Norman Kay Platinum Pairs

The Norman Kay Platinum Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) North American Bridge Championship (NABC).

The Norman Kay Platinum Pairs is a six-session open-pairs event with two qualifying, two semi-final, and two final sessions. It is restricted to those players who have earned 50 platinum masterpoints over the three calendar years prior, earned at least 200 platinum points lifetime, or earned the rank of Platinum Life Master or Grand Life Master.[1]

History

The Platinum Pairs were approved by the ACBL Board of Directors in 2008 to start in 2010.[2] In 2011, the Board of Directors renamed the Platinum Pairs the Norman Kay Platinum Pairs.[3]

Its introduction in 2010 gives the three annual NABC meets each one three-day pairs tournament open to all players without regard to age, sex, nationality, or membership. The Platinum Pairs shares the Spring NABC with the North American Pairs, restricted to ACBL members who qualify in one of its 25 Districts, many of which require qualification in local Units. It also requires past achievement greater than that required by the summer Von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs or the fall Edgar Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs (but all are within reach for leading players from overseas who attend a few American meets).

Winners

In the first six renditions to 2015, Thomas Bessis was runner-up twice and winner once. Bessis and Cedric Lorenzini, both of France, were second in 2014 and first in 2015.

Platinum Pairs, 2010 to present
Year Winners Runners-up
2010 Franco Baseggio, Andy Stark Peter Fredin, Gary Gottlieb
2011 John Hurd, Joel Wooldridge Ken Kranyak, Laurie Kranyak
2012 Bob Hamman, Justin Lall Thomas Bessis, Ishmael Delmonte
2013 Marty Fleisher, Michael Kamil Jeff Meckstroth, JoAnna Stansby
2014 Richard Coren, Bobby Levin Thomas Bessis, Cédric Lorenzini
2015 Thomas Bessis, Cédric Lorenzini Massimiliano Di Franco, Andrea Manno
2016 Geoff Hampson, Eric Greco Joel Wooldridge, Kent Mignocchi
2017 Justin Lall, Dennis Bilde Jeff Meckstroth, Thomas Bessis
2018 Steve Weinstein, Bobby Levin Vincent Demuy, Dror Padon
2019 Curtis Cheek, Zia Mahmood Glenn Milgrim, Barry Rigal
2020 (Cancelled)
2021 (Cancelled)
2022 Michael Rosenberg, Zachary Grossack Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Greco
2023 John Hurd, Vincent Demuy Irene Baroni, Ola Rimstedt
2024 Joel Wooldridge, Kent Mignocchi Oren Toledano, Ami Zamir

See also

References

  1. ^ "Platinum Pairs Special Conditions of Contest" (PDF). acbl.com. ACBL. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  2. ^ "ACBL Board of Directors Meeting Minutes" (PDF). acbl.com. ACBL. 14–17 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Daily Bulletin" (PDF). acbl.com. ACBL. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.