March 7 - March 17, 2002 45th Spring North American Bridge Championships Houston, TX Vol. 45, No. 8 Friday, March 15, 2002 Editors: Brent Manley and Henry Francis Peter Weichsel tops Milner, Nickell in Peter25,000 Weichsel, a MPmember plateauof the 2001 Bermuda TeamsVanderbilt captained by Reese Milner final and Nick Nickell BowlDaily championship team, has reached the 25,000- Bulletinpowered their way into the final of the Vanderbilt masterpoint plateau. Knockout Teams – a match that can be seen in its en- Weichsel has tirety on vugraph today (see box on this page for de- three other world tails). championships to his Milner (Marc Jacobus, John Mohan, Sam Lev, Piotr credit: the Bermuda Gawrys, Jacek Pszczola) trailed the Grant Baze team Bowl in 1983, the by 11 IMPs entering the final 16 boards, but they World Mixed Pairs in crushed their opponents, 70-7, to emerge with a 155- 1990 and the World 103 victory. Baze’s teammates were Michael Whitman, Glen Grotheim, Terje Aa and Garey Harden. Transnational Teams Brian Duran, left, and Stephen McDevitt in 1999. He has won In the other semifinal match, Nickell (Richard more than 20 North Freeman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff American champion- Bay staters victors Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell) started quickly against the ships plus the Richard Pavlicek team, winning the opening quarter Cavendish Invita- 36-7. The match was never in doubt from that point as tional in 1976 and Brianin Duran NABC of Cambridge 49er MA, Pairs an electrical en- Nickell won, 121-76. Pavlicek was playing with 1977 and the London gineer, and Stephen McDevitt of Somerville MA, a Michael Polowan, Ron Smith and Chris Willenken. Sunday Times Pairs in 1975. research specialist in x-ray detection equipment, came The Milner-Baze match pitted several European Weichsel and Alan Sontag were arguably the stron- from behind to earn the NABC 49er Pairs champion- players against each other. The Baze squad included gest pair in the world in the Seventies and early Eight- ship Wednesday. They finished less than a point ahead Norwegian stars Grotheim and Aa. Gawrys and ies. After winning the Bermuda Bowl in 1983, they of John Redford and Tricia Bradford of Houston. Less Pszczola, Milner’s teammates, are from Poland, as is went separate ways. than a point behind them were Warren and Dee Androus Lev, although he now lists his address in New York. They resurrected the partnership at the 1998 Spring of Avon CO. NABC in Reno and have enjoyed considerable suc- Both winners find the game addictive. Duran used cess since then, culminating with the Bermuda Bowl to be a high-ranking chess player, but bridge has his win last year. attention now. McDevitt “loves the game – I’m a fierce competitor. Cheek and Greco lead They met each other when both played at the new- comer club at MIT. They’re not regular partners – they OpenCurtis Cheek Pairs of Huntsville II qualifiers AL and Eric Greco of previously had played together about a half a dozen Philadelphia put together two strong games in the Open Jade Barrett goes times. Both play at the MIT club about twice a week. Pairs II qualifying. As a result, they go into today’s Earlier this week Duran and McDevitt came in two-session final with a board and a half lead before second in Flight D of the BCD Swiss Teams. applying the carryover formula. G.S.over Jade Barrett 10,000 of Vancouver mark WA passed the Their score of 2204.49 was approximately 70 10,000-point mark at this tournament. He has more points better (51 top) than the total for Roger Bates of than 170 Blue Ribbon qualifications, all earned since Mesa AZ and Vivian Kilstrup of Vail CO. Boris Baran 1990. He also was a member of the winning team in of Cote St. Luc PQ and Haig Tchamitch were third, the Mixed Pairs sec- TheThe attendance biggest yesterday was the day biggest of the followed by John Lusky and Randy Pickett of Port- tion of the tournament to date – a total of 1147.5 tables were in play. land OR. In fifth place were Larry Mori of Clearwater Transnational Teams The total for the tournament so far is 7883 tables, FL and Venkatrao Koneru of San Antonio. at the 2000 World somewhat higher than pre-tournament estimates. It’s a Championships in lock that the total will be more than 10,000 – perhaps Bermuda. as many as 10,500. But playing bridge isn’t Barrett’s Gates, Wheeler ahead top priority in bridge. He has an over- The intop threeWomens qualifiers were closelyPairs bunched af- whelming interest in ter completing the two qualifying sessions of the Junior bridge – he has Women’s Pairs. In first place were Georgiana Gates of been either captain or