Thursday, August 2, 2018 Volume 90, Number 7 Daily Bulletin 90th North American Bridge Championships [email protected] | Editors: Paul Linxwiler, Sue Munday and Brent Manley Ed Foundation moves Pepsi falls flat in into high gear Spingold Rd. Of 32 The ACBL Kramer is the former editor and publisher of the The highest-ranked seed to get the boot in Educational Star Tribune in Minnesota. He is a Silver Life Master yesterday’s Spingold KO round of 32 was the Foundation met in and a member of the board for bridge education in No. 5 team captained by Jacek “Pepsi” Pszczola. Atlanta last weekend Unit 178. Despite leading the No. 28 squad captained by and released several Todd is a well-known professional player, writer Adam Wildavsky by 24 IMPs after three quarters major announcements. and teacher. A familiar face at the regional and of play, the Pszczola team managed to post just 9 Foundation President NABC tournament scene, Todd is a popular lecturer. IMPs in the final quarter while Wildavsky added 55. Barbara Heller said Ellen Anten is one of the most influential Wildavsky advanced 107-85. that the organization members of the Los Angeles bridge community. A The No. 11 seed – George Mittelman and has been busy as it top-level player for decades with more than 25,000 company – enjoyed a 29-IMP lead against Phyllis attracts new talent to masterpoints, Anten has long been involved in bridge Fireman’s team (the original No. 43 seed) after three its Board of Trustees, ACBL Educational governance. quarters, but Fireman held Mittleman to a single greenlights funding for Foundation President Paul Cuneo is a member of the ACBL Board of IMP in the last set as they increased their own tally Barbara Heller. major initiatives and Directors representing District 16 (Texas/Mexico) by 45. Fireman won 99-84. expands the scope of its mission. and is retired from Shell Oil Company as chief continued on page 5 “The foundation is pleased and excited to information officer for Shell Oil Products Company. announce the addition of four new members to the Prior to that position, he served as Vice President Board of Trustees: Joel Kramer, Robert Todd, Ellen Technology for Oil Products. Mini-Spins begin Anten and Paul Cuneo,” said Heller. continued on page 5 QF matches Irish Juniors train in Atlanta After two days of preliminary matches, today’s action in the Mini-Spingold 0-6000 and Mini- A group of young men from Spingold 0-2500 Knockout Teams will feature Ireland is attending the NABC in head-to-head matches. Each contest has eight teams Atlanta as practice for the upcoming remaining. European Junior Championships For today’s pairings, see page 14. to be held in Croatia in 2019. According to coach and manager Thomas Mac Cormac, the U.S. Meltzer, Passell share excursion will help him select the final roster for the squad that will lead in Mixed BAM represent Ireland in the Under 25 Rose Meltzer’s multi-national squad and Mike division of the championships. Passell’s foursome tied for the top score in the “We’ve been bringing players to qualifying of the Freeman Mixed Board-a-Match the NABCs since Kansas City in the Teams. Meltzer and Passell each scored 34 in spring of 2017, but this is the largest Wednesday’s opening round. group we’ve had so far” said Mac Playing with Meltzer are Nik Demirev, Meike Cormac. Wortel, Bauke Muller, Justyma Zmuda and Simon The more experienced members This squad of Junior players from Ireland is playing in Atlanta: De Wijs. Passell is partnering wife Nancy Passell, of the team are trying their luck (standing) Captain Thomas Mac Cormac, Stephen Barr, Michael with another husband-wife duo – Paul Lewis and in the 0-6000 Mini-Spingold KO Donnelly, Arran Bolger, Laurence Childs, John Connolly, Jarleth Linda Lewis – as teammates. Their carryover is 3.73. Mc Donnell, Conor Farrell, coach GS Jade Barrett; (seated) In third with a carryover of 2.80 is the team continued on page 5 sponsor David Koble and coach Donna Lombardini. captained by Bill Pollack. Fifteen squads qualified for today’s two session One player’s journey from the Deep South final from an unusually small field of 28 teams. to the sometimes-frozen North Binder, Watson lead Most people probably don’t know that the state motto of Alaska is “North to the Future.” In the Wernher Pairs late 1990s, when Harley Bress was working in the The Massachusetts-based duo of Rick Binder Education Department at the American Contract and Alan Watson posted the best score in