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Spingold

The Spingold national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) North American Bridge Championship (NABC).

The Spingold is a knock-out team event that attracts the top contract bridge players in the world. The event typically lasts seven days with each day being a round consisting of four sessions of 16 boards. The event is open and seeded.

History

The Spingold Master Knockout Teams, first known as the Challenge Knockout Teams, was contested for the Asbury Park Trophy in the early days. The runner-up team in the regularly scheduled portion of the event had the right to challenge the winners to a playoff. This right was never utilized.

In 1934, 1936 and 1937, the Masters Teams-of-Four and the Asbury Park Trophy were separate events, providing two sets of winners. In 1938 the event became the Spingold Master Knockout Teams and a part of the Summer NABC. At one time, the Spingold was a double elimination event, usually lasting nine or 10 sessions. It was scored by International Match Points and was restricted to players with 100 or more masterpoints. In 1965, the double elimination method was replaced by three qualifying sessions (subsequently reduced to two), followed by single elimination knockout matches. The preliminary qualifying sessions were dropped in 1970.

The Spingold Trophy, donated by Nathan B. Spingold in 1934, is one of ACBL's most highly prized team trophies. The event, which attracts virtually all of the world's best bridge players, is widely considered one of the toughest events in the world. Many bridge aficionados consider the modern day Spingold tougher to win than a World Championship.

Winners

Nick Nickell's professional teams won the Spingold nine times in 15 years from 1993 to 2007, including four in a row without change in personnel (intact) from 1993 to 1996, and two more 1998-99 after one change. The four-time winners were Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Jeff Meckstroth, and Eric Rodwell. Paul Soloway replaced Wolff and played on the other five Nickell champions, over ten years.

The champion has defended its title intact on three other occasions, 1965, 2002, and 2012.

