Minnesota Bridge

Our Northern Light

 

Tomorrow will be nine months since Larry Oakey left this world. Sometimes it feels as if forever since we've been missing him. Other days, it seems like in just a few minutes, he will be walking into the Bridge Center, parking his bike and then busying himself with dozens of tasks. Whichever - Minnesota's bridge world is not the same without him.

Every end of year, the Star Tribune highlights well known people who passed away during the year. Then, they invite readers to remember their own heralded people of note. I am thrilled to note that the Strib honored TGLO with an entry I submitted.

 

The Great Larry Oakey

By Peg Kaplan

 

 

"We will miss you Larry"

 

The greatest tournament bridge player ever to grace our state died this year. We said goodbye to Larry Oakey (TGLO) most fittingly on April 1st, as he had a wickedly quick and dry sense of humor in addition to his talents at the bridge table.

Yet, bridge ability alone was not why he was so revered. Larry was an incredible teacher, director of games and a volunteer of the highest order. In addition to the countless hours devoted to our game, Larry coached girls’ softball, worked at the MPLS Art Institute across from his apartment, and gave enormous time to the theatres where he enjoyed his second love: movies.

Indeed, following his death, the Uptown Theatre’s marquee read: “We will miss you Larry.”

Larry never married and had no children. Yet, at the many memorials held following his sudden demise at 80, hundreds showed up. All wished to pay their respects to the man with such a wide variety of interests and enormous giving to them.

Few had his giant intellect, his huge facility with numbers (he literally was able to beat early computers with calculations), all tempered with great gentleness and kindness. The heart of Minnesota’s bridge world, TGLO, shall be treasured and remembered always.

2017 Michael Seamon Junior USBC's

Today, eighteen teams of Juniors players, in four groups (3 open groups, categorized by age and one for female players) start competition in Atlanta for the 2017 Michael Seamon Junior Trials. At least one team in each category shall represent us at the World Youth Teams Bridge Championships in China, near Shanghai, August 8-18, 2018.

We are thrilled that three of the teams (U26, born 1993 or later and the Rona, women born 1993 or later) have players from Minnesota!

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Ben Kristensen (on the far right), our superstar player from Duluth, is pictured with his Spingold team from Toronto, who this summer beat the mighty Monaco team. Ben is playing with his Spingold teammates in Atlanta, along with two other elite juniors.

 

 

Also playing in the U26 is the president of Carleton College's Bridge Club - Alexander Frieden.  In addition to doing a fine job managing and growing bridge at Carleton, Alexander has been frequenting Minnesota tournaments and made it to the San Diego Nationals! 

 

 

In the Rona competition, Morgan Johnstone, one of our avid competitors involved in the University of MN honors bridge studies, is representing our state.  We see Morgan frequently at both Minnesota tournaments and the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club, and are thrilled to see her scores going up, up, up!  Here's to more "up up and away" in Atlanta, Morgan!

For those who would like to see our juniors in action, Vugraph will begin on Thursday, December 28th, on BBO. The Vugraph schedule is here.

More information about the Junior competition can be found at the USBF website. And for frequent updates, be sure to check out the Daily Bulletins, ably provided by the multi-talented Suzi Subeck.

Best of luck, Ben, Alexander and Morgan!  And to all our junior competitors, have a fabulous time enjoying your competition!

Unit 178 Minutes and January Agenda

Thanks to Unit 178 Board members for their continued efforts to make bridge great in the Minneapolis area!

Below are the Unit's November minutes and the upcoming agenda for January.

Happy Holidays!

 

Wishing the best to all of Minnesota's bridge players!

Enjoy!

Lee Steinmeier - 1942 - 2017

 

December is a festive time for us all. Nevertheless, life - and death - can occur at any moment.  For our Minnesota bridge community, we are sad to report that we lost a long time friend and fine player this week:  Lee Steinmeier. From when I first began to play, I remember Lee and almost forever partner Dianne Carr competing - and frequently beating - the competition.

Lee and Dianne played bridge with Warren Nelson and Larry Uttley Tuesday morning in Minong. They returned to Duluth afterwards - and - sometime later in the day, Lee was gone.