the Bridge League – way down South in Memphis – it’s opening round of the Wernher Open Pairs. Binder highly unlikely that he saw living in Alaska – the and Watson scored 63.96% in the first qualifying place he now calls home – as part of his future. session and 61.31% in the second to start today’s Bress is in Atlanta with a couple of young two-session final with a carryover of 220.99 players – bridge students of his back home in Nome matchpoints. – who are participating in the 11th Youth NABC. In second with a carryover of 190.82 are Mike Reflecting on the series of events that led to his Sheng of Northbrook IL and Sherman Gao of Brea relocation and his life up North, Bress said, “It’s CA. been an amazing time.” Third place is occupied by Juan Carlos Ventin Bress, 46, is originally from Pittsburgh PA. An of Barcelona and Joaquin Pacareu of Santiago with experienced bridge player, he joined the ACBL staff 184.46. The event drew 284 pairs of which 144 qualified continued on page 9 for today’s final. ATTENDANCE Goodwill Message through Wednesday Compliment your opponents on their good play. Sandy DeMartino, Chair 7832 tables Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee Page 2 Thursday, August 2, 2018 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS All events are at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Friday, August 3 Thursday, August 2 10 am-6:30 pm Youth NABC. (Atrium Level, A707) 10 am-6:30 pm Youth NABC. (Atrium Level, A707) 10 am-Noon Social Bridge Room. (Marquis Level, M101) 10 am-Noon Social Bridge Room. (Marquis Level, M101) Saturday, August 4 10 am-Noon Hall of Fame Committee. (Lobby Level, L402) 10 am-6:30 pm Youth NABC. (Atrium Level, A707) 5:30-7:30 pm Youth NABC Closing Reception. (Atrium Level, A707) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures by some of the best-known players in the game! Friday, August 3 Talks will be held in the International Hall on the International Level. 9:15 a.m. Lisa Berkowitz Playing to Trick One Thursday, August 2 6:45 p.m. Mike Flader Ruling the Game 9:15 a.m. GS Jade Barrett How to Succeed in Bridge 6:45 p.m. Carole Budnick The Strip and Endplay ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment from Saturday, July 28, through Friday, Aug. 3, will begin Friday, Aug. 3 immediately following the evening session. The performers are happy to take The Dixieland Troubadours is a fun band you won’t want to miss with their song requests. unique approach to modern folk, country and bluegrass music. Banjo player Thursday, Aug. 2 Kyle Jarrard was named the Georgia State Banjo Champion in 2011. Nathan Sexton on keyboard with Travis Jones on drums will perform classic tunes that span the decades. HOSPITALITY Thursday, August 2 Friday, August 3 10:30 p.m. Marquis Level 10:30 p.m. Marquis Level Hamburger sliders Mini BLT sandwiches Entries Desk Hours Lost and Found A valid ACBL player number is required to play NABC Welcome Desk 8:30–10 a.m. Lost and found is located at the Tournament in all events at the NABC. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Information Desk located on the Marquis Level. All North American championships with no 2:30–3 p.m. If you find something that appears to have lost its upper masterpoint limit $25 per player per session 6:30–7:30 p.m. owner, or you’re an owner in search of something (For team events, this means $100 per team per you lost, here’s the place to go. Informaton hours Partnership Desk 8:30–10 a.m. session for four-person teams, $125 per team per through Saturday are: 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. session for five-person teams, and $150 per team per 8:30–10 a.m. 6:30–7:30 p.m. session for six-person teams. Only ACBL members Noon–1p.m. current on their dues and service fees are eligible to Prize Desk 8:30–10 a.m. 2–3 p.m. play in NABC+ events. $1.50 per person per session Noon–1 p.m. 6:30–7:30 p.m. benefits the International Fund.) 2:30–3 p.m. Other North American championships.....$17 per 6:30–7:30 p.m. player per session Rubber bridge room Information Desk 8:30–10 a.m. (For the team events, this means $68 per team Enjoy a round of rubber bridge. Featuring Noon–1 p.m. per session for teams of four, $85 per team per continuous bridge play from 10 a.m. to Noon. 2–3 p.m. session for teams of five, and $102 per team per Monday through Friday, the rubber bridge room is 6:30–7:30 p.m. session for teams of six. Only ACBL members M101 on the Marquis Level. Entry is free.