For those looking for spring sectionals - you are in luck!
Early March will see the Spring is Coming Sectional at the Twin City Bridge Center in Minneapolis. With open pairs, 299'er games, pair/team games and a Swiss on Sunday - there is something for everyone!
It's not too early to start contemplating Minnesota Regionals for 2012. And yes; "regionals" - plural - is accurate!
The very familiar and very popular Minnesota Gopher will be held at the Ramada by Mall of America from May 21 - 27.
For 2012, however, we have a "bonus" regional. Affiliated with the USBF (United States Bridge Federation), this regional will be held in Woodbury from October 8 - 14. We do not yet have a flyer for this tournament. We'll post the specifics as soon as they are available.
Definitely start thinking about your plans for our two premier tournaments in 2012!
Ben Kristensen's USBF Junior team may be composed of all 13 and 14 year olds. Do not, however, think that their young age means they cannot follow suit. They do - and quite smartly!
Sunday, Ben and partner Burke Snowden, plus teammates Hakan Berk and David Soukup won a tightly contested match by five IMPS to earn the right to represent the US as USA2. Over 64 boards, as the match swung back and forth, the Snowden team was on the plus side when it mattered.
My spies tell me that the boys will add Murphy Green and Arjun Dhir, two of the pairs they played against yesterday, to be their third pair.
We wish our wiz kid from Duluth the best as he gets ready for the 14th World Youth Bridge Team Championships and China this summer! Hands and more detailed reports shall be forthcoming.
2012 is less than two weeks away ... and Winter Carnival 2012 follows soon thereafter!
As always, the Winter Carnival tournament is a highlight of Minnesota's schedule. It's fine schedule and fun festivities are a bright spot - irrespective of the cold and snow.
This year the tournament falls on January 27-29. Do check out the flyer below so you can make all your plans for Minnesota's first sectional of the year!
Before we get stuffed full of turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, before we get too wrapped up in presents that will need to be festooned for the holidays - a bridge reminder. The Holiday Sectional Tournament at the Bridge Center of St. Paul is coming up soon!
Thanks again to our stupendous tournament co-chairmen, Verda Gould and Kathy Beckman. All their hard work and tireless efforts - along with many volunteers, our great directing staff, caddies and YOU made MN State Sectional 2011 super!
We survived the "fall back" time change and finished the MN State Sectional on time!
Our thanks to co-chairmen Kathy Beckman and Verda Gould for all their hard work. Appreciation, too, to Mike Flader and his directing staff. They had to contend with a great turnout and find spots for all of us to play!
Great hospitality every day - and loads of fun!
Results are below. Official ACBL results will be posted as soon as they are available - along with some photos from the weekend, too.
Wonderful to see everyone's smiling face this weekend!
Do you want to have fun, play bridge with your friends, win masterpoints and events - and perhaps improve your game so that one day you can be second in the Bermuda Bowl like Joe Grue?
Then be sure to come and compete at the Minnesota State tournament next weekend! From November 4-6 at America's Best Value Inn in Shakopee, you can enjoy loads of bridge plus super hospitality. Highlights include:
Free mini muffins and coffee on Friday and Saturday mornings
Ice cream following Friday night's session
Full buffet dinner in between Saturday afternoon and evening sessions
Another great buffet dinner Sunday between Swiss sessions
Free coffee & candy every session every day
A flyer with all the details about this excellent tournament can be found to the left.
We cannot promise that competing at the Minnesota State will send you to the Bermuda Bowl. We can, however, promise that you will have a great time and be delighted with all the Minnesota hospitality!
District 14 President Verda Gould spotted an error in the schedule we posted a couple of days ago. Although we provided an update on that post, we want to make certain that everyone is aware of the correct venue for the sectional! Here is the update; sorry for any confusion!
UPDATE: The site for the Minnesota State Sectional on November 4-6 is NOT being held at Mystic Lake. This year's site is the American Best Value Inn (formerly the Canterbury Inn.) Please note that the schedule below shows the incorrect venue for the sectional. We are looking forward to playing at American Best Value!
Special congratulations to Minnesotans Tony Ames and Judy Nassar, 2nd in Flight A, Joe Rice and Bjorgvin Kristinsson, Richard Lawson and Andy Caranicas, Mark Lasoff and Herb Hein, 1, 2 and 3 respectively in Flight B - and to Jake and Jeff Olson, who tied for 1st in Flight C.
Last weekend, competitors battled at Minnesota's beautiful Paul Bunyan autumn sectional near Duluth. One of those competitors was Mike Cassel.
Mike has kindly written a report on both the tournament at the Black Bear casino and some most interesting hands. Our thanks to Mike, and congratulations to all those who were victorious Up North!
Over the holiday weekend, Minnesotans grilled brats, biked in the glorious sunshine - and played bridge at the Twin City Bridge Center Labor Day Silver Sectional. Every session, players could enjoy yummy treats and fun competition.
Congratulations to Paolo Ranaldi, who earned almost 20 masterpoints to lead the way, with Harry Sapienza and Joe Rice right behind. Results from all the events can be viewed here.
Thanks to Teri and Chip Blu for their hospitality, Tony Ames and Larry Oakey for their excellent directing - and to all of you for making the weekend a blast!
September is almost here! Labor Day is around the corner!
And - with that, the Twin City Bridge Center is hosting the end-of-summer-beginning-of-fall Labor Day Silver Point Sectional. Check out the schedule, and be sure to play as much as you can!
(Unit 178 President Sue Jackson says to check out the coat hooks, too. You may find a sweater or umbrella that you've been missing!)
When temperatures hover around 100, thoughts of October and a fall sectional may be far, far away! But - the Autumn Harvest Sectional will arrive sooner than you think!
The schedule for this October event, being held October 14-16, is below. Start making plans now!
At the top of the masterpoint heap, we find Roger Anderson. The 19.11 points he earned were less than 1 masterpoint away from Sue Jackson. Well done!
We hope that everyone enjoyed the array of events available all week, the fine hospitality of the Twin Cities Bridge Center, the efforts of our directors and - of course - the competition!
Yes - I know it's brutally hot out there this weekend in the Twin Cities. At the Twin City Bridge Center yesterday, however, during the Aquatennial - it was very cool!
The Aquatennial Silver Point Sectional is in full swing! Two days of sessions have passed - but - you are in luck! The tournament continues through Friday, Saturday and Sunday.