Results and Winners Bidders Challenge 2022-9

The Top Bidders for Set 2022-09

A harder set this month, with the average score going down from just over 50 last month to only 41.1/80, but that doesn't seem to have stopped the top bidders from registering yet another high score. Indeed, we have only had four perfect scores in nearly two years (and we are still waiting for the first one from a panellist), but we have two competitors registering a perfect 80/80 to share this month's spoils:

Afshar Majeed (afshar) from Kerala, India
and
Sasha Cooper (jinksy) from the Netherlands

Sasha has been playing bridge since a cute girl asked him to come to her beginners' classes 16 years ago. Inspired by the noble art of chess boxing, he's attempting to pioneer bridge Brazilian jujitsu, in which he's currently ranked as the world's #2 (of two players - "curse you, Stefano!").

Afshar was one of the very first BBO members: “Although I have still not completed 5000 logins,” he says. “I got the "star emblem" for representing India at the World Youth Team Championship in Toronto in 1997. Having restricted my bridge activities to local events to focus on my family-run business, I am trying to make up lost grounds and I am back actively playing my favourite game.”

Also on the September 'Roll of Honour':

With a score 78/80:

Adam Pawlowski (Adameba) from Poland
and
Francois Duffour (toutmo) from Paris, France

You need to score 65/80 or more to make the September leader-board, and honourable mentions go to all of those who managed that:

The 2022 Annual Competition Leaders (after 9 months)

Francois maintains his excellent form with 78/80 this month, extending his lead over everyone else on the leader-board. Luwen’s 65 drops him a couple of places, with everyone else in the Top 9 scoring between 69 and 73. Dave hangs on to second place, but life is about to get much tougher for the top two as players start dropping their weakest scores next month.

Both Francois and Dave have lowest scores in the mid-60s to drop, but most of the chasing pack will be dumping scores in the mid-50s, so they will close the gap by 10 if both score the same. Watch out for Pete, too, currently lying ninth, but with a 48 and a 50 to dispose of. The leaders will also be joined by a handful of players who have missed a month somewhere along to way, and thus so far have only eight registered scores. There will also be a late run by those who currently have only seven scores, led by Douglas.

The outcome of last year’s annual competition was in doubt right up until the end and, with four players still averaging over 70/80, 2022 is looking like it will be just as close.