The Top Bidders for Set 2023-5

The average scores were up a little this month, and selecting the most popular choice of competition entrants on every deal would have scored 60/80, which is by far the highest so far this year. Our joints winners’ score of 78/80 this month also matched the highest score amongst panelists:

Maxim Silin (bigmax) from Boston MA, USA, and

Bob Boudreau (bonafide57) from Edina MN, USA

Maxim says, “I am living near Boston, MA, a part of the USA with excellent local bridge clubs. Unfortunately, my work as an industrial scientist interferes with the full-time enjoyment of bridge.” Maxim is a first-time winner.

Bob Boudreau is a long-time Massachusetts resident, although he has spent the last decade in Edina MN. He has been an ACBL member since 1965 and his days at Stonehill College in Easton MA. He won the December competition at the end of last year, and is currently in second place in the 2023 annual competition.

Also on the May 'Roll of Honor’:

With a score of 77/80

David Williams (dave251164) from Llangollen, Wales,

Ivan Bilušić (Shaymin29) from Croatia,

Vincent Lui (cheapcheap) from Hong Kong,

Luwen Koh (Xreborned) from Singapore,

Prahalad Rajkumar (r_prah) from India,

Paul Boudreau (pons_) from USA, and

Todd Holes (Masse24) from USA

The average score this month was 46.74 (up from 42.77 last month). You need a score of 66/80 or more to make the leader-board this month. Congratulations to everyone who makes the list.

The 2023 Annual Competition

After five months, we still have a remarkable 14 players who are averaging 70/80 or higher.

Paul Boudreau’s 77/80 this month keeps him at the top of the leader-board for the annual competition. Meanwhile, Bob Boudreau and Ian Findlay, who were both tied for third a month ago, move up into second and third respectively. Dave, Hanoi and Luwen, the three who occupied the podium in 2021 are all in the top 8.

Demonstrating what a truly worldwide competition this is, Africa is the only one of the six occupied continents not represented in the Top 10.

The leaders should not get too comfortable yet. We now have two players lurking, Alexander, the 2022 winner, and John, who fell from second place last month, both of whom are lurking in the Top 20 with a score in the low-50s that will get dropped later in the year.

You currently need an average score of 60/80 or more to make the annual competition leader-board. Remember that only your best nine scores during the year will count in the annual competition, so playing every month will allow you to drop your three weakest scores by the end of the year.