Houston and Sally Wheeler of Spring TX. Less than coach of 11 United half a board behind were Ellie Hanlon of Jupiter FL States Junior teams. and Mary Savko of Pittsford VT. Only one matchpoint He also is chairman further back were Colleen Treanor of Middletown CT of the North Ameri- and Rachel Chittaro of Kildeer IL. can Youth Bridge Foundation. Rounding out the top five were Rhoda Walsh of His favorite partner is his wife Karen. They are Hendersonville NV - Carol Simon, Las Vegas and playing together in Open Pairs II – as a matter of fact Kathy Baum, Cordova TN - Marilyn Hemenway, they had a 64% game in the first qualifying session. Omaha NE. That gave Karen enough points to make her a Gold Life Master (5000+ points). Karen has three North American championships to her credit. Jade’s regular partners are Anne Hoffman, Ann Don’tVandy miss the vugraph vugraph presentation today of the fi- Labe and Miles Adkins – he has won more than 20 nal of the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams today at 1 regionals with each of them. p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the But playing, captaining and coaching aren’t Jade’s Marriott. only bridge accomplishments. He also has been a Chris Compton, chief commentator, will be bridge club operator, a lecturer and a columnist. He is joined by Zia Mahmood, David Berkowitz, Michael the District 20 alternate to the Board of Directors, and Rosenberg, Chip Martel and the always-entertain- he will be co-chairman of the 2004 North American The best of the West! Wayne Lance of Buena Vista CO and ing George Jacobs. ACBL’s new chief executive, Championships in Reno. He also has made a name for Lil Reilly of Houston were judged to be the best-dressed Jay Baum, will also make a brief appearance. himself as a theoritician. Western cowboy snd cowgirl at the Marriott festivities last night. Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS Montreal World ChampionshipTo heighten awareness of the Quiz Montreal #8 World Championships that will take place in August, the or- 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Easybridge! StagesFriday, A & B, with MarchEasybridge! 15 Presenter Priscilla Smith. (Stage A in the ganizers are offering a daily problem. There will be a morning, lunch break, Stage B in the afternoon.) Westin Oaks, Directors Room. daily drawing among those who turn in the correct 9:30 a.m. - Noon National Tournament Director Sol Weinstein and ACBL Recorder Richard Colker answer to the Daily Bulletin office, Continental Room, discusses the new Alert procedures. Westin Galleria, Plaza 1 Ballroom. Westin Oaks third level. Noon - 12:45 p.m. Joan Pleason plays show tunes and golden oldies at the Marriott. Every day five prizes are awarded as the result of 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Shannon Cappelletti, Slam Bidding. Westin Oaks, Consort II. Cappelletti, Chattanooga TN, is a professional player and ACBL the drawing. The winners have their choice of a 1996 Accredited Teacher. She and her husband, Mike Cappelletti, won the NABC+ Mixed World Championship Book or a 2002 World Champi- Pairs in 1999. onship hat. 7:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: Alan LeBendig, Balancing. Westin Oaks, Dlr: North « 7 4 2 Consort II. LeBendig, Los Angeles, is the District 23 representative to the ACBL Board Vul: E–W ª A 9 8 of Directors. He is a Grand Life Master and co-owner of Barrington Bridge Club. © K 9 3 11:30 p.m. Women’s International Team Trials Commission meeting. J W Marriott, Lamar Room. ¨ A 10 5 4 After evening session Nachos at the Marriott and the Westin Galleria Plaza Ballroom, third floor. Join us at the Westin for music by recording artist Lainey Bernstein, accompanied on the piano by Joan A 10 8 Pleason. « ª — © A Q 10 8 7 6 2 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Easybridge! StagesSaturday, A & B, with Easybridge! March Presenter 16 Priscilla Smith. (Stage A in the ¨ Q 3 2 morning, lunch break, Stage B in the afternoon.) Westin Oaks, Directors Room. West North East South Noon - 12:45 p.m. Mexican Mariachis play at the Marriott. Pass Pass 1© 12:15 p.m. Intermediate/Newcomer Speakers Program: George Pisk, Safety Plays. Westin Oaks, 1ª 2NT 3ª 4© Consort II. Pisk, Manchaca TX, has taught at several Texas universities. He is a Diamond Pass 5© All Pass Life Master whose team finished second in the North American Swiss Teams at the Las West leads the ªQ. Trumps are 2–1, East having a Vegas NABC. low singleton. Plan the play. Thanks to Eddie Kantar 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Vugraph of the Vanderbilt final. J W Marriott, Ballrooms B & C. for the problem.