Asbury Park Trophy teams-of-four (1930-1937)
Year Winners Runners-up
 1930  Ely Culbertson, Josephine Culbertson, Theodore Lightner, Waldemar von Zedtwitz Michael T. Gottlieb, Willard Karn, Lee Langdon, P. Hal Sims
1931 David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Willard Karn, P. Hal Sims S. Garton Churchill, Travers LeGros, Dorothy Roberts, Phillip Stockvis
1932 Michael T. Gottlieb, Oswald Jacoby, Theodore Lightner, Louis H. Watson B. Jay Becker, Herbert Lent, George Reith, Anne Rosenfeld
1933 David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Richard L. Frey, Howard Schenken Sam Fry, Edward Hymes Jr., Louis H. Watson, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1934 Aaron Frank, Jeff Glick, William Hopkins, Charles Porter   Josephine Culbertson, Theodore Lightner, Sonny Moyse, Sherman Stearns  
1935   Sam Fry, Edward Hymes Jr., Theodore Lightner, Merwyn Maier, Louis H. Watson   Mitch Barnes, Huber Boscowitz, Charles Lochridge, Johnny Rau
1936 Lewis Bernard, Louis Haddad, Alvin Landy, Matthew Reilly, Philip Steiner Melvin Goddard, Sidney Silodor, Henry Vogel, Derrick Wernher
1937 David Burnstine, Charles Goren, Oswald Jacoby, Merwyn Maier, Howard Schenken Phil Abramsohn, Mitch Barnes, Henry Chanin, Morrie Elis, Fred Kaplan
Spingold Trophy teams-of-four, 1934 to present
Year Winners Runners-up
 1934    David Burnstine, Richard L. Frey, Michael T. Gottlieb, Oswald Jacoby, Howard Schenken   Aaron Frank, Jeff Glick, Louis Haddad, Charles Hall
1936 B. Jay Becker, David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Howard Schenken Sam Fry, Edward Hymes Jr., Merwyn Maier, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1937 Sam Fry, Edward Hymes Jr., Theodore Lightner, Waldemar von Zedtwitz   Phil Abramsohn, Lewis Bernard, Morrie Elis, Harry Fishbein, Herbert Goldberg  
After 1937, the Spingold became a championship of the new ACBL and part of its summer NABC meet.
 1938  B. Jay Becker, David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby, Merwyn Maier, Howard Schenken Mitch Barnes, Morrie Elis, Fred Kaplan, Charles Lochridge
1939 Oswald Jacoby, Theodore Lightner, Merwyn Maier, Robert McPherran, Howard Schenken John R. Crawford, Myron Fuchs, Charles Goren, Charles Solomon, Sally Young
1940 Oscar Brotman, Bertram Lebhar Jr., Samuel Katz, Alvin Roth Sam Fry, Myron Fuchs, Edward Hymes Jr., Charles Lochridge, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1941 Mitch Barnes, Sam Fry, Edward Hymes Jr., Waldemar von Zedtwitz B. Jay Becker, Oswald Jacoby, Theodore Lightner, Merwyn Maier, Howard Schenken
1942 Sigmund Dornbusch, Richard L. Frey, Lee Hazen, Sam Stayman Jay Feigus, Charles Harvey, Samuel Katz, Edward Marcus
1943 John R. Crawford, Charles Goren, Edward Hymes Jr., Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor B. Jay Becker, Harry Fishbein, George Rapée, Alvin Roth, Helen Sobel
1944 B. Jay Becker, George Rapée, Helen Sobel, Sam Stayman Simon Becker, Edward Ellenbogen, Stanley Frenkel, Peggy Golder
1945 Sam Fry, Edward Hymes Jr., Oswald Jacoby, Theodore Lightner, Howard Schenken Harry Fishbein, Lee Hazen, Alvin Roth, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1946 William Christian, Mark Hodges, Sol Mogal, Margaret Wagar Jeff Glick, Arthur Goldsmith, Alvin Landy, Elmer Schwartz
1947 B. Jay Becker, Charles Goren, Lee Hazen, Helen Sobel, Waldemar von Zedtwitz John R. Crawford, George Rapée, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor, Sam Stayman
1948 John R. Crawford, George Rapée, Howard Schenken, Sam Stayman, Margaret Wagar Julius Bank, Arthur Glatt, Robert Halpin, Oswald Jacoby, Ralph Kempner
