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National Congress News March 2019.
New Events in 2019
We have two brand new events and news of another which is returning….and a whisper of another old favourite which could be making a reappearance one evening….
So, you are unlikely to win New Zealand Open Teams?
If this applies to you and you enjoy Teams bridge and want an event where you have more chance of climbing up onto the Leader Board…then this new event could be for you.
One other requirement is that no member of your team has a higher ranking than National Master. (that is no Life or Grand Masters allowed)
New Zealand Restricted Open Teams. Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd October
The criteria are the same as for other Restricted Open events, the Restricted Open Pairs and Swiss Pairs. This event runs at the same time as the qualifying Swiss of the New Zealand Teams and consists of the same number of matches and boards, 10 matches of 14 boards, run Swiss style.
The difference of the new event with the New Zealand Open Teams is that the event winner in the Restricted Open Teams is determined after those 10 matches, enabling players to enter any of the events that run from Thursday until Saturday.
You will play the same boards as in the New Zealand Open Teams but in your own event. Both the other Restricted Open events are very popular. We anticipate that this new event will be as well.
This event either forms part of the full Congress Package ($410 where payment is made by 31st August) or in its own Package ($310 for five days of bridge from Tuesday morning until Saturday afternoon..again, that price applies if you pay by 31st August).
Please also note that the start time on both Tuesday and Wednesday is 9.30am (different from 2018), meaning that play finishes shortly after 7pm..time for a relaxing dinner.
If you would like to play in this event (or indeed other events) but do not have a partner or teammates, let us know (click here) and we will find you suitable people.
New Zealand Junior Pairs Friday October 4th 10.00am
In the past, we have had to combine Intermediate and Junior players into one event for each of their three competitions (Teams, Pairs, Swiss Pairs) in order to create competitive events. We feel, though, the time is now right for Junior players to have their own event, The New Zealand Junior Pairs. This event could be the catalyst to have Junior only events in the other categories in future years.
This event will run at the same time as the New Zealand Intermediate Pairs (Friday morning and afternoon October 4th) and will be a two- session event finishing before the dinner break. We hope to see more Junior pairs come along to play in their own event. The per player cost is 50.00 though is part of the whole Congress and NZ Teams/ Restricted Teams packages as well.
Return of New Zealand Multiple Teams. Thursday October 3rd 10.00am
This event replaces the Point A Board Teams and is the option for Open players knocked out of the New Zealand Teams at the end of the Swiss or those who had played in the Restricted Open Teams to play. Keen Junior and Intermediate players can participate as well. It is a three- session event.
While Multiple Teams is played in a Pairs style movement, it is scored Teams style in imps in that with one pair sitting each direction, you play three board matches against other Teams.
The cost is $75.00 per player but is part of the same packages as the Junior Pairs above. It offers the opportunity to play Teams but against 8 different pairs in each 8- board round.
Note that, as with other Teams events (Seniors, Intermediate/Junior), the timing of this event is not the same as Point A Board last year. It lasts all day Thursday. There is no opportunity for those knocked out of the Round of 16 of the New Zealand Teams to enter this event midway.
So, those are the new events but there is the possibility that we will offer those keen bridge players the opportunity to play in an Individual on the Sunday evening (September 29th). Watch this space..could be a happening.
If you have any queries about the above or any other aspect of Congress, please contact me on Richard.solomon@nzbridge.co.nz or on 09 232 8494.
Six months to go….but don’t those months “go” rather quickly…. We already have some entries for the Congress. Fancy registering yours? Click here.
Richard Solomon
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