Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Volume 81, Number 6 Daily Bulletin Washington, DC 81st Summer North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Paul Linxwiler Ledeen grabs Two high seeds fall Senior Swiss crown in Spingold’s first full day The team captained by James Cayne, seeded No. 3 in the Spingold Knockout Teams, is now on Truscott USPC the sidelines after losing 141-140 to a California Senior Swiss squad captained by Mike Levinson. Teams Levinson, seeded No. 62, is playing with Paul champions: McDaniels, Andrew Gumperz and Michael non-playing Crawford. captain Beta Nahapetian, They took an early lead against Cayne and Benito Garozzo, built an 18-IMP lead at halftime, but Cayne came Lea Dupont, back to go ahead 118-111 with a quarter to go. Karen Allison Levinson won the final set 30-12 to advance. and Mike Ledeen. Continued on page 5 Defending champs The foursome of Michael Ledeen of Chevy Ledeen. His best previous finish was second in the ousted from Wagar Chase MD, Karen Allison of Las Vegas, and Keohane North American Swiss Teams. His Benito Garozzo and Lea Dupont of Palm Beach teammates have each won previous NABC titles, The top-seeded squad in the Wagar Women’s FL topped the field in the Truscott/U.S. Playing (and Garozzo, of course, has multiple world titles Knockout Teams was eliminated from play in Card Senior Swiss Teams, posting a total of to his credit), but this is the first time any have yesterday’s quarterfinal round. The team of Lynn 127.18 Victory Points to win the two-day event. won this particular event. Baker, Karen McCallum, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, In second with 124 VPs were Tom Rutledge of Irina Levitina, Kerri Sanborn and Sam Dinkin npc, Charleston SC, Bill Wisdom of Salisbury NC, and the defending champions and U.S. representative Jerry Helms and Robert Bitterman of Charlotte Attendance through to the upcoming Venice Cup in Sao Paulo, lost NC. 179-144 to the No. 8 seed of Lynne Schaefer, The winners qualified 20-25th in the opening Tuesday evening: Susan Miller, Bronia Jenkins, Kyoko Shimamura, round, but stormed to the front in the two-session Martha Katz and Ellasue Chaitt. final. 8323 Tables Schaefer will face No. 4 Lisa Berkowitz’s This was the first NABC victory for captain squad in the semifinal round. The other semifinal bracket features the team captained by Geeske Joel against Shawn Quinn’s Gunnell, Brady lead Wernher Pairs squad. The Florida-based duo of Brian Gunnell and with 1207.13 to lead by less than half a board. John Brady led the qualifiers in yesterday’s In second with 1193 are Nicholas L’Ecuyer Many top seeds opening round of the Wernher Open Pairs. With a and Nikolay Demirev. 59.32% game in the afternoon session and a Of the 248 pairs that entered the event, 130 exit Mini-Spin 1 62.85% in the evening, Gunnel and Brady finished made the cut to today’s two-session final. In round-of-32 action in the Mini-Spingold Knockout Teams, the Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9 seeds were among those defeated yesterday. Some highlights: Martels prove bridge The No. 2 seed led by Chuck Kreuger lost 118-99 to the No. 31 team, the California-based and marriage can mix squad captained by Robert Roman. Robert Glickman’s No. 3 seed trailed the By Karen Walker entire match against their No. 30 opponents from Anyone who has ever played bridge with a Massachusetts, led by Brian Duran. Glickman spouse or “significant other” knows the special charged in the last set, but fell short by 1 IMP: challenges of juggling a bridge partnership and a 108-107. personal relationship. Many couples handle both The No. 4 team captained by James Melville, well and have long records of tournament a previous winner of the event, fell 104-88 to the successes. Others have only slightly better rapport No. 29 squad led by Gary Donner. than John and Myrtle Bennett. One married couple who seems to know the secret is Chip and Jan Martel, who won the Grand Nos. 1, 2 seeds out National Teams, Championship Flight, at this tournament. It was the first win in this event for in Mini-Spin II Jan and a record-breaking eighth GNT In Tuesday’s round of 16 in the Mini-Spingold championship for Chip. Knockout Teams II, the No.1 squad led by Alex The Martels were married in 1982, the year of Lovejoy tied the No. 16 captained by Victor Hsu, Chip’s first GNT win. The format back then 131-131. IN the playoff, however, Hsu prevailed included a round of zonal playoffs to determine the 32-0 to advance. teams that would advance to the NABC, and the Dana Berkowitz’s No. 2 squad was walloped playoff happened to be the day after their wedding. by Peter Boyd-Bowman’s No. 15 team 233-124. The newlyweds had barely said, “I do” before they Eric Hendrickson’s No. 10 squad staged the were on a plane to Los Angeles for the zonal only comeback of the round. Trailing by 31 IMPs match. after the first quarter, they tied No. 7 Kenneth Chip and Jan began playing together in the Hopke’s team by the end of the thirds set, and Continued on page 4 went on to win 96-76. Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Wednesday, July 29 4:30 - 7 p.m. Junior players: Don’t miss the Junior Lounge 9 a.m. - Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education for Junior players (under 26) are invited to the Junior Lounge, bridge directors to increase their skills. Part 2 of 2. Fee: an informal get-together, on Wednesday, July 29, from 4:30 $15. Room: Taft. to 7 p.m. (between the afternoon and evening sessions). 4:30 - 7 p.m. Youth players: Don’t miss the Youth Lounge Meet old friends, make new ones, and meet some terrific, Youth players (under 26) are invited to the Youth Lounge, top-level players and mentors to talk about bridge. The an informal get-together, on Wednesday, July 29, from 4:30 meet-up will be held in the Taylor Room, located on the to 7 p.m. (between the afternoon and evening sessions). Mezzanine Level near the Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. Meet old friends, make new ones, and meet some terrific, top-level players and mentors to talk about bridge. The Friday, July 31 meet-up will be held in the Taylor Room, located on the 10 a.m. - Noon "Start to Play" lesson. Bridge lessons for beginners. Room: Mezzanine Level near the Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. Thurgood Marshall E. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Be sure to hear these free expert lectures in Washington DC daily in Exhibit Thursday, July 30 Hall B. 9:45 am Lisa Berkowitz An Intro to Defensive Signals Wednesday, July 29 6:45 pm Ellen Kent Simple is Better 9:45 am Phillip Alder Basic Defense Signals Friday, July 31 6:45 pm Gary King Making Close Decisions: 9:45 am Leslie Shafer Bidding With No Points! Big Score Impact 6:45 pm GS Jade Barrett The Learning Curve LATE NIGHT/ENTERTAINMENT All entertainment will take place in the Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. 11:15 pm-12:30 am Vugraph: Final of the Wagar Women's Knockout Wednesday, July 29 Teams (note change) 10:30 pm-Midnight Popcorn and Cracker Jack Friday, July 30 11:15 pm-12:15 am Alain Nu: Mentalist and Magician 10:30 pm-Midnight Ice Cream Bars and Fruit Bars Thursday, July 30 8 pm til Ron Smith, Pianist (note change) 10:30 pm-Midnight Cheddar Cheese and Apple / Cinnamon Soft Pretzels Be sure to New Enhancement to ACBL bans electronic stop by the Tournament ACBL Web Site: NABC devices in national events Information Desk Top Winners Directory The ACBL Board of Directors approved a and get your official Are you curious about who has placed first or comprehensive ban on second in past North American Bridge Washington DC electronic devices for all Championship events? You can put your curiosity NABC t-shirt national level events, but not to rest by using a new search feature that is now regional or Intermediate before you leave! available on the ACBL web site. This new feature Newcomer contests: Men’s and Women’s styles— allows you the ability to search either by event or Electronic devices, excluding health related lots of sizes, royal blue and navy last name. equipment, capable of sending or receiving $15 for Adults • $12 for Youth Go to the ACBL web site home page at communication, including but not limited to, www.acbl.org and click “NABC Winners’ headphones, earphones, cellular phones and Directory,” located on the left-hand side of the minicomputers: (1) shall not be allowed in the page, to start taking advantage of this new feature. playing areas, adjacent hallways, restrooms or Life Master News accessible break areas; and (2) shall not be used during a session. Billie Kathleen Brown of Evansville IN soon These restrictions shall apply to all pairs, will be the proud owner of a new gold card, Stone’s Throw will offer a limited a la carte team members, captains, coaches, recorders and having become a Life Master playing in a compact menu, in addition to a dinner buffet: kibitzers and shall apply throughout any actual knockout teams at the Summer NABC. Wednesday, July 29 playing session or segment. Two other Evansville players helped Brown Soup Of The Day A violation of this policy shall result in a earn her rank change: partner was Bev Chicken Parmesan disciplinary penalty of one full board (or 12 IMPs Nikolajewski and teammate Nancy Gaunt.