SiVY Players Hone Their Skills and Have Fun in Memphis

by Lynn Johannesen

As described in the March newsletter, Michael Hu and Arthur Zhou won the right to represent ACBL District 21 in the Flight B North American Pairs (NAP) in Memphis at the end of March. When asked to describe their experience, Michael Hu provided the following account:

“I sincerely enjoyed my time at the NABCs. Everything from the welcoming and clean hotel to Memphis' juicy and world-renowned ribs really made my experience stand out. In addition to this, Arthur and I had some great memories with our Canadian friends, John and Martin (they also played in the NAP).

Playing in NAP was a huge learning experience for Arthur and me. The opponents were all very strong, and we had to bring our A-game if we wanted to be contenders. Unfortunately, we started off the event slow, making some mistakes that shouldn't have been made. For the last session of this event, Arthur and I needed a big game to win, and in my opinion, our best bridge of the tournament was played during this session. Sadly, it wasn't enough. 

I have learned that it is extremely important to be consistent and level minded during an event like this. Bad results are bound to happen, and it’s better to move on and focus on the next hand rather than arguing or berating yourself for the last hand. 

Arthur and I finished in 6th place, and although we didn't win, we are content with the final result. At the start of the event, I felt that we were not as focused as we should have been, so that is something we need to work on. Nevertheless, our partnership has grown a lot from the NAP, and hopefully, we will be back to try again next year. 

Overall, the NABCs have truly been a great experience, and I would recommend them to any bridge player of any skill level. The NABCs are a perfect opportunity for spending quality time with family and friends, and all the while playing an awesome card game.”

Although Michael downplays his and Arthur’s accomplishment, it is clear that a sixth-place finish is quite an achievement. These SiVY players faced mainly adult players, most with substantially more experience than they had, and they more than held their own.

Michael and Arthur, along with Rory Xaio, are also on one of the teams that qualified to represent District 21 in the Flight B Grand National Team (GNT) in Las Vegas in late July. All of SiVY’s supporters will have another chance to root for their continued success very soon!