The Top Bidders for Set 2023-11

This proved to be a fairly tough set, with the most popular choice of the competition entrants scoring a ‘10’ on two hands. The average score was the lowest of the year so far, 38.79, although selecting the most popular choice of competition entrants on every deal would have scored 51/80.

Just a solo winner this month, with a score of 78/80:

Fabio Lo Presti (spenny80) from Italy

Fabio’s international career began as a member of the winning Italian Schools team at the 1998 European Youth Championships. He earned two more gold medals as a junior, winning the 2002 European Junior Teams and the 2003 World Junior Teams titles. He also collected a bronze medal at the 2001 World Junior Pairs, and silver medals at both the 2005 European Junior Teams and the 2006 World Junior Teams. He has also worked as a VuGraph operator at most World Championships since 2013.

Also on the November 'Roll of Honor’ with a score of 77/80:

Gunther Dauwe (Guntherd) from Belgium, and
Jack Yuan (Kudouyzy) from United States

and, with a score of 76/80:

Jim Streisand (Strei1) from United States,
Hanoi Rondon (Hanoi5) from Chile,
Alexander Cook (spade7) from Australia,
Frédéric Asensio (Fred234) from France, and
David Birnbaum (Dbirnbaum) from United States

As this was a fairly difficult set, a score of 68/80 or higher in needed to make it onto the leader board this month. Congratulations to everyone who makes the list.

The 2023 Annual Competition

Demonstrating the remarkably high standard displayed by our top bidders this year, there are now four players who are averaging 70/80 over their best nine scores that do not even make it into the Top 20 in the annual competition. 14 players are averaging over 70/80 for all 11 of their entries, plus Paul D, who is doing so from his 10 scores.

With Paul B not improving his total this month, Dave’s 74/80 increases his lead by 3 points and gives him a 5-point cushion at the top. Bob also failed to add to his total, so last year’s winner, Alexander, moves ahead of him and onto the podium with 76/80 this month. Dave is mathematically guaranteed a place in the top two, and a score 77 or better next month would ensure that Paul cannot catch him, even with a perfect 80.

With 75/80 this month, Ian consolidates his status as the leading Canadian and he moves up into fifth place overall. With a ‘69’ still counting, a big score in the final month could still see Ian claim a podium place after just missing out the past two years.

Despite scoring 75/80 this month, Luwen actually drops a place, to sixth. Hanoi’s 76/80 moves him up one place, to ninth, and closes the gaps ahead of him. Last month’s winner with a perfect 80/80, Jim, produced 76/80 this month to move up into the Top 10.

Just outside the Top 10, John’s 73/80 this month adds 12 (the most added by anyone in the top 20) to his total, which moves him up into eleventh spot, right on the heels of the Top 10.Claus scores 71 this month to edge Milko just out of the Top 20.

You need an average score of 60/80 or more (ie a total of 540 from your best nine scores) to make the annual competition leader board. Congratulations to everyone who makes the list, which represents around the top 115 bidders from amongst the many thousands who take part every month.