A beautiful obituary about Lee is available at the Doughtery Funeral Home in Duluth. Our condolences to his family, friends and many bridge cohorts who shall miss our friend, partner and teammate.

 

"Diamond" in Every Way!

 

Stephen Jackson sent me a pleasant email the other day. His partner in life and at the table - Sue Jackson - had just earned Diamond Life Master status!  I was happy for Sue and wanted to highlight this excellent Minnesotan player/volunteer/board member/teacher + more.  I asked Stephen if he wished to offer some comments about Sue and her achievement. Instead, though, the New DLM herself took on the task!

Here are Sue's thoughts. Please join me in congratulating a woman who does so much for bridge in Minnesota - including playing darn well!

 

Stephen wanted me to send something. I don't need an article about all I do for bridge because bridge does so much for me, but here are my favorite bridge memories:

 

♠Offering “carless” Stephen Jackson a ride home from bridge on a bitterly cold night, and we married two years later.

♥Playing in a 1980 Nationals side game on our honeymoon and coming in first!

♦Being the victim of a squeeze play by the legendary Dorothy Kantor Buchanan. I was in awe and determined to learn how to do that.

♣The first time I executed a double squeeze (against Brian Crossley and Jack Rhatigan) and knew what I was doing.

♠Playing in a regional pairs game with Mike Hoffmann in which, on the last board, Mike had to do something illogical against an expert pair to trick them so he could make a doubled contract to win the event.

♥Playing with my husband at the nationals and having a beautiful auction to get to 7 clubs . . . only to be foiled by a 5-0 trump break.

♦Best of all, though, is getting to know so many wonderful people at the bridge table. I constantly wonder, why doesn’t everyone play this game?!

Minnesota Shines in San Diego National Events!

 

An NABC has a wide variety of events for all. Yet for many, the big thrill of attending and competing is the opportunity to play in a national event - and - finish in the overalls.  

As you can see from the District 14 list below (generously prepared for us by Roger Anderson), a number of Minnesotans did just that!

A special "shout out" to those who made it to the top ten:  Sharon Anderson, 4th in the Whitehead Women's Pairs, Mike Cassel & Barry Purrington, 8th in the 0-10,000 Swiss Teams, Joel Kramer and Mike Flader, just behind in 9th in the 0-10,000 Swiss. 

And, the REALLY big show by Dunga Liu.  Dunga and his team marched through a world class Reisinger field to end up victors after 3 days of play!

Very well done; we are proud of you all!

Holiday Sectional Results

 

Since your intrepid webmaster was in San Diego during the Holiday Sectional, I was unable to photograph those who enjoyed the first weekend in December tourney. Fortunately, however, at last year's same event, I did capture a shot of this year's #1 masterpoint earner - Kerry Holloway. As is often the case, this talented player and devoted volunteer managed to play with a wide array of partners and do very well! Kerry's 24.65 masterpoints earned bested the rest of the field; Steve Gaynor and Jean Boettcher were close behind with matching 22.98's. The list of masterpoint winners is here; results from each event here.

And - a special mention to Paolo Ranaldi and Tony Ames.  This duo managed to produce over 72% in Sunday's Open Pairs!  VWD!

Thanks to Chair Elaine Barr, all her volunteers and the directing staff for a fine December tourney!

Blue Ribbon Winners - Grue & Greco

 

No matter how many years pass, Joe Grue will always be the Twin Cities "home town" champion.  Many of us realized shortly after this young boy began to play, that he rated to be a super star.  Predictions definitely came true!

Though only in his mid-thirties, Joe has already amassed quite the amazing resume.  Last night in San Diego?  The list of triumphs became even more impressive with a Blue Ribbon Pairs win with partner Eric Greco. Joe's regular partner, Brad Moss, finished a very close third in this 6 session, super tough event.

Coming on the heels of an incredibly thrilling Bermuda Bowl win, over and over, Joe proves that he is among the most elite in the world. All of us in Minnesota are so proud of you, Joe - and thrilled for your latest win with Eric!