Here is Kai Zhou another member of The Team.

September 4th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

My name is Kai Zhou and I am from Shanghai, China. 5 Years ago I came to Vancouver to study at SFU Simon Fraser University. I now work as sales representative at Info CANADA.

I have been playing bridge for about 10 years. My partner in the Championship is Roy Yang Li.

To be selected to play for Canada at the 1st Mind Sports Game is a great opportunity for me and I really cherish it for a few reasons. First, I have a chance to shine at my very first International Bridge Championship. Second, we are being coached by the best coach in the world Eric kokish. Although he is very busy, he has spent a lot of time and efforts doing one on one bidding sessions. Providing complete summaries and various practice questions for us to improve our partnership. I would also like to say Thank You to him and Beverly for the defence sessions. I will do my best and not let them down.

Besides Bridge I play table tennis, chess and badminton. However they all have to take a back seat to bridge. Right now bridge is my game and I am addicted to it.

I like Chinese food, but I do not have much time for cooking as my time is always squeezed by bridge :))

You are welcome to contact Kai at kaiz@sfu.ca

Matthew Mason in Action

September 2nd, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  2 Comments 

Matt was South and listened to the auction. When the opponents stopped at 5S he knew his partner has a key card, may it be an ace. So he doubled and put the 9H on the table. Watch out next time Matt comes to your table.

Introducing Erin Anderson

September 2nd, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

My name is Erin Anderson I am  25 years old, and have been involved in junior bridge for many years. I have had the privilege of representing Canada in previous World Junior Bridge Championships and have enjoyed every one of them.

I am originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, but a year and a half ago I moved to San Diego, California. Here in San Diego, I am a high school math teacher. I am starting at a new school this year which I am very excited about. I am now teaching at a highly respected private school and will be teaching Algebra II and Pre calculus. Other exciting news for me, is that I recently got engaged while on Vacation in Peru. I am engaged to Jason Feldman a member of the American junior team who will be competing in the under 28 event and defending their World Championship title. We are now in the midst of planning our wedding which has been lots of fun so far.

  Photo courtesy of Jonathan Steinberg.

Jason and I love to travel and are fortunate enough to do it a lot. To-gather we have traveled to 20 countries, and are looking forward to making China our 21st.

I love frozen yogurt and I enjoy all kinds of music.

I am very excited to be going to Beijing and grateful for the opportunity to compete for Canada once again.

Introducing Eric O. Kokish and Beverly Kraft, coach of The Team.

September 1st, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  1 Comment 

Eric Kokish is a champion player and also widely considered World’s best bridge coach. He is full time coach of all Canadian teams and currently on retainer to the USA Nickell team. He is also coaching or has coached the USA Woman, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, China, Chinese Taipei, Egypt, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands and Russia amongst others. 75% of his teams have done well in international competition!

Eric is also a prolific writer, system consultant for the WBF, Contributing editor to The Bridge World Executive editor, World Bridge news, NEC Cup bulletins, PABF bulletins. Vugraph Commentator, WBF. Also sits on WBF Appeals committee. Principal analyst, World Championship Books. Analyst, World Simultaneous pairs.

Eric was born in Montreal and spent the first half century of his life there. He learned the basics of the game of bridge in the Monklands High School bridge club and has never lost his fascination with the game. Ten years after graduating with an Arts degree from McGill University, Eric returned for a law degree. Shortly after graduating, he abandoned the law to make order in the bridge world. He married childhood sweetheart, Beverly Kraft , in 1986.

Beverly Kraft Is also champion player in her own right. Silver in Maastricht, Bronze in Rhodes. She and Eric lives in Toronto with their son Matthew (York U, honours kinesiology). They have an 11-year old black lab Jackie Robinson and a two-year old fierce cat named kitten. They also have three married-up daughters with 6 grandchildren. Current passion is 1 year old granddaughter Zoe.

They both love music, have about 10,000 LPs and singles vinyl records in addition to a few hundred CDs. Main focus 50s and 60s rock n roll, but big on Dylan, Springsteen, Leonard Cohen (B’s favourite), Bob Seger, Dave Alvin, Van Morrison, Proclaimers, Midnight Oil (pretty eclectic)

Eric also collect baseball cards somewhat obsessively. Bridge books and magazines have taken over much of the living space. Watch only House on TV.

They both despise celery, love Indian and most ethnic cuisines. Eric is a carnivore (OK, omnivore), Bev is closer to an organic obsessive.

Eric and Bev now.

They have work to-gather in bridge related activities (International Bridge Services, Inc) since 1985 Bev is major part of their success. Eric said they are so busy they both need a wife!

Introducing Michael Yuen

September 1st, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  No Comments 

02-the-look-of-loveI Michael Yuen live in beautiful Vancouver. Have been retired from hotel management since 1997. It was about that time that I moved from Winnipeg to British Columbia.

Beside bridge I love travelling to visit friends and family. Recently have discover biking. That all started when I was in Verona for the 2006 World Bridge Championship. Michael Gamble, Nader Hanna and I just happened to stay at the same hotel. The front desk told us that they have bicycles for hotel guest to use. It was wonderful to be able to bike all over town for the two weeks that we were there. Acquire is another game I love to play and now one can play it on line. I am Marvelous on NetAcquire.

As a long time member of the IBPA International Bridge Press Association. This is my first attempt at writing a blog, ready to confront my fear. 

Photo courtesy of Swan Games.

I have been to many World and European Bridge Championships in many capacities. 

Besides Chinese food, a meal to died for will start with clam chowder, then filet mignon with portobello mushrooms, wash that down with pint of beer and finish with Tiramisu and cup of tea. With Kenny G playing “The Look of love” in the back ground. I like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Pavarotti and The Supremes.

I chose to live in a world that is all inclusive.

Canadian Youth Team for 1st World Mind Sports Game

August 28th, 2008  ~  Mike Yuen  ~  5 Comments 

June of 2008 Canadian Bridge Federation appointed me, Michael Yuen as the captain of The Youth Team (under 28) for the World Championship 3rd October to 18th October 2008 in Beijing. Soon after Nader Hanner our CBF junior manager selected three pairs for The Team. The players were selected based on participation in the junior program activities over the last 12 months, and the performance of the various partnership in the practice matches.

Members of The Team are Erin Anderson, David Grainger, Roy Yang Li, Matthew Mason, David Sabourin and Kai Zhou. The 3 partnerships will be Erin and Matt, David and Davis, Kai and Roy.

I am very excited about our team’s chances in the Championship. Between them Erin, Matt, David and David have played in 11 World Championships. Kai and Roy are new to world championships however they are very keen. We have some veterans and some new blood and that is a nice combination. We also have Kokish-Kraft as coach, I would say the best in the world.

70 teams/countries from around the world have entered the Championship. One more team then in the Open. The opening ceremony is on the 3rd of October. It will be a Swiss qualifier for the first week. The top 16 teams will play in the KO stage.

There will be a Youth Pairs Championship for those that are not in the KO. 2 days qualifying, 2 days semi final and 2 days final. After the pairs there will be an Individual Championship. 2 days qualifying, 1 day semi and 1 day final. The closing ceremony will be on the 18th October.