DailyVolume 79, Number 9 Bulletin 79th Fall North American Bridge Championships Saturday, November 26, 2005 Editors: Brent Manley and Dave Smith Meet Your TDs Chang rallies to win Senior KO ACBL’s Tournament Director Appreciation is complex systems, systems where you have to play going on during this tournament. Check this space Playing four-handed and trailing by 17 IMPs, the detective. Those have no place in bridge,” he each day to meet one of the TDs working at the team captained by Morris Chang rallied in the final continued. Wolff has long been an advocate of NABC. quarter to win the Senior KO by 27. The victors are disallowing what he refers to as “destructive systems” Morris Chang, a resident of both California and Continued on page 2 When he was in Taiwan; Bobby Wolff, Las Vegas; Neil Chambers, school at the Schenectady NY; and John Schermer, Seattle WA. University of Georgia, “Our teammates played great,” said Wolff. Olin Hubert could tell “Schermer and Chambers never thought we would who among those in lose, even though we were down.” his circle were When asked about playing four-handed, Wolff “serious” – about said, “None of our teammates wanted to sit out. I bridge, that is. would prefer a seven- or eight-man team,” he joked. “I more or less Now are they going to rest? No, tomorrow is a majored in bridge,” Bracketed KO. said Hubert, now a “The Senior events are getting tougher and full-time tournament tougher. You don’t have a few of the top super-stars, director whose home but the caliber of play was excellent,” said Wolff. Senior KO winners John Schermer, Morris base is Atlanta. “You could tell who was serious “You also don’t have the intimidation factor of Chang, Bobby Wolff and Neil Chambers. about bridge by who went off to class. There were a dozen people in my group then who now have more than 1000 masterpoints each.” Denver NABC Mother-son duo Hubert spent three years at UGA but dropped out to play bridge full time, mostly at the Atlanta going smoothly Rubber Bridge Club, which he ended up buying in tops 99er Pairs 1972. He closed it four years later. Kathy and What does it take to hold a successful NABC? He was teaching some bridge and directing in Eric Rolfe, a “We had terrific volunteer help,” said co-chair addition to playing in tournaments when, in 1985, mother-son Bob Wingeard. “Roy did most of the work,” he partnership Continued on page 5 added, referring to his co-chair Roy Weinstein. from Kansas Continued on page 4 City MO, had a Jacobs leads monster game in the first session of the in Reisinger National 99er Kathy and Eric Rolfe The team captained by George Jacobs had a Pairs, then held lead of two boards after two qualifying sessions of on to win the event by a board over Ronald and the Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams. Jacobs is Barbara Bunnell of Phoenix AZ. playing with Ralph Katz, Zia Mahmood, Michael The Rolfes have been playing duplicate about Rosenberg, Alfredo Versace and Lorenzo Lauria. four years, but they don’t get to many Their total is 36.5. In second place with 34.5 is Continued on page 4 the team led by Rita Shugart, followed closely by the Nick Nickell squad. Bethe leading in NA Swiss Bob Wingeard and Roy Weinstein A team captained by Henry Bethe, of Ithaca Wolpert on Blue Ribbon NY, leads the qualifiers for today’s semifinals in Challenge matches set the North American Swiss Teams with a score of Two challenge matches pitting North American and win: ‘It’s ridiculous’ 120 victory points. The Dan Morse squad is in European teams are scheduled for next year. Still on cloud nine from the victory he enjoyed second with 116 closely followed by Shawn Bob Hamman, who is in the thick of both events, Quinn with 114. in the Blue Ribbon Pairs with his fiancee, Gavin said the first will be in Dublin, Ireland, Sept. 17-20 just Other high qualifiers include teams captained Wolpert on Friday was contemplating his new- before golf’s Ryder Cup match in that country. The by Loftis at 111, Newlin at 107 and several tied at found fame. “It’s crazy,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.” bridge match is patterned after the Ryder Cup but will be 106. The field will be cut to 28 teams for Sunday’s Bob Hamman had a different view of the Blue called something like the Continental Challenge. final. Ribbon win by Each side will have 12 players. Wolpert and Jenny In December of next year, there will be a challenge Ryman, at 20 the match in Rome between the Nick Nickell team, of Junior trials to youngest person which Hamman is a member, and an Italian team ever to win what is captained by Francesco Angelini. conclude today arguably ACBL’s Hamman said the match commemorates