October 20th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
Comments Off on USA 1 “GEEZER’S” DAY IN THE SUN 
Sitting in tenth place this morning, we soared back with BLITZES against Pakistan and India and believe it or not narrowly missed a third one against Indonesia by two imps – but who’ s complaining?
The d’Orsi Senior Bowl standings are 1) Denmark (278.5); 2) USA 2 (275); 3) France (266); 4) USA 1 (263) (that’s us); 5) Poland (256); (6) India (254); (7) Australia (253); (8) Germany (251).
In the Venice Cup (the gals), England is at the helm with 278 and USA 2 and USA 1 are close behind with 274 and 265 respectively
In the Bermuda Bowl, Italy leads with 287, USA 2 with 271 and Netherlands (the host country) in 3rd with 267.
This is after 15 matches, with only 6 remaining. The top eight in each will qualify for the next phase of competition.’
Stay tuned.
October 20th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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We were the fortunate recipients of invitations to President Rona’s Wednesday gala dinner in Eindhoven. At 7:30 p.m. two buses were waiting for the guests and it took about 25 minutes to arrive at the destination with all bedecked in their non-bridge finery. After a short cocktail party with unusual hors d’oeuvres, we sat down to a lovely duck dinner with all the trimmings. Short speeches followed with all the past presidents in attendance. Mr. Rona introduced them (Patino, Wolff, Damiani and d’Orsi) and presented them each with a gift – a framed group picture of them from the opening ceremony on Saturday. After a delicious dessert, we left for home but didn’t arrive until about 12:30 a.m. Quite a hectic day. Dan and Bobby were not in festive moods because after they blitzed their first opponents Wednesday, they lost the latter two matches and dropped to 11th.
However, today started out better as USA 1 (d’Orsi seniors) just beat Pakistan but we did not wait for the final score (close to a blitz) There still is Indonesia and India to be dealt with this afternoon and just now (before today’s last two matches), we got back to 8th place (the cut off for qualifying). There remain eight matches before final determination of the qualifiers. It may go down to the wire. Go Team!
October 19th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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BERMUDA BOWL
1. ITALY (175)
2. NETHERLANDS (173)
3. ISRAEL (169.34)
4. USA 2 (157)
5. USA 1 (153.5)
6. ICELAND (147.5)
7. POLAND (147)
8. BRAZIL (145)
VENICE CUP:
1. SWEDEN (175)
2. ITALY (168.5)
3 ENGLAND (168)
4. USA 1 (160)
5. USA 2 (158)
6. NEW ZEALAND (150)
7. BRAZIL (149)
8. GERMANY (146)
D’ORSI SENIOR BOWL
1. FRANCE (185)
2. USA 2 (177)
3 INDIA (164)
4. GERMANY (162)
5. CHINA HONG KONG (159.5)
6. POLAND (155)
7. DENMARK (151.5)
8. USA 1 (146)
At the end of the 21st match, there will be a cut (with the top 8 teams in each division moving forward).
A 10th match was played this morning but I do not have the scores available for printing and as I write, the 11th is taking place with the 12th to begin at 5:15 p.m.
October 18th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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I suppose Coleridge cited it first in The Ancient Mariner with his observation about H2O. Here in Veldhoven, we were shocked to learn water was not a free amenity. You can have, however, either sparkling (not to my liking) or ‘regular’ water – for 2 Euros (about $2.60) which comes in unlimited quantity in the States. A bottle equals a glass. And, as far as refills, you get what you pay for! The more you slurp, the more you pay. It just shows you – never take anything for granted – not even water.
October 17th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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In order to avoid a repeat performance of Shanghai a few years ago, it may be of interest to read from the General Conditions of Contest on page 14 of Rules and Regulations of the 40th World Bridge Championships.
2.4 Political Statements
Each National Organisation further agrees that for the proper conduct of the World Mind Sports Games it shall also instruct its competitors that at no time during the course of or in relation to the event may they make any form of public political statement or comment. Any contestant making such a statement may be disqualified from the event or events in which they participated or intend to participate and shall be subject to suspension from participation in any future event conducted under the auspices of IMSA, for such period as IMSA in its discretion shall determine. The governing body for the contestant’s discipline may also in its discretion suspend the contestant and their National Organization from participation in any future event conducted under its auspices.
October 17th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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My best news of the day so far was not that USA 1 beat the Dutch handily and both our pairs played well – but that my electric scooter finally arrived. This hotel is a maze of corridors and I immediately saw I could not negotiate the halls on a regular basis on foot, so I ordered (a bit belatedly) a scooter from my new best friends, charming volunteers Hanakee Grufman and her cohort Marie who, between the two, arranged for the ordering, payment, paperwork and delivery of my welcome vehicle. Unfortunately, I did ask about the rental when we arrived last Wednesday and was told it was illegal in the hotel. Well, I’ve been renting them for the last three years and should have suspected something was amiss. The lady at the desk thought I was alluding to a motorcycle-type scooter and a few days after speaking to someone else, the light dawned and it was taken care of. It’s been in my possession for two hours now and haven’t even run over anyone yet (friend or foe). But remember the adage about women drivers!
The buffets continue to be superb (both morning and lunch) and since Bobby is off for the second session (against Bulgaria), he has some time to rest. It seems we’re on the go 24/7 and not yet acclimated to this change of time nonsense (and we’ve been here 6 days now). Some of the girls rented cars so it’s off to the shops they go and all very graciously ask if we need anything. The main request is good old fashioned H2O – because they either have sparkling water or bottles of regular water at exorbitant prices at the hotel. A large bottle of water for a party of four (with two mere small glasses each) was $10 at the restaurant – over 6 Euros. Things we take for granted at home are sometimes considered luxuries abroad.
