TWELVE DOWN — NINE TO GO ….

Going into Day Five of the WBF Championships (nine more matches which will decide the top eight qualifiers in each category) — here is how it stands:

BERMUDA BOWL:   ITALY, NORWAY, BULGARIA, USA 2, RUSSIA, CHINA LONG ZHU OPEN/NETHERLANDS, ARGENTINA

VENICE CUP:          CHINA LONG ZHU WOMAN, USA 1, FRANCE, USA 2, ITALY, DENMARK/SPAIN, GERMANY

D’ORSI SENIORS:      ENGLAND, BELGIUM, USA 2, SWEDEN, POLAND, INDONESIA, EGYPT, USA 1

The pace is hectic, the competition is fierce and by yesterday the non-stop merry-go-round got to me (the tension of the bridge, rushing to eat between session breaks and the evening dining and entertainment).     I was so exhausted from the late dinners, cocktail parties and early breakfasts, that I zonked out and left after the first three boards in Match 10 and caught some much needed shuteye.  I was prepared to kibitz Match 11 but they keep the rooms so cold, it was like the North Pole and I headed back to our haunt and dove under the covers.  Since Bobby was off for the final match of the day, we relaxed together and had a delightful buffet dinner.   However, most of the delicious entrees ended in ‘I’ or ‘a’ (lasagna, spaghetti,rigatoni, manicotti, etc.).   Though the food (especially the huge variety of fish) was delectable, it is hardly recommendable for someone who is supposed to be watching their diet, cholesterol, etc.).   There is a scale in each room, but because it is not decipherable in English pounds, I decided not to overwork my brain translating it for no great reward.    By the way, the employees of the hotel are warm, polite, friendly, and most gracious.   You can ascertain that from their mannerisms not their language, as 90% of them are not versed in the ways of English. By the way, the directors have been delightful, polite and very warm — and of course, of necessity, must be fairly well versed in English.  The  tournament itself has been run first-class.   There are tall containers of sealed individual cups of ice water (on the house) and well printed signs everywhere — designating where the sites are (Open, Closed, Vugraph, and each of the many WBF offices).   I have never seen a more thought-out venue .. making life as easy as possible for the players and guests.   The only things they don’t do is help you with the bidding, play and defense.