the 100th Four teams advanced out of the round robin toughest pairs anniversary of the Rome Tennis Club Bridge Division. and will square off today in the USBF Junior event. The match will take place at the tennis club, tentatively Team Trials. Semifinals and final will be played “This is Dec. 7-10. today. dynamite,” said Hamman said the format of the match, including the Hamman, many- Jenny Ryman and Gavin number of boards to be played, has not been determined. time North Slowing but still going Wolpert The teams will be Nickell-Dick Freeman, American and world Table count dropped as expected with the onset of Hamman-Paul Soloway and Jeff Meckstroth-Eric Thanksgiving, but the Fall NABC added 845.5 champion, pointing to the photo of Ryman and Rodwell versus Angelini-Antonio Sementa, Fulvio Wolpert on the front of the Friday Daily Bulletin. tables on Friday through the evening session for a Fantoni-Claudio Nunes, Alfredo Versace- Lorenzo total of 8945.75. 10,200 is still a viable target. Continued on page 6 Lauria. Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Sunday, Nov. 27 Noon – 5 p.m.Vugraph. Location: grand Ballroom 6 p.m. – midnight Vugraph. Location: grand Ballroom CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Saturday, Nov. 26 12:15 p.m. Bruce Greenspan, Bruce’s Top Ten 6:45 p.m. Jeff Roman, Game Tries LATE NIGHT / ENTERTAINMENT All nightly entertainment will be held in Grand Ballroom. Saturday, November 26 th 10:30 p.m. SHAVE AND A HAIR CUT....TWO BITS Barbershops were a great place for hair cuts, and they also spawned the Barbershop Quartet, tonight’s entertainment in the Grand Ballroom. Harmony Emporium will delight with their a capella performances that take you back to an era when pure musical talent made you stop and take notice. Join us after the evening session to hear harmony at its best, and enjoy a soft, stuffed pretzel snack. Senior KO winners Goodwill Message Stokes Chili Continued from page 1 The ABCs to a great day: Thanks to Stokes Chili for sponsoring the A: Active Ethics. Nothing could be more Strati-Flighted Pairs November 26th. A satisfying than to do something actively ethical. product of Centennial Specialty Foods, Stokes that he feels are designed to confuse opponents. Schermer and Chambers have a long-distance B: Better bridge. Start every day fresh and Chili has been a Colorado dining partnership. They use the Internet to practice. The play your best. tradition since 1906. C: Courtesy. Find a complimentary remark pair also talk on the phone almost daily to discuss bridge. Chambers is a tax accountant for a grocery for your partner and your opponents. store chain. His vacation time is limited so they Aileen Osofsky, Chairman Section tops confine their play mostly to NABCs. Schermer owns National Goodwill Committee Players who win section tops or overall his own contracting business. awards may claim their prizes at the When asked about playing four handed, Lost and Found Registration Desk. Prizes may be claimed Schermer said “I just tried to concentrate. We felt during regular Registration Desk hours on any confident.” Another cell phone has been turned into the Chang and Wolff have been partners since the day following the section top/overall victory. Press Room. It is a Nokia with a black case. Seventies. Chang was an executive with Texas instruments. When he moved to Texas, the Aces were just starting out. He and Wolff were introduced and Parking Discount at ♠♥♦♣ have played together many times in the intervening 30-odd years. the Adam’s Mark Chang began playing bridge in college at MIT. The discounted parking rate for ACBL players is Overheard Besides working for Texas Instruments, he founded $11 all day, no in and out privileges. (The regular A bridge player was entering the men’s room his own company called Taiwan Semiconductor rate is $15.) Be sure to pick up a pink coupon at the and saw a friend who plays the piano. Manufacturing in 1985. It is very successful and ACBL Registration Desk to get the discount. “Are you still tinkling the ivories?” he asked. traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The runners-up were gracious both at the table Parking after 6 p.m. and on weekends is only $5. “No, just tinkling,” was the reply. and after the defeat. “The behavior at the table was magnificent,” said Wolff. “Our opponents were more Restaurant Specials for Bridge Players than forthcoming in Alerting and explaining bids.” The following restaurants are offering specials for bridge players during the tournament. Unless otherwise The second place squad is Alan Stout, Mountain noted, just show your convention card and mention you are from the NABC to receive the special deals.