Rushmore architectural company in Pittsburgh’s Golden 1992 Gail Joelson, Alan Kasner 1996 Robert Johnson, David Rosenstein Triangle.