Changing of the Guard...
#1
Posted 2013-June-10, 16:30
One of the major changes is that new players were able to advance their skill's much more quickly because they had the opportunity to play many 1,000's of hands online. Playing F2F, it would take many times as long to get the same experience.
I wonder whether we're seeing the same effects taking place in bridge...
It feels like there is a changing of the guard taking place, with a number of young players experiencing some dramatic successes.
#2
Posted 2013-June-10, 19:53
#3
Posted 2013-June-10, 21:41
CSGibson, on 2013-June-10, 19:53, said:
It seems as if more than half the player bios I've read include dropping out of college because they were missing too many classes playing bridge.
#4
Posted 2013-June-11, 08:22
The vast majority of these players have manners and are gentlemanly well beyond their years.
#5
Posted 2013-June-11, 09:02
#6
Posted 2013-June-11, 09:33
#7
Posted 2013-June-11, 09:43
What may be more unusual is that we're seeing teams of four or six young players winning these events (rather than a mix of ages). I suspect that this has a bit to do with online bridge, a bit to do with the junior bridge program, and a bit to do with professionalism -- strong partnerships of young players are forming earlier (junior program), are able to continue practicing together even if life circumstances separate them geographically (online), and then are able to find opportunities to make money playing as a pair (professionalism).
a.k.a. Appeal Without Merit
#8
Posted 2013-June-11, 10:54
awm, on 2013-June-11, 09:43, said:
I suspect the second factor is the strongest. People can form and develop partnerships with whoever they like without geography in the way. IIRC Meckwell did most of their system development through the postal mail before Rodwell moved to Florida, and if their chemistry had been just a bit different they might not have bothered. That's much less of a hurdle nowadays.
As for junior development, a friend of mine is in the USBF mentoring program and absolutely gushes about it. Keep it up, folks! Good things happening there.
#9
Posted 2013-June-14, 11:08
awm, on 2013-June-11, 09:43, said:
That may be because we think of great players as being those you have been at the top for decades. So it almost follows that the early successes must have occurred at a relatively young age.
#10
Posted 2013-June-14, 12:28
jallerton, on 2013-June-14, 11:08, said:
Maybe, but I think of Lall/Woolridge/Wolpert/Grue & more as great players with less of a track record, primarily it takes consistent greatness over a recent period. Success with different partners is also a plus.
#11
Posted 2013-June-15, 11:17
Then they keep it up for a few decades, and they become notable because they're the players who have been winning consistently for years. These are your Meckwells, Zias, Fantunes, Hammans, Bocchis, etc. But a few decades ago, they were in the above category.
Are there many champion bridge players who didn't start having good results in major competitions until their 30's or 40's?
#12
Posted 2013-June-15, 12:54
barmar, on 2013-June-15, 11:17, said:
Then they keep it up for a few decades, and they become notable because they're the players who have been winning consistently for years. These are your Meckwells, Zias, Fantunes, Hammans, Bocchis, etc. But a few decades ago, they were in the above category.
Are there many champion bridge players who didn't start having good results in major competitions until their 30's or 40's?
After I'm through there will be