Well, it’s Day 2 of the Championships and the 10.5 hour jet lag still has a hold of Team USA 1. I was witness to the following conversation just prior to the first match of the day (names withheld to protect the players):
Player 1: You are West. Player 2: Well, how do you know that?
Player 1: Cause I am East and you are my partner so you are West!
After we all had a good laugh, I made sure the players got to their assigned chairs. Last thing we need is to sit the same direction! As I was walking towards the closed room to check on my other pair, Zia walked up to me and said, “I’m so lost. Where am I supposed to be?” I said, “Zia, unfortunately, I am not your Captain at this tournament so I don’t know, but I will be happy to find out for you.” Zia replied, “Dear, I know. I so wish you were my Captain, then I would be in my seat by now!.” Apparently, many of the USA players are struggling with the time zone change.
Once my players were seated, I went to give an interview to the local newspapers with L. Ravichandran who is the Public Relations for the Championships and A. Vinod who is a Journalist for the Chennai equivalent of The New York Times. There were a couple of other journalists from local newspapers as well as a photographer. Apparently, my mug shot will be in the largest paper in Chennai tomorrow :-). We chatted about bridge in the USA, Bridge in India, Captain’s duties and how to win world championships. I saw A. Vinod a few hours after the interview and he asked me if I would be able to read his article. I quipped, “Will it be in English?” He responded, “Yes” and I told him that of course I would find his paper and read his article.
At the start of the day, despite winning three matches on Day 1, USA 1 was in third behind France and Brazil. USA 1 had a tough draw for match 1 verses Australia because they play a lot of system which requires advanced discussion of defenses and the players are not allowed to take those types of defenses to the table. The only convention which a defense is allowed at the table is Multi 2D. Otherwise, you have to memorize your defense against systems you may only play once in a tournament. USA 1 got off to a good start up 15-3 and then the half-way point came along and Australia took the lead going into the last board. Luckily, USA 1 scored a 6 imp pick up on Board 32 to pull ahead 32-26.
Each day, there is a lunch break between Match 1 and Match 2. This was the Team lunch, along with several protein bars so that the players could review the cards of their next opponents…Brazil who was in second place, just ahead of USA 1!
During our lunch break, I met the Hospitality Chair Herbert Balachander and got to tell him how wonderful the local hospitality has been so far. I told him that the volunteers and players were over the top helpful and i wish I could bring them all back to the USA with me!
Match 2 was on Vugraph against Brazil and it was definitely a nail biter. Brazil had two lucky boards in the first half and went up 24-3. But then the slow crawl back to a tie started on Board 6 with 1, 2,3,4,9 and 2 imps scored on the next 6 boards to tie the match. USA 1 got two big swings in the last half of the match to finish with the final of 47-25. Even though USA 1 had now won 5 straight matches, they still trailed France by 7 Victory Points. France was on fire!
Once the teammates had left the building, a story was told about the Spade 9 (again names are withheld to protect the teammates ~ you never want your teammates to know about these types of plays). The story goes something like this…
Player: Well, I was holding the small spade in my hand and realized that the 9 of spades was the correct play but I was too tired to put the small card back into my hand and it only mattered if my partner held the Spade Q. Unfortunately, partner did hold the Spade Q and it would have been the setting trick to a partscore. Oh well, Jet Lag 1 – USA 0! Despite the low spade play, USA 1 took 15.38 VPs out of 20 verse Brazil.
In the final match of the day, USA 1 played Singapore who is always a formidable opponent. Unfortunately for Singapore, Meckwell and Levstein dominated throughout the match. The final was 31-5 for 16.09 VPs. France finally lost a match to Canada (which I think was Canada’s first win in 6 matches) and this allowed USA 1 to pull within a virtual tie with France for 1st overall at the end of Day 2.
As an aside, you are all invited to my FREE Webinar on Wednesday from 11am-1pm (New York Time) entitled “Bid These Hands with Me.” I will be presenting this Webinar from India after the final match on Day 4 ~ Click Here to Register. Hopefully by Day 4, my jet lag will be gone!
In the Venice Cup (Women ~ Which, BTW I keep getting mistaken for being their Captain…Guess cause I’m a girl), both USA 1 and USA 2 had a very good Day 2 sitting 3rd and 4th, respectively. USA 1 members are Jill Levin, Jill Meyers, Hansa Narasmhan, Judi Radin, Jenny Wolpert and Migry Campanile. NPC: Christal Henner and Coach: Jan Martel. USA 2 members are Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Joann Glasson, Beth Palmer, Janice Seamon-Molson and Tobi Sokolow. NPC: David Sokolow.
In the d’Orsi Bowl (Senior), USA 1 is in 4th position and USA 2 is in 9th place ~ Just out of Qualifying. Remember, the top 8 teams advance to the KO phase of the Championships but not until Saturday night…So lots of time for USA 2 to climb back into the all important Top 8.
Day 3 brings the following opponents for Bermuda Bowl USA 1:
11am (Chennai Time) ~ USA 2. This is on BBO so if you are awake – come watch this great match!
2:30pm (Chennai Time) ~ Denmark. This is one of the substitute teams
5:20pm (Chennai Time) ~ Bulgaria. This is on BBO. Please join the team and cheer USA 1 to victory!
If you are asleep during USA 1’s matches, then visit the Running Scores and Bulletin Page for a recap of the day’s events. Can’t sleep? Then jump on Bridge Base Online and watch the matches live!
The EBL President (also the Chair of the WBF Eligibility Committee) is holding a press conference tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29th at 1:15pm (following Match 1) i presume about the Polish situation. I’ll post an update as soon as Match 2 starts.
Go Team USA 1!
