Minnesota Bridge

Vanderbilt 2013 Recap

For those who were among the thousands who logged onto BridgeBase for the finals of the Vanderbilt, you know just how thrilling that match was.

For the rest of us - and for those who would like to review the excitement that they watched - Mike Cassel has kindly written up some of the more fascinating hands from the last day of St. Louis' most prestigious event.

Our thanks to Mike for his analysis, and to the Auken and Prooijen teams for their spectacular play.  Special congratulations, too, to the Auken team for an amazing win playing four-handed and besting so many exceptional teams!

0-10,000 Swiss in St. Louis

A new NABC event is underway in St. Louis - the 0-10,000 Swiss.  As I am sure all know, there are some most talented players out there who for various reasons have not built up a gigantic tally of masterpoints.  After Day One of qualification, they are competing in this new team event.

Lots of Minnesotans made it through  - including the team of Bob Balderson, Kurt Schaeffer, Tom Holzer and Rick Ekstrom, whose score put them in 2nd place with lots of carryover.  Also competing are these teams:

Mike Cassel, Barry Purrington, John Koch and Terry Beckman

Tony Ames, Judy Nassar, Bruce Boje and Terry Lijewski

Peg Waller, Ron DeHarpporte, Jay Baum and Kathy Baum

Grant Broadwine, Ann Van Ryn, Pat Burrows, Carol Cummings

Needless to say, we wish them all the best of luck in the virgin voyage of 0-10K Swiss!

NAP Flight A - 2013

The Spring NABC in St. Louis is now underway!  Day One of the North American Pairs has concluded.  The 28 pairs of qualifiers will duke it out in two sessions to see who rises to the top.

Alas.  In District 14, two of our three pairs didn't make the big cut.  Bob Balderson and Kurt Schaeffer, and Bill Kent and Peg Kaplan needed a bit more. 

Nevertheless, our third qualifiers at the District level, Terry Beckman and John Koch, will be vying for a win today.  Good luck to T & John!

 

 

 

 

 

Desperately Seeking Teammates

The "desperate" part is an overbid by your blogmaster!

The real deal is that Mike Cassel and his frequent NABC partner, Andy Kaufman, are looking for good teammates for the Jacoby Swiss at the end of the Spring NABC in St. Louis. 

Mike and Andy have done well previously.  In Philadelphia, they were 20th in the Roth Swiss. 

If you'd like to join their partnership and bump them up in the standings, contact Mike at mc2mikec@aol.com.

In addition, this shall be linked at the "want ad" header on the left.  If you have something you'd like advertised at MN Bridge that is bridge related, please let me know at mrmollo@aol.com and I can get it posted.

 

 

Memphis Vanderbilt Victors!

Hometown Joe Grue wins again!  ACBL President Sharon Anderson presents the Vanderbilt trophy to Joe, Leslie Amoils, Darren Wolpert, Curtis Cheek, Ishmael Delmonte, Thomas Bessis.

Joe & Bjorgvin in Memphis NAP

Joe Rice and Bjorgvin Kristinsson are currently leading going into tomorrow's finals!  Join me in wishing them good luck!

MN Silver Ribbon Contenders in Memphis

 

Judy Schwarz, Jean Boettcher, Steve Gaynor and Phil Schwartz are all smiles at the Spring 2012 NABC in Memphis!

 

Seattle in Pictures

Check out District14.org for shots of players from our district and those with longtime ties competing in Seattle!

Ladies; Start Your Engines

The first day of NABC events has begun at the Fall Nationals in Seattle.  Two of our Minnesota pairs are excelling!

In the Smith Life Master Womens, a well known Minnesota partnership currently stands in fourth.  Will this pair event be the charm for Cindy Balderson and Carole Miner?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also competing are Sharon Anderson and Peg Waller.  Sharon is still beaming about the recent election that names her ACBL president-elect.  Peg carefully studies her cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best of luck to all our Minnesota ladies in the final two sessions!

District 14 GNT!

District 14's Flight A GNT team is in the finals!  Best of luck to Kurt Schaeffer, Kerry Holloway, Bjorgvin Kristinsson and Keith Connolly as they compete for the GNT title!

Photos from yesterday's semi-final competition in which the team was victorious.

 

Toronto 2011

For those Minnesotans heading to Toronto for the summer NABC, have a wonderful time!  May you have many interesting - and successful! - hands.

First up on the schedule is the Grand National Teams.  Check out District 14 Director Sharon Anderson's website for the players heading from our district. 

Go get 'em, GNT teams!

Ah, Youth!

Many of you are aware of Joe Grue's super showing in Louisville.  Winning the Flight A NAP and capturing 2nd place in the Vanderbilt is an awesome feat!

Yet, Joe was not the only player in his 20's to 30's to have a fabulous NABC.  Read here to see how younger players are making their mark - big time - on the national scene.

Ladies Pairs

Two of our best, brightest and most lovely ladies in between competition in Louisville's Women's Pairs!

 

Our Joey

It's some years now since little Joey Grue started competing at the Twin City Bridge Center.  Even when he began in his early teens, Joe rattled those with dozens of years more experience.  Joe didn't bat an eye if he went for 800 - and amazingly early he found amazingly good plays.

Though Joe left the Minneapple some years ago for  the Big Apple, all of us back home remember him with fondness - and applaud his successes with pride.  Well; we've got another one to applaud; last night, Joe and his partner, Shane Blanchard, won the North American Pairs, Flight A.  Shane is also a top young star, with bridge lineage of the highest order.

Congratulations to these young men on their win!  We look forward to many more impressive accomplishments to come.

Day One

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First day in Orlando, and Jean and Steve already have a pair event win.  Congratulations!

 

NAP Today; Louisville Tomorrow!

Would you like to attend the Louisville NABC next spring?  The North American Pairs could be your springboard!

The first weekend in October, all players who have qualified in club games are welcome to compete in the District 14 NAP Finals.  The event will be held in New Brighton, a northern suburb in the Twin Cities.  You can check specific times, dates and qualification brackets in the NAP flyer.

The NAP is an exciting way to compete against your peers and have the opportunity to win a subsidized trip to an NABC!  If you have not yet qualified for the Finals, be sure to find a NAP club game in your area.  Do well in the NAP today - and find yourself heading to Louisville next March!

Tales from the Victorious

Check out Paul Gutterman and Richard Lawson's articles about their fabulous District 14 GNT Flight B win in New Orleans!  Now posted at Sharon Anderson's site.

National Champions!

Congratulations to Eric, Paul, Andy and Richard for their Sheinwold Flight B GNT Teams!

 

Go Get 'Em, District 14 GNT!

One team remains in 2010's GNT competition:  Flight B.  Here is to another winning day for Andy Caranicas, Eric Hendrickson, Richard Lawson and Paul Gutterman!

 

Tales from the Vanderbilt

After I finished limping through the grueling finals of the Swiss Teams in Reno, I returned to my room to watch a most exciting Vanderbilt finish.

Mike Cassel was also observing; he has produced a short quiz about 3 key hands.

Can you win the Vanderbilt?  Check your skills!  While you're at it, however, do remember that these players are absolutely bone tired ....!

And - a few more Minnesotans enjoying the Reno NABC, too!