August 2010 - 18

Dual
Monarchs
2010 Kings of Bridge:
Tom Walsh and Adam Grossack

E

ach year, the ACBL and the ACBL
Educational Foundation pick one
graduating high school senior for
the title of King or Queen of Bridge to
recognize not only outstanding tournament performances but also skill
in promoting and organizing
bridge. In 2010, however, two
young players have been selected for the honor.
Tom Walsh, 18, of Saskatoon SK and Adam Grossack,
18, of Newton MA, will share
the King of Bridge title, an
event that has happened only
once before in the history of
the honor (in 1981).
Walsh, a graduate of Evan
Hardy Collegiate in Saskatoon, learned to play bridge
Walsh
in the eighth grade through
classes offered at the Saskatoon Bridge Club. He became a Life
Master in October 2008, despite the
limited opportunities available for tournament play in Saskatchewan.
Walsh's friendly, positive demeanor
earned him the Sportsmanship Award
at the first Youth North American
Bridge Championship held in Atlanta in the summer of 2008. At the 2009
Youth NABC in Washington DC, Walsh
was selected as a Youth Ambassador
to help promote the game, especially
to younger players.
"I enjoy encouraging newcomers of
all ages," Walsh said. I help out with
18 Bridge Bulletin August 2010

my bridge club as much as possible. We
have a Wednesday night rookie/master
game at the club, and I always have a
rookie that I try to help. I am always on
hand at the open houses to meet, greet
and show those interested that bridge

Grossack

is not just for retirees."
Walsh, who also enjoys golfing and
curling, will attend the Edwards School
of Business in the fall.
Grossack, a graduate of Newton
South High School in the Boston area,
began playing bridge when he was 8,
although a promotional flyer from the
free class offered at the nearby Cavendish Club led him to believe he wasn't
eligible to attend. It read, "Come one,
come all, ages 9-90." Grossack joined
the class only after his mother, Jori, assured him it would be okay.
The first year wasn't easy for the

young Grossack, who often became
frustrated trying to learn the game. After
taking a break from lessons, Grossack's
interest in the game grew with prompting from his mom. He began reading
her system notes that she played with
her regular partner, and then
became interested in card
combinations, counting and
endplays.
"By age nine, I was hooked,"
he said.
In addition to playing
weekly at the local duplicate,
Grossack began to play in
local tournaments. He won
his first sectional event at
age 11. Grossack also began
teaching bridge to classmates.
"I started a bridge club in
middle school and continued
it through high school," he said. "I have
taught more than 100 kids the game of
bridge."
Grossack, who became a Life Master
in April 2006, notes that his best student
is his younger brother, Zach, who is 13
and also a Life Master.
In addition to bridge, Grossack
played football for four years in high
school (two years on the varsity squad)
and also enjoys chess, poker and the
card game Barbu. His first love is still
bridge, however.
"I plan to be a dedicated promoter of
bridge for the rest of my life."
r
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2010
