BBO Hall of Fame - Trifon Trifonov, BBO: old_schate
Hi! I’m Trifon, from Bulgaria. I'm the player behind the username: old_schate.
Outside of bridge, I work, hang out with friends, and take part in a historical reenactment group. It’s a fun way to connect with our culture and spend time with people.
I got into bridge in 10th grade, and it quickly became a lifelong passion. When BBO first appeared, I jumped in right away and have been here ever since.
Back in the day, I used to play around 10 hours a day. There's no strategy, just playing as much as I could. That’s how I climbed the ranks. These days, I usually log in around noon for about 30 minutes, then again in the evening for another two hours.
In the early days, there was a misunderstanding and I was briefly banned. It was thought that we were suggesting things to each other, but the truth was, not everyone had a computer at home back then, so we often played from the same room.
If I had to give advice to other players, it would be this: Be persistent, take your time, and don’t rush your plays. I also learn a lot by watching the robots, studying their moves, their tricks. There’s always something to learn.
One of my favorite things to do on BBO is watching Vugraph, especially when Zia Mahmood is playing. It’s inspiring. The other thing is I can play my favorite games. BBO shows the richness of the game, there’s something for everyone, no matter how much time or energy you have.
For many years, I played the $1 games. Now, I mostly stick to daylong tournaments.
For me, Bridge is a love for life.
—Trifon (Old_schate)