Friday, July 25, 2008 Volume 80, Number 8 Daily Bulletin 80th Summer North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Dave Smith He’s a bridge buff(ett) Seeds 3 and 6 ousted “I’m here to play a little bridge,” says Warren from Spingold KO Buffett. An investor, businessman and Two of the top-seeded teams – Nos. 3 and 6 – philanthropist, Buffett is also an avid bridge fell in the round of 16 in the Spingold Knockout player. “I play online about 12 hours each week,” Teams on Thursday. he says. “When I start playing, I don’t want to The upset victims were squads captained by quit.” Lou Ann O’Rourke (No. 3) and Richard Schwartz Besides playing bridge, while here “I may also (No. 6). take in some shows and do Las-Vegas-type O’Rourke fell to the Roy Welland squad (Brian things,” Buffett says. “I’m also meeting with Bill Glubok, Steve Garner, Howard Weinstein, Billy Gates.” Cohen, Ron Smith). Welland jumped out to a 46-22 Gates is another bridge fan, and together they lead after one quarter and was never seriously donated money for the promotion of youth bridge. threatened in a 153-120 victory. O’Rourke played The funds were used to start a program, headed by with Marc Jacobus, Geoff Hampson, Eric Greco, Sharon Osberg, that explored the best way to Giorgio Duboin and Antonio Sementa. advance bridge among young people. Besides Schwartz was sent to the sidelines by the directing the program, Osberg is one of Buffett’s Warren Buffett and Sharon Osberg share a hug Continued on page 15 Continued on page 5 in the Daylight Open Pairs. California team Westheimer, Baker in Wagar final leads Mixed BAM Teams captained by Valerie Westheimer and Sixty teams qualified for play in today’s final Lynn Baker will play for the championship today in of the Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match Teams. the Wagar Women’s Knockout Teams. Leading the pack are Californians Janet Ju, Baker, seeded No. 2, came from 10 IMPs George Wang and Phil and Nell Schaefer. The behind going into the final quarter to edge the Cheri leaders scored 18 the first session and followed Bjerkan squad 144-143. Bjerkan had a 20-IMP lead with 15 in the evening. Average was 13. at halftime. Close behind in second place are Dana De Baker is playing with Karen McCallum, Lynn Falco, Gabriella Olivieri, Charles Weed, Pat Deas, Beth Palmer, Kerri Sanborn and Irina Cayne and Jacqui Mitchell. They had a score of Levitina. 20.5 in the evening to charge into contention. By contrast, Westheimer (Hjordis Eythorsdottir, This event was first played in 1929 and is one Terri and Mitch Miladinovich. Marion Michielsen, Meike Wortel) had a much of the oldest ACBL events. easier time, defeating the Carol Simon team 180- Californians take 101. Michielsen and Wortel are from the Boyd, Robinson Netherlands. On Wednesday, the Westheimer team took out the No. 1 seed, Phyllis Fireman, with a big 199er Pairs title rally in the fourth quarter. A husband and wife who returned to bridge a lead Fast Pairs couple of years ago after a long layoff had two Peter Boyd and Steve Robinson had two good nearly identical games in the two-session National games to lead going into today’s final of the Fast Final set in Mini- Continued on page 17 Open Pairs. They scored 63.85% in the first session and followed with 58.84%. Their Spingold II carryover is 229.72 matchpoints. Teams captained by John Scibelli and Brian Ross Grabel and Mark Itabashi had a 66.26% Duran will do battle today in the final of the Mini- session and followed with 55.85%. Their Spingold II (0-1500) Knockout Teams. carryover is 224.17. In the semifinals, Scibelli knocked off the Two other pairs also are in good position. The Robert Forster squad 135-92. Duran edged Justin Canadian pair of Les Fouks and Michael Graver 98-95. Strebinger are close behind with 221.55 carryover. The Mini-Spingold I (0-5000) enters the Jack Bryant and Mark Lair are in fourth place quarterfinal round today. The matchups, by captain, with a 204.30 carryover. are Warren Cederborg vs. Marv Dauer, Joyce The Fast Pairs event requires players to finish Hampton vs. Fred Willis, Michael Cassell II vs. their boards in 11 minutes. It has been contested Karl Hicks and Jim Russell vs. Donald Florida. since 2000. On Sept. 8, several changes in the Laws of Contract Bridge Caddie master Jackie Matthews, Kyle Ruggles and his flute teacher, Pam Hughes, who also will take effect. For an manages the caddies. overview of how these laws Caddie concerto in will affect you, see page 20. the key of bridge 2008 Summer NABC By Karen Walker If you’ve been near the ACBL’s second-floor 24,222 offices in the late evening, you may have heard a haunting rendition of Mozart’s Concerto in D- - 16,109.5 Minor coming from the caddy lounge. K. R. Venkataraman and Sunit Chokshi, Continued on page 8 winners of the Wernher Open Pairs. 