2013 - Kaplan wins First Joan Gerard Youth Award
Adam Kaplan wins first Joan Gerard Youth Award at 2013 WYOBC
Adam Kaplan, photo by Peg Kaplan
Adam Kaplan was chosen by players at the 2013 WYOBC as the first recipient of the Joan Gerard Youth Award in the Junior category. Players at the WYOBC vote for the person they believe best embodies bridge aptitude, fair play, good sportsmanship and a friendly international spirit to receive the Joan Gerard award. The players are limited to voting for players who are from a country other than their own, so this award is truly international. Congratulations, Adam!
2013 WYOBC TEAM CHAMPIONS
 Kevin Dwyer, Zachary Grossack, Marius Agica, Adam Kaplan, coach Michael Rosenberg, Owen Lien, Adam Grossack |
Congratulations to Junior World Champions “War of Roses” team, who won the Gold Medal in the World Youth Open Bridge Championships Friday evening in Atlanta: Marius Agica, Kevin Dwyer, Adam Grossack, Zachary Grossack, Adam Kaplan, and Owen Lien defeated a strong squad from Australia in the Finals. Turkey took the Bronze Medal. The team name “War of Roses” is a tribute to their mentor, Michael Rosenberg.
 Burke Snowden, Richard Jeng, Andrew Jeng, Oren Kriegel |
In the Youngsters Division (under 21), the USA took both Gold and Silver. The winners were Andrew Jeng, Richard Jeng, Oren Kriegel, and Burke Snowden. Silver Medalists were Brandon Harper, Greg Herman, Ben Kristensen, and Ryan Miller. A team from China won the Bronze Medal, defeating another USA team in the playoff for third.
 Ben Kristensen, Brandon Harper, Ryan Miller, Greg Herman |
Well done all!!!
USBF Juniors Star at Youth NABC & WYOBC
 Allison Hunt & Asya Ladyzhensky, photo by Brent Manley |
Young players who participate in the USBF online training program performed well in the Youth NABC that ended Saturday in Atlanta. In the main pair event on Friday, the winners were Allison Hunt and Asya Ladyzhensky, with an amazing 73.52% game. Imagine scoring 70.86% and finishing second; that is what happened to Kevin Rosenberg and Ben Kristensen. The pairs finishing third through sixth are also active participants in our program.
 Ben Kristensen & Kevin Rosenberg, photo by Brent Manley |
In the Swiss teams on Saturday, training program participants Andrew and Richard Jeng teamed with Murphy Green and Burke Snowden to win. Most member of the teams finishing second, fourth, fifth, and seventh also play weekly on BBO with coaching from USBF mentors. Congratulations to all. For full results from the Youth NABC, see Youth4bridge.org/events/YouthNABC.
World Youth Open Bridge Championship
The Pairs Competition from the World Youth Open Bridge Championship has ended. Congratulations to USBF representatives who won medals! Alex Prairie and Sylvia Shi claimed the Bronze in the Juniors (under 26) Open event; USBF players finished first and second in the Youngsters category (under 21), with Allison Hunt and Asya Ladyzhensky taking Gold, and Andrew and Richard Jeng winning Silver. In the "girls" event, Julie Arbit and Isha Thapa earned the Bronze Medal.