World Bridge Championships Chief Editor: Brent Manley / Coordinator: Jean-Paul Meyer Lay-out Editor: Akis Kanaris / Web Editor: Fotis Skoularikis IssueUSA No. 15 RECAPTURES BERMUDASaturday Evening, BOWL, 12 September 2009 ZIMMERMANN WINS TRANSNATIONAL Bermuda Bowl winners: Zia Mahmood, Bob Hamman, Eric WBF President José Damiani, second from left, with the Rodwell, coach Eric Kokish, Jeff Meckstroth, npc Donna World Transnational Open Teams champions: Adam Compton, Nick Nickell and Ralph Katz. Zmudzinski, Geir Helgemo, Pierre Zimmerman, Cezary Balicki, Tor Helness and Franck Multon. The team captained by Nick Nickell stormed back from a Zimmermann was playing with Franck Multon, Adam 57-1 shellacking in the second set against Italy, built a big lead Zmudzinski, Cezary Balicki, Geir Helgemo and Tor Helness. then turned back every challenge by their opponents to win The runners-up at Piotr Gawrys, Krzyszto Kotorowicz, Jacek the most coveted prize in bridge — the Bermuda Bowl. The Kalita, Krzysztof Buras and Jacek Psczcola. final score was 285.33-249. Third place in the event went to Team Deutschland: Alexan- Even after winning the penultimate set 54-26, Italy needed der Smirnov, Michael Gromoeller, Josef Piekarek and Andreas a big showing over the final 16 deals to take back the title Kirmse. they have won so many times over the years. Italy made some gains against the Americans, but the set ended virtual- ly even, 28-24 to Italy. The victorious USA2 squad includes two first-time win- Contents ners: Zia Mahmood and Ralph Katz. Nick Nickell, Bob Ham- Results . .2 man, Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell all have multiple wins in the event, including four times as teammates. WBF President’s Closing Speech . .3 The silver medallists are Alfredo Versace, Lorenzo Lauria, Closing Speech from Ernersto D’Orsi . .4 Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Antonio Sementa and Giorgio D’Orsi Seniors Bowl: England v Poland Duboin. Final Sessions 1-3 . .5 In the World Transnational Open Teams, the team captained Venice Cup: China Long Zhu v USA 1: Final Session 4 . .9 by Pierre Zimmermann gained 3 IMPs on the last deal to win a tightly fought match with Apreo Logistic Poland by the final The Old Routine . .13 score of 95.5-93. Bermuda Bowl: Italy v USA 2: Final Session 5 . .14 Zimmermann trailed after the first of three sets 34-32.5, Bermuda Bowl: Italy v USA 2: Final Session 7 . .16 but they won the next one 36-29 and rallied on the final deal Bermuda Bowl: Italy v USA 2: Final Session 6 . .19 for the victory. 39th WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS São Paulo, Brazil RESULTS Bermuda Bowl Finals Tbl c/o Boards Boards Boards Boards Boards Boards Boards Boards Total 1 - 16 17 - 32 33 - 48 49 - 64 65 - 80 81 - 96 97 - 112 113 - 128 Italy 0 19 57 17 14 24 36 54 28 249 1 USA 2 8.33 46 1 47 57 48 28 26 24 285.33 World Transnational Open Teams Finals Tbl c/o Boards Boards Boards Total 1 - 16 17 - 32 33 - 48 Zimmermann 5.50 27 36 27 95.50 61 Apreo Logistic Poland 0 34 29 30 93 WBF cards for sale Packs of used WBF playing cards — with 5-bar codes — are for sale. If you are interested in buying some, please contact Christine Francin in the WBF Secretariat situated on the basement floor of the Hotel - Brasilia 2 Thank you! room. The price is US$0.60 per pack On behalf of the IBPA-members in São Paulo I would like to thank the WBF and the Brazilian Bridge Federation for the facilities offered in the Press Room. A special thank you goes to Ernesto World Bridge Championships Missed a Bulletin d’Orsi for organizing the IBPA-outing to Guaruja Chief Editor: Brent Manley / Coordinator: Jean-Paul Meyer Lay-out Editor: Akis Kanaris / Web Editor: Fotis Skoularikis IssueGOLD No. 14 FOR CHINA AND ENGLANDSaturday, 12 September 2009 Issue? Beach: a dip in the Atlantic Ocean and a 5-star lunch! You can find all the Daily Bulletins of Jan Swaan Press Room Manager Venice Cup winners Yan Ru, Dong Yongling, Sun Ming, Liu Yi Winners of the D’Orsi Seniors Bowl: David Price, Paul Qian, Wang Wenfei and Wang Hongli. Hackett, Colin Simpson, npc Peter Baxter, Gunnar Hallberg, the 39th World Bridge Team Cham- John Holland and Ross Harper. Two teams taking different routes to their respective championships became gold medal winners on Friday as While the Venice Cup and Seniors Bowl crowned their China Long Zhu captured the Venice Cup and England won champions, USA2 and Italy continued their battle in the the D’Orsi Seniors Bowl. Bermuda Bowl. With 32 deals to play today, the Americans The first Venice Cup victory for