The Vanderbilt Knockout Teams concluded at the Spring North American Bridge Championships with the team led by Pierre Zimmermann taking the title.
The event was played over several days of knockout rounds, with the field gradually narrowing until the final match decided the champion. In the final, Zimmermann’s team defeated the squad led by Marty Fleisher 143–74. Fleisher led after the first quarter, but Zimmermann’s team dominated the second segment and maintained the advantage through the remainder of the match.
Playing with Zimmermann were partner Franck Multon and teammates Jacek Kalita, Michal Klukowski, Michal Nowosadzki and Kamil Nowak.
The Jacoby Open Swiss Teams was won by the team captained by William Bailey. The winning lineup included Roger Lee, Alon Birman, Dror Padon, Daniel Korbel and Joshua Donn. The team finished ahead of the field after the final sessions.
In the Women’s Swiss Teams, the team led by Arti Bhargava finished in first place with Hjordis Eythorsdottir and Lotte de Wijs and Sarah de Wijs. The team qualified in first place for the final and remained on top throughout the matches
In the Golder North American Pairs Flight B, Corey Powell and Cagliyan Kurdak of Ann Arbor, Michigan captured the title after the final sessions.
The President’s Cup North American Pairs Flight C was won by Luke Brezak of Arlington, Virginia and Hamilton Sawczuk of Baltimore, Maryland.
Another notable achievement came from Martin Andresen and Thor Erik Hoftaniska of Norway, who earned the Mott-Smith Trophy, awarded to the players who collected the most masterpoints during the championship.
where are our vaunted, glorified American professional champions? Have we lost our bridge-world superiority?