November 5th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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I have always enjoyed Brent’s focus on different subjects and this month’s caught my eye – celebrating the 75th anniversary of the ACBL. He continues “We have been tossing around ideas for coverage in this magazine, starting next month and leading up to the observance in 2012. One of the ideas I like a lot is a Top 52 list of influential bridge people over the last 75 years.” Obviously the majority will be predominently successful stars but the story begins long before their success.
I have a nominee – that few would either remember, heard of or recommend – and that is LEE HAZEN. Not only was he an administrator, legislator, Hall of Famer, etc., etc. but when the ACBL was merely a vision and was just getting started, it was Lee’s personal funding that kept it afloat till it could stand on its own two feet. So, without Lee, there may have been no organization, no tournaments, no bridge bulletin and certainly no editorials.
Just my two cents!
November 4th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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Although I liked what I saw of Holland (not that much), it was warm and friendly and the people were gracious. However, there was lots of walking between sites, daily routines of early breakfast, 16 boards, early lunch, sixteen boards, a nosh before the next 16 boards and finally dinner in the hotel as we were too tired to take a cab or bus to a different cuisine site – was too exhausting!!! The schedule was of necessity, but it took its toll on most. Many of the non-bridge playing spouses (and several had rented cars) did sightseeing and shopping, while I preferred to return to my room to blog, watch my beloved BBO and see Bobby on vu-graph from the confines of my little room. As I had mentioned before, the site was a resurrected 13th century monastery for nuns and was converted to a weekend conference center (tiny rooms and little storage space) – hardly conducive or appropriate for 19 days. My room looked like a rummage shop with clothes atop the suitcases as the tiny closet wouldn’t cut it.
As the end neared, I counted the days to the luxury of relaxing in Las Vegas (after the laundry chores) but found the ITTC (International Team Trials Committee) was back in business. They are in the midst of a brouhaha hell-bent on every year having two teams selected from the Team Trials for the world championship and very much against every fourth year — one team trial and one pair trial to give the unattached (non professional) talented duos an opportunity to enter on their own. As in most ACBL projects they are lacking in progressive, individual leadership and the animals continue to run the zoo. Professionalism has turned the game around while the other countries in the world are gaining on us in success.
Not one of the six U.S. TEAMS (BERMUDA BOWL, VENICE CUP or SENIORS) (each containing at least one sponsor) won a gold medal. The other nations keep picking up momentum on us and on occasion outplay us convincingly. Our only consolation was all six made the initial cut but no championship for the U.S. Both silver medalists (Bermuda USA 2 and Senior USA 2) lost in the final – the first convincingly and the latter by a smidgeon. Incidentally, although sponsored, the Senior USA 2 had three excellent pairs – proving that sponsorship is no way an inappropriate name.
The green stuff (usually five pros and a well-endowed sponsor) lead the way. The pros are unyielding in giving up an additional lucrative date. My reference to the animals and the zoo can be better explained … if you ask the lions and the tigers what’s on the menu, they ravenously say ’meat” – while if the kangaroos, giraffes or ostriches were consulted they may select some tasty, harmless foliage.
It is also of interest that in WBF championships, a sponsor need play only 37-1/2% of the match (not the expected two-thirds) and in that case, the two expert pairs are overworked and overtired and may not be capable of producing their best effort due to exhaustion in the later determining stages.
Perhaps it might be a nice change of pace, every fourth year, to allow for a pair and team venture, but I fear the lions and tigers are in control and although some are teetering, the majority have an unyielding gnash.
October 29th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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As Bobby is watching vugraph, I am up in the room packing, packing and still packing (between sneaking a peek at BBO on occasion), We have been here 21 days and since we were preoccupied with the serious aspects of the game, we saw almost nothing of Holland – ne’er a windmill. How disappointing! On the good side, the tournament was superbly run, more than ample space for all events and meeting rooms and several on-site eating facilities (including a fancy/pricy one). Everything was in one building and buses running outside the front door. The non-playing spouses took trips and did shopping, but I stayed glued to BBO or personally kibitzed Bobby when I could. The weather was somewhat brisk and damp and I (and others) did not bring enough warm clothing even for traveling the corridors of the conference center.
As I am writing the finals of the Bermuda Bowl and Transnational are in session. After Board 10 of 32 total, The Dutch (Netherlands Team) are beating our sensational young U. S. stars by 280-206 but there are still 22 boards left and anything can happen. These kids never say die as they are quite capable of rallying if the right kind of hands arise. The Transnational Match at Board 14 reflects the Israeli Juniors ahead of the Oz Open team 82-52, a much closer match.
Tonight is the Closing Ceremony and Awards presentation – always a memorable evening.
Good night Holland. Good morning America!
October 28th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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These reports are from my room from BBO at 5:30 Veldhoven time in the middle of today’s last session.
In the finals of the Venice Cup, Indonesia conceded to France; As of Board 22/36, USA 2 is leading France 154/130 in the Senior Bowl; and with two additional sessions following this afternoon in the Bermuda Bowl Netherlands is leading the young USA 2 team with a score of 221/167 .
As far as the Transnationals (a totally separate event from earlier in the week with 154 teams coming from all around the world to play – here are the standings at the moment:
After a 7 IMP penalty announced on vugraph for slow play, the Israeli Juniors are now losing to Gordon (David Berkowitz, et al). with a score of 56/48. Parimatch is leading Oz Open 60/58. There were 16 teams that qualified from the 154 which entered.
Incidentally, The Angellini Team which included Meckstroth/Rodwell and Fantoni and Nunes were upset by the Gordon team mentioned above.
Remember these are only midway scores as I am rushing out to dinner.
