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The big news- multi international squad paid to play for Monaco. Simple question good or bad for bridge ? Jim Hay

Many thanks for the suggestions. It has given somwthing to work with. Jim Hay

I am in charge of running our club teams of 4 championship. We run it over 3 nights playing about 28 30 per night. we are slightly bored with the usual all play all format over the 3 nights and had hoped to spice it up by playing a double elimination for 8 teams .This would have worked very well but we have hit a hitch 10 teams have entered no doubt excited by the new format .Any ideas how to run it ? we want longer matches and no sit outs . Any help gratefully received. Jim Hay

even Meckwell need written defences to the multi. Has everyone forgotten the fate of the Singapore team v them ?

with regard to Fred's earlier post i played in a team last night where the combined ages of my team mates was less than my age of 51 that must be nearly a record . unless you know differently of course . by the way we came 3/7 over a 60 board competition .

the Istanbul video was a collection of programmes that were aired on Sky Sports at prime viewing times in the U K . I recall non bridge playing friends excitedly telling me about it . when i asked did they watch it themselves the universal reply was oh no thats far too difficult a game to watch on TV

as one the commentators involved i can assure you that certainly no disrespect was intended to any of the players after all they are good enough to play in these events and i am just a mere commentator. however all commentators have their own style mine tends towards the more flippant humerous approach and i have learnt over the years of commentating that my sense of humour is not universally shared and from time to time jokes fall flat or there are language problems or whatever. i take on board all criticism and hope to learn from it. if you are watching and this applies to anybody watching and you think i have overstepped the mark message me with your concerns . I can also assure you that if i am commentating onplay from anywhere i will not sit on the fence. if the standard is not good . it doesnt matter to me where the players are from if they play well they get praise and if they play badly they do not and they will be criticised if they make blatant errors. I feel our job is to entertain educate and inform but not always in that order . as a gesture of goodwill i will forgo my fee for that session :)

I played at Pula last year for the first time . It was a great event . I am sorry I cant go this year but will be back. I am sure you will enjoy it Jim Hay