June 2020 - 21

Japan. The majority of the players had
masterpoints galore and didn't seem
to mind the presence of a few of us
amateurs guaranteeing them a weekly
harvest to augment their bounty.
Gradually I stopped shaking inside
and approached these games purely as
learning opportunities.
As at Rick's Café, we would walk
into the WBS and immediately take in
the scene: Who's here today? What's
Bill's mood like? People mattered. Even
the obsessively fastidious among us
overlooked the tattered surroundings.
Actually, we grew to love them. They
afforded a comfortingly familiar setting for exhilarating interactions, some
triumphs, many failures and always
Bill: hovering, answering questions and
resolving issues. Even while we played,
we kept an eye out for Bill's whereabouts and an ear cocked for whatever
he might say. Explosions of laughter
would confirm an amusing remark we
all hoped to catch.
The WBS was open six days and two
nights a week. A north-facing interior
window in the main room overlooked
St. Ann's central hall below, where
events took place, sometimes on the
nights we were playing. We didn't mind
swaying to the old-fashioned crooning
(think "Jersey Boys"), but the microphone-amplified toasts and speeches
bookending the music were annoying.
Of course this schedule left Bill no time
to attend tournaments. Furthermore,
if anyone walked in alone, he would be
his or her partner - for free! Obviously,
the sum of Bill's masterpoints bore no
relation to his expertise. To this day, he
has no interest in amassing them, preferring to play with beautiful Barbara
than with his peers.
Like an angel from heaven, Barbara
came to his rescue and helped him
close the studio (the ever-rising rent,
increasing costs, the limited space, his
adamant refusal to charge more) and
move south, where they are having a
wonderful life. We were aware that Bill
had had an impressive previous career

as a fighter pilot, but not that he was a
terrific dancer or that he had a delightful singing voice. Now he can indulge
these long-neglected activities as well
as play as much bridge as he pleases.
We are happy for him.
By his example, Bill taught us to work
on improving our knowledge of this
incredibly fascinating game. Naturally,
he believed that duplicate best concentrates the mind (a nod to Samuel
Johnson who said the same thing
about hanging: "Depend upon it, sir,
when a man knows he is to be hanged
in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind
wonderfully"). He encouraged us to go
to tournaments and emphasized that
developing with a regular partner is the
way to progress.
There will never be another WBS
- personal, warm, cozy, exciting, fun -

unless, by some miracle, a Bill Wood is
cloned. We miss him, more and more as
time goes by. Busy as Bill was, he never
failed to post news of WBS members
on his messy, crowded bulletin board
and to be present at the memorials for
those who had come to his Studio. He
was a host, a mentor and a dear friend
to everyone who walked into his bridge
joint.
There is no shortage of excellent
venues for duplicate games in our
area. But no Bill and no WBS! This is a
tribute to him and the singular incomparable club he created: a celebration
of his contribution to the game, an
appreciation of all he did for us and a
sincere wish for him and Barbara to
enjoy their days, wherever they choose
to spend them.
Here's looking at you, Bill.
◾

World Bridge Federation
cancels championships
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bridge Federation
has canceled the World Bridge Games and the World Youth Bridge
Team Championships, scheduled to be held in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy, later this
summer.
"We are informed that Salsomaggiore will refund the deposit already paid through
ADAST for the hotel accommodation," says the WBF Management Committee announcement made April 16.
Both events are being rescheduled for 2021, but will retain the "2020 championship"
designation.
Salsomaggiore is slated to host the 2020 World Bridge Games, "indicatively February/
March," according to the announcement.
The World Youth Bridge Team Championships is also scheduled to take place in
Salsomaggiore. 2020 competition requirements and conditions are unchanged: If a
contestant's age qualifies them to compete in 2020, another birthday between now and
then makes no difference in category or ability to participate.
The 2021 World Youth Transnational Bridge Championship is canceled.
The Management Committee expressed the Federation's gratitude to the city of
Salsomaggiore and the Italian Bridge Federation for their cooperation and support.
"The WBF apologizes for any inconvenience caused in taking the decision to cancel and
postpone the championships at this stage, but the priority of the WBF is the health and
welfare of its National Bridge Organizations, registered members and people attending
its event."
The exact dates and the 2021 WBF Calendar of Events will be defined in due time.
June 2020 Bridge Bulletin

June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2020