Paul Soloway
Paul Soloway (October 10, 1941 - November 5, 2007) was a world champion American bridge player. He won the Bermuda Bowl world team championship five times and won 30 North American Bridge Championships "national"-level events.
Soloway was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2002. At the time of his death he held 65,511.92 masterpoints - more than any other player in history, and more than 6000 points ahead of second place.
Early life
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Soloway nearly drowned at age three when he fell into a swimming pool at the home of family friend George Raft. He was saved by his uncle, gangster Bugsy Siegel, who jumped into the pool and pulled him out.
Soloway learned to play bridge in college, where he majored in business studies. He first played duplicate bridge in 1962. Shortly after graduation, he became a bridge professional. In 1971, he joined the Dallas Aces bridge team, but left after one year. In 1998 he joined the Nick Nickell team. He died in Seattle, Washington.
Bridge accomplishments
Honors
- ACBL Hall of Fame, 2002
- Lazard Sportsmanship Award 2001
Awards
Wins
- Bermuda Bowl (5) 1976, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2003
- North American Bridge Championships (30)
- Vanderbilt (6) 1969, 1978, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003
- Spingold (9) 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007
- Reisinger (4) 1976, 1980, 2004, 2005
- Grand National Teams (2) 1974, 1976
- Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1993
- Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (3) 1991, 2002, 2006
- North American Men's Swiss Teams (1) 1989
- Master Mixed Teams (2) 1966, 1987
- Life Master Open Pairs (1) 1999
- Life Master Men's Pairs (1) 1965
- United States Bridge Championships (13)
- Open Team Trials (13) 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 (Jan), 1979 (Dec), 1984, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007
- Other notable wins:
- Buffett Cup (1) 2006
- Cavendish Invitational Pairs (1) 1995
Runners-up
- Bermuda Bowl (2) 1975, 2005
- World Open Team Olympiad (2) 1972, 1980
- North American Bridge Championships (18)
- Vanderbilt (3) 1971, 1976, 2002
- Spingold (4) 1973, 1990, 1994, 1996
- Reisinger (4) 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994
- Open Board-a-Match Teams (3) 1995, 1998, 1999
- Men's Board-a-Match Teams (2) 1970, 1984
- Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (1) 2005
- Men's Pairs (1) 1969
- United States Bridge Championships (1)
- Open Team Trials (1) 1969
- Other notable 2nd places:
- Cavendish Invitational Teams (5) 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Sunday Times Invitational Pairs (1) 1990
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