October 27th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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Championship results at the 3/8 pole of the Bermuda Bowl is Netherlands 130/ USA II 108
In the Venice Cup at half time, France 126.3/Indonesia 56.
In the D’Orsi Senior Bowl, at halftime, France 89/USA II 45.3
Finals for third and fourth place:
In the Bermuda Bowl, Italy 167/USA I 69
In the Venice Cup, Netherlands 109/England 91
In the D’Orsi Senior Bowl, Poland 118/USA I 36
October 27th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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After returning from the breakfast buffet at the Koningshof (actual site of the tournament), I retired to my room for what has turned out to be my favorite, relaxing activity – following Bobby on BBO – unfortunately playing off Poland beginning this morning for the consolation Bronze. Can’t win ‘em all but he should be happy with his eleven world championships at the age of 79. As of last night no one (even the staff) knew whether this was a one or two day event but I am sure they have had a meeting of the minds by now (and they say women can’t make up their minds). In any event we will have the pleasure of Jose Damiani’s International Mind Sports Association dinner gala at the hotel in their sumptuous dining room on Friday followed Saturday by President Rona’s Closing Banquet and award dinner – then off we go at 5 am. the next morning (after almost 20 days away from Sin City which I miss).
I must confess this was the most exhausting WBF function I ever attended because the playing spaces, rooms, reception rooms, desk, hospital area, vu-graph rooms and dining facilities were sooooooooooooo spread out. It took its toll on me even with the luxury of a motor scooter most of the time. I just could not negotiate the distance four to six times a day excepting the consolation of the fun most of the time watching Bobby on my room computer. It was interesting going to either the open or closed room on the screen (depending where he was) to see the comparison of his opponents In about five minutes the session begins – so I’ll take a break for a while …………………………
WELL, HERE’S A SHOCKER: After all my raving about BBO, I just learned Bobby’s match was not considered important enough to have on camera and it is too late (after the doors have been closed) for me with my badge to enter either the Open or Closed. Fie on them who made the decision!!!. All the matches had been on BBO before today during the quarter and semi-finals.
Back to Heldover and the trip to Holland. I saw neither a windmill, tulip or wooden shoes – but saw enough sparkling water to last for a lifetime. Apparently regular water is a luxury and must be ordered and paid for. A tall glass of bottled water (remember you have no other choice) is $10 U. S. money. And, I thought I had seen everything. Can’t wait to get back to the States to buy my little case of bottled water (minus the sparkle). The first time I ordered iced tea (and last) I thought they had spiked it, as it had such a bitter taste. As the ice melted, it relieved the sting of the sparkle. Live and learn.
The schedule is so hectic, we never got out of the hotel except by bus twice to dinners. NO SHOPPING FOR JKW. THAT IS A FIRST – but there are two souvenir booths in the huge anteroom of the Open and Closed – so it’s not over till it’s over!
Will be reporting on today’s scores when they are posted.
October 26th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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The Contestants for the GOLD in the BERMUDA BOWL* WILL BE Netherlands and USA 2
The contestants for the GOLD in the VENICE CUP WILL BE Indonesia and France
The contestants for the GOLD in THE D’ORSI SENIOR BOWL WILL BE: USA 2 and presumably France (who won 6 imps on the last hand and won by one – unless they find an error).
Winner gets the GOLD, loser is honored with the SILVER (2nd) and tonight’s losers will battle off tomorrow to determine who captures the BRONZE (3rd). *The Bermuda Bowl as I understand it does not finish until Saturday while the Venice and Senior cups end earlier.
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October 26th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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BERMUDA BOWL: NETHERLANDS OVER ITALY 157.3 TO 154
USA 2 OVER USA 1 188 TO 126
VENICE CUP: INDONESIA OVER ENGLAND 157 TO 155.5
FRANCE OVER THE NETHERLANDS 150 TO 126.5
D’ORSI SENIOR BOWL: POLAND OVER FRANCE 181.7/169 and
USA 1 WITHDRAWING, CONCEDING TO USA 2.
The three semi-finals in the BB, VC AND DSB are finishing up today. The winners of these six semi-final matches in these three categories will play each other starting tomorrow in the finals. The losers of the semi-final matches will then conduct three third/fourth playoffs to determine who wins the Bronze Medals.
October 25th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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IN THE BERMUDA BOWL IT’S ITALY SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THE NETHERLANDS (79.0/78.3)AND USA2 OVER USA1 112/61.
IN THE VENICE CUP, THE LEAD CHANGED HANDS AND ITS ENGLAND 91.5/82 OVER INDONESIA AND FRANCE OVER THE NETHERLANDS 85.0/51.5
AND ROUNDING OUT THE THIRD EVENT, THE D’ORSI SENIOR BOWL, POLAND STILL LEADS FRANCE 103.7 TO 97 WITH USA 1 BRINGING UP THE REAR, BEHIND USA 2 106.5 TO 54.0
HOWEVER, IT’S ONLY HALF OVER WITH ANOTHER 48 BOARDS TO PLAY TOMORROW TO DETERMINE WHO THE FINALISTS ARE. Things have ways of doing an about face and we all know it’s not over till its over.
Till tomorrow …
October 25th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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IN THE BERMUDA BOWL IT’S THE NETHERLANDS 45.3/36 OVER ITALY AND USA 1 50/33 OVER USA 2.
IN THE VENICE CUP, IT’S INDONESIA OVER ENGLAND 61/49.5 AND FRANCE OVER THE NETHERLANDS 45/26.5.
AND ROUNDING OUT THE THIRD EVENT, THE D’ORSI SENIOR BOWL, POLAND LEADS FRANCE 43.7/41 AND USA 2 IS AHEAD OF US 1 39.5/23.
ALL OF THESE SCORES INCLUDE THE CARRYOVER.
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