Source: ACBL
Friday July 24
Spingold semis: Lavazza vs. Monaco, Assael vs. Schwartz
The semifinal matches in the Spingold KO Teams features clashes between multi-national powerhouses. Team Lavazza captained by Giorgio Duboin will take on Pierre Zimmermann’s Team Monaco, while in the other bracket Team Assael led by Antonio Sementa will face Richard Schwartz’s squad.
Lavazza and Monaco narrowly won their respective quarterfinal matches, with Lavazza squeaking by Team Grue by a single IMP 114-113. Monaco outlasted Aaron Silverstein’s team 90-85. Team Assael led Bob Hamman’s squad all the way in their match, with Assael winning 140-119. Schwartz came from 29 IMPs behind in the third quarter to beat Rose Meltzer’s team 152-141.
TEAM MONACO: Pierre Zimmermann – Franck Multon – Geir Helgemo – Tor Helness – Fulvio Fantoni – Claudio Nunes,
TEAM LAVAZZA: Giorgio Duboin, Torino Italy; Zia Mahmood, New York NY; Alejandro Bianchedi – Agustin Madala, Buenos Aires Argentina; Norberto Bocchi, Barcelona Spain
TEAM ASSAEL: Antonio Sementa, Parma Italy; Alexander Smirnov, Lubeck Germany; Josef Piekarek, Hamburg Germany; Mustafa Cem Tokay, Istanbul Turkey
TEAM SCHWARTZ: Richard Schwartz, Lords Valley PA; Allan Graves, St Johnsbury VT; Lotan Fisher, Rishon
Le Zion Israel; Ron Schwartz, Ramat-Gan Israel; Boye Brogeland, Norway; Espen Lindqvist, Arendal Norway
Hanna wins Mixed BAM
Hanna and Joan Eaton are the winners of the
Freeman Mixed Board-a-Match Teams
The team captained by Nader Hanna emerged victorious in the Freeman Mixed Board-a-Match Teams on Friday. Hanna’s teammates were Michael Roche, Joan Eaton and Karen Cumpstone. All four members of the squad, which also won the event in 2012, are from Canada. Their final score was 33.86, consisting of a 1.36 carryover, 14.50 in the first final session and 18.00 in the second final session. Finishing in a tie for second with 32.86 were
the David Berkowitz-led squad and the team captained by Beth Palmer. The Berkowitz team also included Lisa and
Dana Berkowitz, Craig Ganzer and Robert Brady. Last year, three members of Berkowitz’s team – Dana Berkowitz, Ganzer and Brady – were runners-up in the Mixed BAM. Palmer’s teammates were Robin Taylor, Alan Sontag, William Cole, Michael Polowan and Lynn Deas.
Grossack brothers too Fast for field
Brothers Adam Grossack and Zach Grossack completely dominated the final of the NABC+ Fast Pairs, scoring 71.85% in the first session and 65.72% in the second to win the contest by three boards. It was the first NABC+ title for Adam, 22, and Zach, 17. The siblings are members of the USA1 (under 26) squad that will play for the world Junior title in Turkey later this year. The Grossacks, who stood in 16th place after Thursday’s qualifying round, posted a two-day total of 2887.40 (77 was top). In second with 2651.69 was the Polish pair Marcin Mazurkiewicz and Krzysztof Jassem. They were second in the contest last year, as well. The NABC+ Fast Pairs requires contestants to play two-board rounds in 11 minutes instead of the usual 15.