Turmoil in Orlando

In September, the World Bridge Federation conducted its quadrennial “World Bridge Series” in Orlando, comprising major teams and pairs events. The event was well run, but attendance was off. The site was expensive, and with so many tournaments on the calendar, players are choosy about which ones they attend. Some players failed to show because of silly drugtesting requirements, brought about by the WBF’s ill- considered efforts to get bridge into the Olympics. Others stayed home, on principle, due to the WBF’s questionable handling of recent cheating scandals. At a press conference, the WBF president conceded that two confirmed cheats — Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes of Italy — had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a body with no bridge expertise that entered the picture only due to its relationship with the International Olympic Committee. The court invalidated the sanctions against Fantoni and Nunes on procedural grounds. That news dismayed many players and outraged still more, leading to calls for a boycott of events in which confirmed cheats are entered. ( The ACBL has expelled several cheating pairs; participation in other events, including WBF events, is by invitation only.) Amid the turmoil, some bridge was played in Orlando. Richard Oshlag- Paul Munafo defended well in today’s deal from the Senior Teams. Against South’s four hearts, Munafo found a good trump lead, and declarer took dummy’s ace and led a spade. Oshlag put up his king (!), took his high trumps and led a diamond for down two. If East fails to play second hand high, South escapes for down one.