1949 Jeff Glick, Arthur Goldsmith, Bruce Gowdy, Alvin Landy, Sol Mogal Henry Chanin, David Clarren, Oswald Jacoby, Jack Krause, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1950 John R. Crawford, Oswald Jacoby, George Rapée, Howard Schenken, Sam Stayman B. Jay Becker, Charles Goren, Sidney Silodor, Helen Sobel, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1951 Myron Field, Charles Goren, Sidney Silodor, Helen Sobel Ambrose Casner, Charles Hall, Allen Harvey, Frank Weisbach
1952 B. Jay Becker, John R. Crawford, George Rapée, Howard Schenken, Sam Stayman Jeff Glick, Arthur Goldsmith, Alvin Landy, Sol Mogal, Edwin Smith
1953 Clifford Bishop, Milton Ellenby, Don Oakie, William Rosen, Doug Steen 2/5. Ed Burns, David Clarren, Bertram Lebhar Jr., Sam Katz, Albert Weiss
2/5. F. Ayres Bombeck, David Carter, John Hubbell, Arthur Kincaid, Bobby Nail
2/5. Harold Harkavy, Edith Kemp, Alvin Roth, Tobias Stone, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
2/5. Ivan Erdos, Edward Frischauer, Lew Mathe, Meyer Schleifer
1954 Clifford Bishop, Milton Ellenby, Lew Mathe, John Moran, William Rosen 2/4. F. Ayres Bombeck, David Carter, John Gerber, John Hubbell, Harold Rockaway
2/4. Eddie Burns, Ambrose Casner, Allen Harvey, Cliff Russell
2/4. Sidney Lazard, Cyrus Newman, Lewis Rosen, Julius Rosenblum, Robert Rothlein
1955 Myron Field, Lee Hazen, Richard Kahn, Charles Solomon, Sam Stayman B. Jay Becker, John R. Crawford, George Rapée, Howard Schenken, Sidney Silodor
1956 1/3. Charles Goren, Peter Leventritt, Boris Koytchou, Harold Ogust, William Seamon, Helen Sobel
1/3. Harold Harkavy, Victor Mitchell, Alvin Roth, Ira Rubin, Tobias Stone
1/3. Robert Abeles, Kalman Apfel, Francis Begley, Louis Kelner, Ronald Rosenberg
1957 B. Jay Becker, John R. Crawford, George Rapée, Alvin Roth, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone Milton Ellenby, Ivan Erdos, Emmanuel Hochfeld, Jim Jacoby, Oswald Jacoby, Ira Rubin
1958 Paul Allinger, William Hanna, Sidney Lazard, Cyrus Neuman, Robert Rothlein Harry Fishbein, Sam Fry, Leonard Harmon, Lee Hazen, Ivar Stakold
1959 William Grieve, Oswald Jacoby, Victor Mitchell, Ira Rubin, Morton Rubinow, Sam Stayman Richard Freeman, Andy Gabrilovitch, Frank Hoadley, Mike Michaels, Jan Stone, Richard Walsh
1960 Charles Goren, Peter Leventritt, Boris Koytchou, Harold Ogust, Howard Schenken, Helen Sobel B. Jay Becker, William Grieve, Ralph Hirschberg, Norman Kay, George Rapée, Sidney Silodor
1961 Andy Gabrilovitch, Eddie Kantar, Marshall Miles, Bill Root John R. Crawford, Norman Kay, Alvin Roth, George Rapée, Sidney Silodor, Tobias Stone
1962 Leonard Harmon, Eddie Kantar, Marshall Miles, Ivar Stakgold David Carter, John Hubbell, Jim Jacoby, Gerald Michaud, Bobby Nail
1963 Russ Arnold, Harold Harkavy, Edith Kemp, Alvin Roth, Cliff Russell, William Seamon Sami Kehela, Richard Kahn, Bill Root, Tommy Sanders, Tobias Stone, Waldemar von Zedtwitz
1964 Bruce Elliott, Sami Kehela, Eric Murray, Percy Sheardown Marvin Altman, Bruce Gowdy, Fred Hoffer, Ray Jotcham
1965 Bruce Elliott, Sami Kehela, Eric Murray, Percy Sheardown B. Jay Becker, Dorothy Hayden, Norman Kay, Edgar Kaplan
1966 Bill Root, Alvin Roth, Ira Rubin, Curtis Smith William Grieve, Sidney Lazard, Paul Levitt, Harold Ogust, George Rapée
1967 Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Bill Root, Alvin Roth John Gerber, Paul Hodge, Dan Morse, George Rosenkranz, Bobby Wolff
1968 Sami Kehela, Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Sidney Lazard, Eric Murray, George Rapée Steve Altman, B. Jay Becker, Mike Becker, Dorothy Hayden
1969 Billy Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, Mike Lawrence, Jim Jacoby, Bobby Wolff Phil Feldesman, William Grieve, Victor Mitchell, Ira Rubin, Sam Stayman, Jeff Westheimer
1970 Steve Altman, Tom Smith, Dave Strasberg, Joel Stuart, Peter Weichsel Billy Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, Jim Jacoby, Mike Lawrence, Bobby Wolff