8,112.5 to go Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Friday, July 25 Saturday, July 26 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Computer Bridge. Conference Rooms 8 & 9, kibitzers 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Computer Bridge. Conference Rooms 8 & 9, kibitzers welcome. welcome. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Be sure to hear these free expert lectures in Las Vegas daily in Pavilion 11. Saturday, July 26 Friday, July 25 12:15 p.m. GS Jade Barrett The Learning Curve 12:15 p.m. Phillip Alder The Dummy and Its Play at 6:45 p.m. Jeff Roman The Difference Between Pairs Trick One and Teams 6:45 p.m. Ellen Kent Simple Is Better LATE NIGHT/ENTERTAINMENT Good Rockin’ Tonight There will be two hula dancers at the Hawaiian Concert tonight at 10:30 p.m. Pat Martin and Elvis will also provide entertainment in the Showtime Theater. Players are encouraged to wear florals as part of Hawaiian Day. Life Masters news NABC Diary years ago just to exercise Vincent Remedios of of Cerritos CA advanced her brain. Known to many Touched to Life Master in the Bracketed Knockouts playing as LB, the 27-year-old is a Elyse Murphy Zeiger, with Sue Fardette of Cypress CA, Tybe Becker of student at the Colorado shown with her dad, Gary, Long Beach CA and Irene Hirshland of Seal Beach School of Mines, where attended the Professional CA. she is working on a Tournament Directors Crystal Fraser of Sedona AZ earned Life double master’s degree – Association meeting on Wednesday. She was blown Master status in the Compact Knockout. Fraser in international political away by a gift from players and directors, who wishes to thank her mother for her help. economy of resources and presented her with a card and a check to help with Lynn Hull and Tom Ciolli made Life Master engineering technology her first year at Arizona State University this fall. playing together. Each needed slightly more than 4 management. She has been caddying at the NABC. gold points, and won more than that in the She is proud of the bridge acrostic and says, Bracketed Knockout Teams. Their teammates were “That quote is very pertinent to bridge.” Vicky and Larry Bamberger. All four are from San Diego CA. Gesture appreciated Rao Bollimpalli of Tucson AZ is a new Life Michael and Debbie Rosenberg were playing a Master. He needed slightly more than 2 gold points close match in the Spingold Knockout Teams and has won nearly 3 in the Hump Day Knockout against the Ladyzhensky team. Teams. His partner was Ellen Jenkins of Denver The Rosenbergs were playing against Doug CO, and his teammates were Mayre Meyers of Simson and Walter Johnson. There was a failure to Mesa AZ and Chuck Brown of Garland TX. Alert by the Rosenbergs that resulted in a poor Susan Ohm of San Antonio TX is a new Life result for Simson-Johnson. The tournament director Master and a Bronze Life Master. She came to Las called to the table ruled in the Rosenbergs’ favor, Vegas needing 10.99 gold points. She has won more but Michael didn’t agree with the decision, and the than 20 while here. She earned the last points she teams agreed that the score should be adjusted. needed in the Daylight Open Pairs on Thursday The opponents praised Rosenberg for his ethics playing with Pete Voges, also from San Antonio. in the case. Mary Walters of Oak Park IL earned Life Master rank in the Compact Bracketed Knockout It ain’t over They went west Teams. She needed 7 points of any color and won David Kempe of Los Angeles overheard the Earlier this month, 13 playing with Lara Bro of Bartlett IL. Her following the other day. Sue Bailey showed up at teammates were Dave and Barb Robinson of After 28 boards of a 56 board match: her bridge club in Denver CO. “At the half, we’re up by 1 IMP.” Manchester, England, Stephen Sturm had advanced to Emerald Life “Did the opponents concede?” and wondered where Master, a rank requiring 7500 masterpoints. Sturm, everyone had gone. who is from Fullerton CA, went over in the Mixed Someone told her, Registration desk open Board-a-Match Teams qualifying. He has done just “They’re in Las Vegas Be sure and drop by the Registration Desk to about everything in bridge from playing to caddying for the big bridge get you gift bag with Ethel’s gourmet chocolate to directing to running a club.