China — they have two are ahead by 68.33 IMPs. seconds and two thirds — came in a dominating 220-148 In the World Transnational Open Teams, Apreo Logistic victory against a strong American team — USA2. China won Poland holds a 34-32.5 lead over the Pierre Zimmerman pionships on the WBF website. They five of the six sets, losing only the last 19-18 when the issue team with 32 deals to play. was just about settled. The winners of the City of Sao Paulo Cup are Oyzum: With the victory, four members of the Chinese team be- Ernesto Muzzio, Alejandro Bianchedi, Marta Putz and Dra- came World Grand Masters, the highest rank in the World gan Markovic. More photos on page 22 Bridge Federation. They are Liu Yi Qian, Sun Ming, Wang Hongli and Wang Wenfei. Another Chinese player, Zhong VUGRAPH MATCHES Fu, also achieved World Grand Master rank in Sao Paulo. Final Session 7 In contrast to China’s win, England had to come back (11.00-13.20) VG: Table 1 Italy - USA 2 (BB) are in pdf format and in color. from a serious deficit against their Seniors Bowl opponents BBO 4: Table 61 Zimmermann - Apreo Logistic from Poland. After falling behind 59-1 in the first set (62.67 Poland (WTOT) including carryover), England knuckled down and played tough the rest of the way, particularly on Friday, when they Final Session 8 (14.30-16.50) surrendered only 47 IMPs over 48 boards to emerge with To Be Decided a 187-163.67 decision. England’s win was the first in the event for a non-USA Watch BBO at: http://www.bridgebase.com Watch OurGame at: http://worldbridge.ourgame.com squad. The Seniors Bowl was inaugurated in 2001. Follow the link link to go to the di- rect ‘download’ page: Duplimate Discounts www.worldbridge.org/tourn/SaoPaulo.09/Bulletins.htm The Duplimate dealing machines used There is also a comprehensive collection of all past at these championships will be sold at WBF events’ bulletins, since 1995, at: the end of the event with a 20% dis- www.worldbridge.org/download.asp count. 2 29 August - 12 September 2009 39th WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS WBF PRESIDENT’s CLOSING SPEECH And so another excellent championship draws to a team members — Liu Yi Qian, Sun Ming, Wang Hongli close. Once again, Ernesto d’Orsi has pulled out all the and Wang Wenfei finally became World Grand Masters stops and organized a truly spectacular event in typi- as they so rightly deserved, as did Zhong Fu who cal Brazilian style. Ernesto, it is difficult to find ade- played a great championship with his teammates. Many quate words to express our deep appreciation and people in China are very proud of this performance gratitude to you for all that you have especially Mr. Deng Guangen, presi- done. You have worked tirelessly, not dent of the WBF Congress. The only before the championship itself, bronze medal for Indonesia was also but throughout the past two weeks, well deserved. And there was the overseeing even the most minor of usual battle between the USA and details. Thank you from all of us and a Italy in the Open with the USA tri- big thank you to Cecilia for your umphing as expected. The team mem- charming support. bers have an impressive history. This is The hospitality and warmth of the the 10th time that Bob Hamman has “Paulistas” is legendary and makes won the Bermuda Bowl and he has any trip to Brazil that much more en- come second 6 times. Meckwell have joyable as I am sure all you players done well, well well! They have won and officials have realized. the Bermuda Bowl 5 times now. For Ernesto was ably assisted by his wonderful Champi- Nick Nickell this is the 4th time he onship Local Operations people, who have put them- has won but it is the first time for both Zia Mahmood selves out to see that everything runs smoothly and and Ralph Katz, the latter of whom also becomes a have assisted players and officials alike with a multi- WGM. Some other European countries also did well, tude of requests. Their kindness and efficiency is un- in particular England, Bulgaria, Poland and France. paralleled. All the people from the Federação However, I do not forget those amongst you who do Brasileira de Bridge and the Confederaciõn Sudamer- not come up to the podium. You too are winners for icana de Bridge have gone out of their way to ensure participating in a great Championships and I thank you that the tournament has run extremely smoothly, all for being here with us in São Paulo increasing the something that I am sure you, the players, have great- field with the Generali World Transnational Open ly appreciated. Teams and the São Paulo Cup.