Time to catch some shuteye before the start of Bobby’s final session of the day. They are holding their own – somewhere above the middle of the pack – but there’s a long way to go with 22 teams entered (in each event – Bermuda Bowl, D’Orsi Senior Bowl and the Venice Cup – therefore, 21 total matches for each group. Will keep you posted as we get more definitive information. They are also holding the 8th Transnational Open teams where partnerships know no borders.
October 16th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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Starting with a buffet breakfast at the hotel, if you got there early — there was no problem. By the time we arrived at 9 a.m. (with all the troops now assembled for start of play), it was a madhouse with everyone scurrying to finish and go about their business. The breakfast was quite satisfying and plentiful and included in your room accommodation which is always a good feeling. They had all kinds of bread and pastries, meats, cheeses, eggs, Nova Scotia salmon which we call Lox (an expensive treat back in the States), fruits, juices and beverages – fit for a king and queen. Everyone seemed quite pleased.
After the first bridge session, a ‘new’ room opened up and Bobby, Dan Morse and Henry Bethe (USA 1 Senior captain) and I thought we would experiment and treat ourselves to a lunch in the newly opened ‘other’ room which was making its debut. The food was delicious — cod, potatoes and spinach and a shared bottle of water – your other choice being ‘sparkling’ H2O (ugh)!. It should have been outstanding as I almost keeled over as Bobby’s and my bill was 54 Euros (without the bottled water which Henry picked up) and without tip. (There is quite a bit of conjecture whether other little scribblings include a tip) but I tipped in addition. It was indeed a meal to be remembered. Back to the regular coffee shop or lovely white brick walls of the main restaurant tomorrow I suspect. We had been varying between the two since we arrived last Wednesday and it was delicious (and half the price). You can go out of the building via a bus that stops in front of the hotel, but best after the sessions with no time restrictions to return.
The yellow-shirted volunteers are a sheer joy. I have attended several world championships and never saw so many helpful attendants just waiting to be of assistance. Nothing is too much trouble for them!
The hotel itself is a conference center, intended for two or three day conclaves as the rooms are small (wee) intended for short stays with inadequate drawer space to house three weeks clothing (for two people – bearing in mind the contestants needed extra white shirts, khaki pants, jacket, dress shoes (as well as sneaks), etc. The building has dozens and dozens of huge rooms necessary for a world championship and consists of a series of corridors (with directions by color to help you find your destination). Every time I leave the room without Bobby, I pray I won’t lose my way (and I have a pretty good sense of direction). As far as special individual WBF rooms (all with beautifully printed identifiable signs), nothing was left to the imagination. Really the only complaint is it is so spread out, I ordered a scooter (which at first I was denied as they thought I was referring to a motorcycle – just a language barrier). It will arrive tomorrow and I am exhaustedly counting the seconds.
October 15th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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The World Championship Opening Night featured the introduction on large TV screens of the emblems of all the participating nations by an amusing magician/host who kept the audience entertained. It featured card tricks by the MC plus a fantastic family show orchestrated by his four children who followed in his Houdini-like footsteps. The five living WBF presidents (Patino, D’Orsi, Damiani, Wolff and Rona were honored on stage as they played the theme song of the WBF. Earlier welcomes were given by President Rona and his predecessor, Jose Damiani plus a few local dignitaries. The hour and a half went by quickly and there ensued a delicious buffet with incredible desserts (not recommended for the waistline).
Enough of the frills and sociability. Tomorrow it’s down to business at 10:30 a.m. sharp!! Let the bidding begin.
October 15th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
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Today, Saturday, the preliminaries take place .. Registration, TD meetings along with Disciplinary Commission and Appeals Committees, Captains Meetings and finally topped off with the Opening Ceremony and Buffet. Sunday the events officially begin with many matches being featured on BBO. That’s it for now.
October 13th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~
10 Comments
After arising at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, we arrived at Veldhoven, Holland about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday via Brussels (nine hours in advance of Pacific Time). They were short-staffed at the Brussels airport and it took us an hour to go through customs (as they were unprepared and disorganized to handle four different planes arriving at approximately the same time.) But hold it – we weren’t at the hotel yet. An entertaining, erudite retired gentleman, Harry deBrouwer (a volunteer transport) by pre-arrangement, picked us and our baggage up and took us to the hotel center an hour and a quarter away. All in all approximately twenty hours of waking and traveling time.
Not only was Harry the BEST driver I had ever been with (present husband excluded, ha ha) – he was the fastest. We were shocked to learn the super six lane divided highways allowed something like 80 MPH with no physical police surveillance. Everything was done by technology and if you were in violation, you would receive your ticket in the mail … the wave of the future, mind you!
We arrived at the NH CONFERENCE CENTER KONINGSHOF (HOTEL/PLAYING QUARTERS) exhausted – to put it mildly. It was desolate. However, it was only early afternoon, so while Bobby rested and watched TV, I unpacked and unpacked and unpacked (for a 21 day stay). We had a lovely dinner in the hotel and had a long night’s rest before waking up for a delicious unusual breakfast buffet. Few of the contestants have arrived yet, but it is of interest that some of our Juniors were already here. Definitely a journey from which to unwind and more importantly, to get over jet lag, before play starts.
Stay tuned.
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