Bulletin Issues		International Bridge Tournament
		1997 World Bridge Championships including Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup and Transnational Open Teams
		Editors - Locations - Dates
		Chief Editor: Henry Francis (USA) l Editors: Mark Horton (Great Britain), Brian Senior (Great Britain) l Layout Editor: Stelios Hatzidakis (Greece). Also: It is necessary to have contributions from others to round out world championship coverage. Our special thanks go to the following regular contributors: Tony Gordon, Barry Rigal, Knut Kjaernsrod and Terry Radjef.We also appreciate the articles we received from various occasional contributors.
		Hammamet, Tunisia
Bulletin 1		Monday, October 20, 1997
		All the competitors and officials gathered last night at the Royal Azur for the official opening of the 33rd Bermuda Bowl, 11th Venice Cup and first Transnational Open Teams.World Bridge Federation President Jose Damiani declared the Games open as the WBF flag was raised.
Bulletin 2		Tuesday, October 21, 1997
		The computer printouts are available in an Internet Version, a Postscript Version, and a PDF Version. These Daily Bulletins are made available as soon as they are finalised. Also Vugraph matches can be watched on line at the Bridge PlazaWeb Site at www.bridgeplaza.com.
Bulletin 3		Wednesday, October 22, 1997
		Carnival Time - Brazil Too Hot For France
Bulletin 4		Thursday, October 23, 1997
		Appeals Committee: Steen Møller (Chairman, Denmark), John Wignall (New Zealan), Bill Pencharz (Great Britain), Eric Kokish (Canada), Naki Bruni (Italy).
Bulletin 5		Friday, October 24, 1997
		Announcement: Omar Sharif, who always is drawn to wherever bridge is being played, joined the commentators in the vugraph room and kept the audience amused with his quips and observations.
		Announcement: You don't even have to leave your room to watch what's happening on vugraph. Just tune your TV set to Channel 27 for the hands and commentary. If you want to see how the players look as they play, it's right there on Channel 28.
		Trivial Pursuits: Alan Truscott poses the following question: Which team, including the Captain, competing in these Championships, consists entirely of World Champions?
Bulletin 6		Saturday, October 25, 1997
		Venice Cup: This race is unbelievably tight at the top. For the fifth straight day France is in first place ? but just barely. France defeated Netherlands and Brazil after losing to New Zealand to wind up with 262 Victory Points. But United States II, with Lynn Deas back in the lineup, scored powerful victories over Germany and South Africa after losing a squeaker to Great Britain. US II is now only 1 VP behind France.
		Interview: Omar Sharif, appearing at yesterday's press conference sponsored by the Tunisian Bridge Federation and the World Bridge Federation, called this tournament a historic occasion for Tunisia, the first Arabic country to hold a world bridge championship. Why is Omar here in Hammamet? I came here to promote bridge.The fact that the championship is in an Arabic country offers a great opportunity to make more countries aware of what a wonderful game bridge is. I have a great passion for this game, and this passion will never end.
Bulletin 7		Sunday, October 26, 1997
		The Oddest Team - Why Is Australia The Oddest Team? They have the two tallest men, the youngest woman, the oldest man. Also it's the only team without an appropriate national -- two Americans, one Indian, two New Zealanders and one Scot.
Bulletin 8		Monday, October 27, 1997
		United States I, winner in the round-robin, may be regretting having chosen China as their Bermuda Bowl quarterfinal opponent. China took the lead at the outset, but the Americans made several comebacks. But after each comeback China put on another spurt. The Chinese picked up 14 IMPs on the very last board to lead USA I, 156-127, after 64 boards.The play in yesterday's last segment, which was on vugraph, was superb on the part of both teams.They will play the last 32 boards today starting at 11.00.
Bulletin 9		Tuesday, October 28, 1997
