BridgeMatters

This blog provides supplementary thoughts and ideas to the www.bridgematters.com site. If you haven't seen the main site, there is a lot there including the Martel and Rodwell interviews, photos, and articles. This blog is focused on advancing bridge theory by discussing the application of new ideas. All original content is copyright 2009 Glen Ashton.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Spingold Top 18 - Review

1. Nickell
Expectation: Win if H-M get in sync quickly
Result: Loss to Meltzer in the quarters

Team seemed not to gain as much IMPs as expected. This will not hurt them in Boston's Board-A-Match (BAM) scoring. Hamman-Compton stil listed for Beijing Open, thus Hamman-Mahmood teething pains not relevant

2. Weed-Cayne
Expectation: Will win if Nickell exits and don't hit a bad patch
Result: Hit a bad patch in the semis, losing to Welland

Cayne-Seamon were fine. Italians seemed out of kilter (watch out for Scotish teams out of kilter) - suggest Italians take some time off bridge for R&R.Will not win in B & B (Beijing or Boston) playing as they are.

3 O'Rourke
Expectation: Can beat anybody, can win with a bit of luck
Result: lost to Welland in the sweet 16

Duboin-Sementa might be the best Italian pair in the Beijing Open

4 Strul
Expectation: will win if other teams self-destruct
Result: Lost in the round of 64

Early exit when didn't generate a lot of IMPs - style will be fine for Bostom BAM BAM

5 Gromov
Expectation: Will chew up lesser teams, touch-n-go matches against the top
Result: won

With Poles exported to Russia, country will be a strong contender in world championships

6 Schwartz
Expectation: Will lose to one of the super talented teams
Result: Lost to Lusky in the sweet 16

Gawrys-Lesniewski will be fine in Beijing

7 Sadek
Expectation: Will win until they get behind too much at the half
Result: lost to Weed-Cayne in the quarters

Sadek-Elahmady will anchor the Egypt team, Sadek Team will be strong in Boston

8 Meltzer
Expectation: Competitive, but will exit to a top team
Result: lost to Gromov in the semis

Helgemo-Helness will be strong and steady in Beijing

9 Ekeblad
Expectation: Unpredictable, might exit early, might win
Result: lost to Meltzer in the sweet 16

10 Narasimhan
Expectation: Will battle every match, will need a bit of luck
Result: Lost to Sadek in sweet 16

11 Milner
Expectation: Competitive, but will exit to a top team
Result: Lost to Lusky in round of 32

12 Lynch
Expectation: Competitive, but will exit to a top team
Result: Lost to Gromov in sweet 16

13 Robinson
Expectation: Will exit round of 16 or 8
Result: Lost in the round of 64

14 Onstott
Expectation: None - not sure of the partnerships
Result: Lost in the round of 64

15 von Arnim
Expectation: Unpredictable
Result: Lost in the round of 64

16 Mahaffey
Expectation: Competitive, but will exit to a top team
Result: Lost to Brogeland in the round of 32

17 Brogeland
Expectation: Competitive, but will exit to a top team
Result: Lost to Nickell in the sweet 16

18 Welland
Expectation: A lot of talent here, will be in semis
Result: Lost in final

Will be strong in Boston - Welland must not have liked sitting out half the matches

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