What's it like to be an Assistant Tournament Director?

I'm Narcis Vasiloiu, a computer technician and shop owner from Oradea, Romania. I was born in June 1971 and have been operating my computer service and retail store for the past 20 years.

Prior to that, I served as an officer captain in the Romanian Army for 15 years, completing a seven-year training program. However, I resigned in 2004 to pursue my passion for computers and technology. The decision to start my own business was inspired by my mother, who is also a skilled computer programmer.

Beyond my work, I enjoy pursuing various hobbies, including computers and software, bridge, chess, going to the cinema, and listening to club music.

I started playing bridge 35 years ago and I've been an Assistant Tournament Director for about 15 years now. I started back in 2009, because I wanted to be useful to my friends and BBO players. I started with free tournaments called Survivors, doing five or more daily with a lot of tables. It was really nice to see that people appreciated it.

One day I was noticed by the bboitalia team, who asked if I want to be with them. That's when my official BBO adventure began!

At the same time, together with my good friend Aurora, I helped in all the women's festival tournaments, from which we had excellent feedback every time.

Over the last two years I've been working as an assistant ACBL TD alongside an incredible ACBL team, led impeccably by Diana Eva and David Sabourin.

Being a Bridge Base Online assistant TD is a daily challenge that makes you a better person. It requires you to understand others and their behavior, as well as to be fair, selfless, and professional. This helps in your personal life as well. In addition, BBO is a great way to get your daily dose of happiness.

As much as I love being a an assistant TD, I would never give up playing bridge. I like to do both things (being a player and an assistant TD) equally.

One of the daily challenges of being a TD is handling situations where a player is dissatisfied with a game situation. As a TD, you are responsible for resolving these issues fairly for all parties.

To handle this challenge, first, I apply the rules of the game. If I am not 100% sure, I immediately seek the professional opinion of my more experienced TD colleagues for guidance.

Being a TD requires you to be friendly, impartial, and have a strong understanding of the rules of the game. You should also be willing to dedicate your free time to bridge, and be comfortable learning and growing as a TD. It's important to remember that no one is perfect, and you should always be open to feedback and new ideas.

About the future of online bridge, I am absolutely certain that online bridge will experience significant growth and progress in the coming years, particularly Bridge Base Online, which is an exceptional platform.

The BBO team has consistently demonstrated their innovative spirit by introducing groundbreaking changes that have made it easier for players to connect with friends and enjoy a game of bridge.

They have consistently surprised me with their forward-thinking approaches, and I have no doubt that they will continue to innovate and enhance the platform in the years to come. I am confident that BBO will continue to provide a delightful and engaging experience for players, ensuring hours of enjoyment without a moment of boredom.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing bridge, spending time with my family and friends, and occasionally embarking on weekend getaways to the mountains, where we rent a cabin and unwind amidst good music and fine wine.... 😊

My favorite quote:

 ’’ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever ’’ - Mahatma Gandhi