Bridge At Its Best ....
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Zeiger, Molnar Gary Zeiger and Jean Molnar have been honored by the Professional Tournament Directors Association for outstanding work in their field. Zeiger, of Phoenix, has received the Tom Weeks Award for outstanding professionalism during the previous year. Weeks was an associate national director and the first treasurer of the PTDA. Molnar, of San Diego, is the recipient of the Fred Friendly Award for showing courtesy and friendliness to players. The award is named after the late TD Paul Stehly, an associate national director who was legendary for his warmth and good cheer. His nickname was Fred Friendly. Zeiger is a transplanted New Yorker – he lived on Long Island – who moved to the West in 1978 to get away from the humid climate back East. A longtime bridge player, he turned to directing in the late Eighties when his regular bridge partner moved away. He credits the late John Rogers and Ellie Kipperman with helping him along as a TD. Zeiger doesn’t expect to get rich working as a TD, but he’s hooked, in part because he enjoys working with so many bright people. “There’s nothing else in the world I would rather do,” he says. Molnar, a bridge player from the age of 12, moved around a lot in her youth – her father was in the Air Force – but she has been in San Diego most of her life. She began playing bridge seriously around 1980. She began working as a director about 20 years ago when the owner of the bridge club where she played a lot suggested, “Why don’t you take the director’s test? I think you would be good with my women.” Molnar became a tournament director about 1990 and has stuck with it. “I love the players, even if they aren’t happy sometimes.” She also expresses fondness for her fellow TDs. “They’re all just great.” Molnar says she has learned from every TD she has worked with over the years, but especially Bob and Betty Bratcher and Kipperman. As for the Fred Friendly Award, Molnar says, “It’s easy to be friendly when you like the players.” Poland big winner In School TeamsThe first World School Teams Championship ended with Poland taking the title in great style. The Poles won 119 Victory Points out of a possible 125. They won all five matches handily. The new world champions are Marcin Malesa, Piotr Nawrocki, Filip Niziol, Przemyslaw Piotrowski, Jan Sikora and Michal Nowosadzki, with Leszek Nowak as non-playing captain. Finishing in second place was another team from Zone 1 (Europe). Israel had 94 Victory Points. Their team consisted of Eliran Argelasi, Eran Asseraf, Alon Birman, Gilad Ofir, with Amir Levin as non-playing captain. Israel won four of their five matches. Norway made a strong finish to place third with 77 Victory Points. Canada came fourth with a few more points than the USA Red and the USA Blue squads. Poland built up a substantial lead in the first half against USA Blue and won easily. |
In the decisive matches for the silver and bronze medals, Canada vs. Israel and Norway vs. USA Red, the outcomes were in doubt right up to the end. It wasn’t until the last 12 boards that Israel and Norway pulled away from their opponents. Complete details available Fall NABC in Orlando features terrific venueMost NABCs offer a chance to combine bridge with a vacation — and it’s especially true of the 2004 Fall NABC in Orlando. For the first time, the fall tournament in Orlando will all be under one roof — and what a roof it is! The Orlando World Center Marriott is an elegant resort and convention center, located on 200 acres just a stone’s throw from a wide array of attractions. Only a mile and a half away are Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios. SeaWorld is only five miles away, and Gatorland is within eight miles. If shopping is on your list of things to do, you won’t have to go far from the Marriott to satisfy the urge. The practically brand-new Mall at Millenia, only minutes away, features 150 stores, including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. The Downtown Disney Marketplace, part of the Walt Disney World Resort, is only a mile and a half away. Florida Mall, Orlando’s largest mall with more than 250 stores, is also nearby. Belz Factory Outlet World, which has the area’s largest collection of outlet stores, is within nine miles. All those attractions notwithstanding, the Marriott is so impressive you might not want to leave. The resort has six swimming pools, an 18-hole championship golf course, four lighted tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, a 24-hour fitness center and a spa. If you have ever visited Central Florida, you know the weather will be accommodating. Stay in one of the 2000 guest rooms and you will have easy access to any of the 10 restaurants and lounges on the property. If you drive, present your ACBL convention card and park for free. As with all Florida tournaments, players will enjoy free coffee and orange juice. The bridge, of course, will run the gamut from the major events to the 0–5 newcomer games. Whatever your level of experience, there is a game for you —- and they go from morning to well past midnight every night except for the second Sunday. Entertainment The Orlando entertainment committee is still working on the lineup of acts and fun activities for players at the Fall NABC, but here’s a preview of some of the fun.
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Bridge Baron leads Computer eventAfter the fifth of seven round-robin matches, five of the eight international robots are in contention for a place in the semifinals knockout round of the Computer Bridge Championship. Based on today’s matchups, the prediction is that Microbridge will battle Q-Plus Bridge in the last round-robin match to determine who will join Bridge Baron,Wbridge 5 and Jack in the semifinals. The standings after 7 rounds: 1 Bridge Baron 97 2 Wbridge 5 96 3 Q-Plus Bridge 94 4 Jack 88 5 Micro Bridge 84 6 Blue Chip Bridge 59 7 Meadowlark Bridge 36 8 Sabrina 3 New Life MasterMukta Buckly of New York City earned her gold card in the Senior Pairs. See pdf version.
 Susan Scholer with the King of Hearts The first time Alan Hodesblatt worked a tournament director training session it was – to put the best face on it – a harrowing experience.
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