1971 Steve Altman, Eugene Neiger, Tom Smith, Joel Stuart, Peter Weichsel Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Don Krauss, Lew Mathe
1972 B. Jay Becker, Mike Becker, Andy Bernstein, Jeff Rubens Pat Brennan, Byron Greenberg, Edith Kemp, Cliff Russell, Curtis Smith, Albert Weiss
1973 Larry T. Cohen, Billy Eisenberg, Eddie Kantar, Richard H. Katz, Bud Reinhold Minda Brachman, Sidney Lazard, Jim Jacoby, Paul Soloway, John Swanson
1974 Lou Bluhm, Larry Gould, Steve Goldberg, Richard Shepherd Harlow Lewis, Lew Mathe, Peter Pender, Bill Root, Harry Stappenbeck, Arthur Waldman
1975 Grant Baze, John Fejervary, Lew Stansby, Piyush Vakil, Ron Von der Porten Ira Cohen, Harold Guiver, Marty Shallon, Bill Sides
1976 Roger Bates, Larry T. Cohen, Richard H. Katz, John Mohan, George Rosenkranz David Berkowitz, Mark Blumenthal, Jim Jacoby, Mike Lawrence, George Rapée, John Solodar
1977 Lou Bluhm, Dan Morse, Cliff Russell, Curtis Smith, Tommy Sanders, Eddie Wold Ken Cohen, Larry Gould, Larry Kozlove, John Sheridan
1978 Malcolm Brachman, Bobby Goldman, Eddie Kantar, Mike Passell, Paul Soloway Steve Altman, Edgar Kaplan, Norman Kay, Richard Pavlicek, Bill Root, Tom Smith
1979 Fred Hamilton, Bob Hamman, Ira Rubin, Bobby Wolff Ed Manfield, Steve Robinson, Eric Rodwell, John Sheridan, Kit Woolsey
1980 Mike Becker, Kyle Larsen, Ron Rubin, Alan Sontag, Ron Von der Porten, Peter Weichsel Rich Freisner, Brian Glubok, Mike Lawrence, George Rapée, Michael Rosenberg, John Solodar
1981 Larry N. Cohen, Ron Gerard, Ralph Katz, Warren Rosner, Allan Stauber, John Sutherlin Bart Bramley, Rich Freisner, Ed Manfield, Kit Woolsey
1982 Ron Rubin, Mike Becker, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Alan Sontag, Peter Weichsel Mark Molson, Billy Cohen, Eric Kokish, Peter Nagy
1983 Malcolm Brachman, Bobby Wolff, Bobby Goldman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Ron Andersen Luella Slaner, Marty Bergen, Larry N. Cohen, Brian Glubok, Mark Cohen, Jerry Goldfein
1984 George Rosenkranz, Eddie Wold, Marty Bergen, Larry N. Cohen, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Alan Sontag, Allan Cokin, Jim Sternberg, Bernie Chazen, Steve Sion
1985 Tom Mahaffey, Jack Denny, Bill Passell, Russ Arnold, Ira Rubin, Chuck Burger Ron Rubin, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Mike Lawrence, Peter Weichsel
1986 Malcolm Brachman, Bobby Goldman, Ron Andersen, Mike Passell, Mark Lair, Paul Soloway Brian Glubok, Billy Cohen, John Schermer, Neil Chambers
1987 Brian Glubok, Dan Rotman, Harry Stappenbeck, Jaggy Shivdasani Tom Mahaffey, Jack Denny, Russ Arnold, Bernie Chazen, Roy Fox, Michael Seamon
1988 Jim Mahaffey, Ron Andersen, Paul Soloway, Bobby Goldman, Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth Ron Rubin, Mike Becker, Peter Weichsel, Bart Bramley, Bobby Levin, Lou Bluhm
1989 Jimmy Cayne, Chuck Burger, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Mike Passell, Mark Lair Jon Wittes, Ross Grabel, Mark Cohen, Mark Feldman
1990 Jimmy Cayne, Chuck Burger, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff Jim Mahaffey, Paul Soloway, Bobby Goldman, Ron Andersen, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell
1991 Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Seymon Deutsch, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Cliff Russell, Peter Weichsel, Bobby Levin, Sam Lev, Alan Sontag, Eddie Kantar
1992 Mike Becker, Ron Rubin, Russ Ekeblad, Ron Sukoneck, Bobby Levin, Peter Weichsel Steve Robinson, Peter Boyd, Lew Stansby, Kit Woolsey, Neil Silverman, Chip Martel
1993 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Seymon Deutsch, Hemant Lall, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby
1994 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Jimmy Cayne, Chuck Burger, Mark Lair, Mike Passell, Paul Soloway, Bobby Goldman
1995 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby
1996 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Bobby Wolff, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Richard Schwartz, Paul Soloway, Bobby Goldman, Steve Robinson, Alan Sontag, Ron Smith
1997   Grant Baze, Tipton Golias, Marek Szymanowski, Marcin Leśniewski, Cezary Balicki, Adam Żmudziński   Jimmy Cayne, Chuck Burger, Mike Passell, Michael Seamon, Mark Feldman, Alan Sontag
1998 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell   Grant Baze, Michael Whitman, Marek Szymanowski, Marcin Leśniewski, Cezary Balicki, Adam Żmudziński  
1999 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell John Onstott, Steve Beatty, Billy Eisenberg, Garey Hayden
2000 Rose Meltzer, Peter Weichsel, Alan Sontag, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby, Kyle Larsen Roy Welland, Brad Moss, Marc Jacobus, Fred Gitelman, Magnus Lindkvist, Peter Fredin
2001 George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Lorenzo Lauria, Alfredo Versace Mike Moss, Fred Chang, Kerry Smith, Jeff Schuett
2002 George Jacobs, Ralph Katz, Norberto Bocchi, Giorgio Duboin, Lorenzo Lauria, Alfredo Versace Mike Moss, Martin Schifko, Allan Graves, Bryan Maksymetz
2003 Roy Welland, Björn Fallenius, Zia Mahmood, Michael Rosenberg, Cezary Balicki, Adam Żmudziński Rose Meltzer, Peter Weichsel, Kyle Larsen, Alan Sontag, Chip Martel, Lew Stansby
2004 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Mark Feldman, Billy Cohen, Ron Smith, Gavin Wolpert, Warren Spector, Vincent Demuy
2005 Russ Ekeblad, Ron Rubin, Eric Greco, Geoff Hampson, Fred Gitelman, Brad Moss Tom Carmichael, Michael White, Joel Wooldridge, John Hurd, Bryan Maksymetz, Dan Gerstman
2006 Nick Nickell, Richard Freeman, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell James Cayne, Michael Seamon, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Lorenzo Lauria, Alfredo Versace
2007 Nick Nickell, Hemant Lall, Bob Hamman, Paul Soloway, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Alexander Dubinin, Andrei Gromov, Cezary Balicki, Adam Żmudziński
2008 Alexander Dubinin, Andrei Gromov, Cezary Balicki, Adam Żmudziński Roy Welland, Brian Glubok, Steve Garner, Howard Weinstein, Billy Cohen, Ron Smith
2009 Jan Jansma, Louk Verhees, Ricco Van Prooijen, Russell Ekeblad, Matt Granovetter, Ron Rubin Rose Meltzer, Kyle Larsen, Alan Sontag, David Berkowitz, Larry N. Cohen, Tor Helness
2010 Eric Greco, John Diamond, Geoff Hampson, Brian Platnick, Brad Moss, Fred Gitelman Rose Meltzer, Kyle Larsen, Alan Sontag, David Berkowitz, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes
2011
 Pierre Zimmermann, Franck Multon, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Tor Helness, Geir Helgemo Nick Nickell, Ralph Katz, Bob Hamman, Zia Mahmood, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell
2012 Pierre Zimmermann, Franck Multon, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Tor Helness, Geir Helgemo Nick Nickell, Ralph Katz, Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Bobby Levin, Steve Weinstein
2013 Wojciech Gawel, Rafal Jagniewski, Jacek Kalita, Michal Nowosadzki Leslie Amoils, Peter Bertheau, Thomas Bessis, Joe Grue, Jacob Morgan, Brad Moss
2014 Richard Schwartz, Allan Graves, Lotan Fisher, Ron Schwartz, Boye Brogeland, Espen Lindqvist Pierre Zimmermann, Franck Multon, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Tor Helness, Geir Helgemo
2015 James Cayne, Ron Schwartz, Lotan Fisher, Michael Seamon, Lorenzo Lauria, Alfredo Versace Pierre Zimmermann, Franck Multon, Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes, Tor Helness, Geir Helgemo

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