ORLANDO-FALL NABC 2016-NOV. 24-DEC. 4
Results/Daily Bulletins Facebook
December 02
Meckstroth, Rodwell win Blue Ribbon Pairs
Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell started the final day of the Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs in 13th place, but put together two solid sessions to win the event for the third time as partners by 47.27 matchpoints on a top of 38. The win seals the 2016 Player of the Year honor for Meckstroth. Second place went to Billy Cohen and Ron Smith. The winners, often referred to as Meckwell, have been among the top pairs in bridge for more than three decades. They now have 121 North American titles between them – 61 for Rodwell, 60 for Meckstroth. They have won seven world championships as partners. They won the Blue Ribbon Pairs in 1982 and in 2008.
Trailing the leaders by 33.29 matchpoints at the start of play on Thursday, the winners moved into fourth place with a 58.17% game in the first final session, then had the second-best game in the second final (59.31%) to take the title. Meckstroth and Rodwell dropped into the Blue Ribbon Pairs semifinal after winning the Baze Senior Knockout Teams as part of the Nick Nickell squad. Two of their teammates and two of their opponents in the final of the Senior KO also dropped in. Bob Hamman and Bramley of the Nickell team finished fourth in the Blue Ribbon. Jim Krekorian and Drew Casen, losers in the Senior KO final, came in fifth.
Reisinger BAM starts today
Competition for the Reisinger Trophy (the Chicago Trophy until 1965) starts today. The event is a six-session open team-of-four event scored by board-a-match with two qualifying sessions, two semifinal sessions and two final sessions. It was contested as a four-session championship until 1966. The event is generally thought to be the toughest on the ACBL tournament calendar.
2017 Bridge Hall of Fame Candidates
The ACBL Hall of Fame Committee has announced the nominations of six members for the class of 2017. The candidates, all Grand Life Masters, are listed in alphabetical order:
Bart Bramley, Dallas TX – 17 North American Bridge Championships and a gold medal in the d’Orsi Senior Bowl in 2007, silver in the 2005 World Transnational Open Teams and a bronze in the 1998 Open Teams.
Lynn Deas, Schenectady NY – 27 NABC wins and nine world championships made up of seven Women’s team events (three in the Venice Cup, two in the World Bridge Games [formerly Olympiad], one in the McConnell Cup, and one in the SportAccord World Mind Games) and two in Women’s pairs events (World Bridge Series and SportAccord World Mind Games). Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Jeff Meckstroth, Clearwater Beach FL – 60 NABC victories and eight Open world championships including five gold medals in the Bermuda Bowl, one in the World Bridge Games, one in the World Open Pairs, and one in the World Mixed Pairs. Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Beth Palmer, Chevy Chase MD – 28 NABC wins and six world titles, made up of four Women’s team titles (two in the Venice Cup, one in the McConnell Cup, one in the SportAccord World Mind Games) and two Women’s pair gold medals (World Bridge Series and SportAccord World Mind Games). Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Judi Radin, New York City – 16 North American championships, four gold medals in world championships: three in Women’s teams (one each in the Venice Cup, McConnell Cup and World Bridge Games) and one world Women’s pairs title. Many additional silver and bronze medals.
Howard Weinstein, Palm Beach Gardens FL – Nine NABC wins plus a silver medal in the 2007 Bermuda Bowl and bronze medals in WBF teams competition in 1998 and 2000.
Hoyos-Bernal lead 10K Fast Pairs
Carlos Hoyos of Bogota, Colombia, and Francisco Bernal of Miami topped the qualifying round of the 0-10,000 Fast Pairs. They will begin today’s two-session final with a lead of 6.78 matchpoints over Regena Edwards of Laurel MD and Linda Dunn of Memphis TN. Thirty-six pairs qualified for today’s two-session final.
0-5000 Mini-Blue Ribbon Pairs winners, Radu Nistor and Joan Brody.
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