		Tales from the Bermuda Bowl The late Jeremy Flint was the archetypal English gentleman. He was selected by the British Bridge League to represent Great Britain in the 1987 championships that were staged in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Upon receipt of the official letter of invitation he telephoned the Secretary, Anna Gudge, and informed her that his acceptance was conditional upon his being assured that he would have a room with a bath and not a shower. After a series of telexes Anna finally obtained a 100% assurance that he would get what he required. She telephoned Jeremy to tell him the news. He thanked her and confirmed that on that basis he was delighted to accept the invitation to represent Great Britain. Plucking up courage Anna politely enquired if he could tell her why the provision of a bath was so important. My dear, answered Jeremy, It's quite simple. It is completely impossible to smoke a cigar in the shower!
Bulletin 10		Wednesday, October 29, 1997
		Quote: While we were waiting for the gladiators to enter the arena for the second session of the semifinal, we discussed the possibility of the USA teams being designated in some way other than by numbers. Earlier this year, at the World Junior Championships in Hamilton, the Canadian teams, taking the colours of their flag, adopted the suffixes red and white. Unfortunately the American flag has three colours, but Erik Kokish found the perfect solution - USA Stars and USA Stripes!
Bulletin 11		Thursday, October 30, 1997
		Qualifying Change for Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup At its meetings in Hammamet,Tunisia, the Executive Council changed the Format for the Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup.The effect of the amendment is that: Any country represented in the next Rosenblum teams (Lille 1998) or by two pairs in the World Open Pairs, will recover its right to compete in the next Bermuda Bowl. Similarly, a country represented in the next McConnell teams, or by two pairs in the World Women's Pairs, will recover its right to compete in the Venice Cup.
Bulletin 12		Friday, October 31, 1997
		Note: After the first day of the finals of the Bermuda Bowl and the Venice Cup, both United States teams lead their opponents by 9 IMPs. It appears that we have two intensely contested finals to follow.
		Norway, United States II win Bronze Medals: Norway defeated United States I, 97-67, in a 32-board match to determine third place and the bronze medal in the Bermuda Bowl. Playing for Norway were Boye Brogeland, Erik Saelensminde, Geir Helgemo, Tor Helness, Glenn Groetheim and Terje Aa, with Einar Asbjon Brenne as non-playing captain.
		Venice Cup: The victor in the Venice Cup match for the bronze medal was won by United States II.They defeated France, winner of the round-robin, 114-66, in a 48-board match.The American team was made up of Kathie Wei-Sender, Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Kerri Sanborn, Beth Palmer and Irina Levitina, with Sue Sachs as non-playing captain.
Bulletin 13		Saturday, November 1, 1997
		Americans Win Venice Cup: Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Tobi Sokolow, Mildred Breed, Marinesa Letizia, Lisa Berkowitz, Tobi Picus (npc), with Wejdane Majeri as their recorder, and she was so friendly and helpful that the team adopted her as their team mascot.The team insisted on Wejdane joining them for the picture-taking.
		France Leads Bermuda Battle
Bulletin 14		Saturday, November 1, 1997 - Second Edition
		France Wins the Bermuda Bowl - Paul Chemla, Christian Mari, Hervé Mouiel, Alain Lévy, Michel Perron and Frank Multon, with npc Jean-Louis Stoppa
		Runners-Up: USA with Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, with Walt Walvick as non-playing captain
		Winners of the Transnational Open Teams - Leandro Burgay, Italy, Dano DeFalco. Italy, Franco Mariani, Italy, and Martin Lesniewski, Poland
		Runners-Up: Krzysztof Jassem, Piotr Tuszynski, Ireneusz Kowalozyk and Marek Witek of Poland
		Note: The team captained by Leandro Burgay of Italy started fast and just kept going and after 32 boards of the 48-deal final they led 132-40. That seemed like too much for Krzysztof Jassem of Poland, and that team conceded without playing the last 32 boards.
		Maury Braunstein Commemoration - Bulletin 1

 

 

 

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