Augustin Madala - Claire Bridge

4th World Junior Pairs Championships — Stargard Szczecinski 6-8 July 2001Youngest Ever Zonal ChampionThis tournament has attracted the greatestarray of Junior talent even seen. However,there is one phenomenal star who has notbeen able to make this trip, but who will bemaking an important one later this year.A 14-year-old schoolboy now reigns asthe youngest Zonal champion in thehistory of world bridge. Agustin Madalaof Argentina, who reached the quarterfinalsof last year's OKbridge InternetWorld Bridge Championship and whofinished second in the South AmericanOpen Pairs championship at the age of 12,was a member of the Argentine team thatwon the South American championship inCochabamba, Bolivia, recently.He will represent Argentina in theBermuda Bowl World Championships inBali, Indonesia, in October. This will beanother record - he'll be the youngestplayer ever to compete in the BermudaBowl.Agustin Madala is on the Road to BaliIn the South American final, Argentinadefeated Brazil, which featured manytimesworld champion Gabriel Chagas,one of the greatest players in the historyof the game. Brazil had a 16 IMPcarryover entering the 64-board final, butArgentina won each quarter, eventuallyscoring a 48 IMP victory. Playing withMadala were Ernesto Muzzio (44),Marcelo Villegas (48), Christobal Aguirrre(48) Jorge Estavarena (42) and PabloRavenna (25). The non-playing captain wasAlexis Pejacsevich. Only Muzzio andVillegas had played in the South AmericanChampionships before.Ravenna, still eligible for Junior events atthe age of 25, and Madala are bothmembers of one of the Argentine teamsin this year's third annual OKbridgeInternational World BridgeChampionship. Ravenna has competed inthree World Junior Team Championshipsand currently is South Americanchampion in both the Junior and the OpenTeams. He and Madala will be members ofthe Argentinian team that will compete inthe World Juniors in Brazil as well as theBermuda Bowl.Playing for Brazil with Chagas, one of thefew players who has won all three majoropen world championships (World TeamOlympiad, Bermuda Bowl and WorldOpen Pairs), were Diego Brenner, JoaoCampos, Miguel Vilas Boas and MauricioFigueiredo. Both Argentina and Brazilqualified to compete in the BermudaBowl.The biggest problem for both teams wasthe 'soroche' - altitude sickness -Cochabamba is 2,400m (1.5 miles) high.Young Madala is a fine bridge player, as hisrecord attests. His excellent play in theWorld Junior Championships in FortLauderdale, Florida, in 1999, got theattention of the players, the officials andthe press. He was only 12 at the time. Heis in his second year of middle school,which means he has three more years togo before going to university. He is anexcellent student. According to his father,Adolfo Madala, Agustin has a wonderfulDaily Bulletin No1. Saturday July 7 Page 3

4th World Junior Pairs Championships — Stargard Szczecinski 6-8 July 2001relationship with his fellow students andthe school authorities. Agustin isespecially strong in mathematics andlanguage. 'He always has an Aqualification,' says his father. 'Once mywife asked Agustin's maths teacher whyAgustin never had any homework. Theteacher said, "Because by the time I finishwriting the homework on the blackboard,Agustin has finished it."'Agustin's present goal is to be anarchitect, but his father thinks he's stilltoo young to be sure about his future.However, it's already quite apparent thatAgustin has the tools to be successful atwhatever he decides to try.Bridge is not Agustin's only interest - farfrom it. He plays on his school soccerteam where he is a very good forward.He also likes music - he's learning to playthe electronic organ and the flute. Hisfather noted that Agustin 'likes to changethe song's lyrics and make new ones,talking about his friends and teachers andschool life.' 'He enjoys almost all sports,but soccer is his first love. He plays everyday with his schoolmates and friends. Givehim a soccer ball and it will never touchthe floor - he can make more than ahundred contacts using his feet, heels,knees, shoulders and head. Well, soccer isour national sport, you know.' Agustinplays bridge two or three times a week,mostly on OKbridge. Playing in localtournaments does not cause too much ofa problem for Agustin because the gamesusually take place late at night. Thefollowing day Agustin has to wake up at7am but he manages this just fine,according to his father. When he plays ininternational events, like the SouthAmericans or the World JuniorChampionship, he sometimes loses aweek or two of classes, but he recoversthe study rhythm with no difficulty. Histeachers think that bridge playing hasincreased his comprehension ability,especially in logic problems.Here's an example of Agustin in action inthe South American Championships.Dealer North. All Vul[ A Q J] 10 9 4{ A J 5 3 2} A Q[ – [ K 8 7 3 2] K Q J 8 ] 6 3{ Q 9 8 6 { K 10 7} 9 8 6 5 3 } K 10 4[ 10 9 6 5 4] A 7 5 2{ 4} J 7 2West North East South1{ Pass 1[Pass 2NT Pass 3]Pass 3[ Pass 4[All PassAgustin let the heart king hold but wonthe second heart. He led a club to thequeen, losing to the king. A trump cameback, won in dummy. Agustin cashed thediamond ace and ruffed a diamond,crossed to the club ace and ruffedanother diamond. He cashed the clubjack, pitching dummy's last heart. Next heruffed a heart with dummy's ace, Eastdiscarding a spade perforce. Agustin calledfor another diamond, and East was done.He played the seven of spades, butAgustin overruffed with the nine. He ledhis last heart and ruffed with dummy'squeen. East was able to overruff with theking, but that made Agustin's trump tengood for the game-going trick. He lostonly one heart, one club and one trumpdespite the 5-0 trump break.Daily Bulletin No1. Saturday July 7 Page 4

4th World Junior Pairs Championships — Stargard Szczecinski 6-8 July 2001West North East SouthPass Pass Pass 1{Pass 1[ Pass Pass2] Pass Pass 2[All PassLambardi wonders if he was so good at 14!'Never before had I met a player ofAgustin's skill at his age,' said PabloLambardi, captain of last year's IWBCteam. What most impressed Lambardiwas the fact that Agustin played with aplayer from the old school - 82-year-oldCarlos Cabanne - and came in second inthe South American Pairs championship.After last year's IWBC event, Lambardisaid, 'Agustin's biggest problem was thathis mother wouldn't let him play late onweekdays. He had to wait until she wentto sleep before he could sneak in to playOKbridge.' Now Agustin has proved hecan handle late-night bridge and still keepup with all his other activities.Look at this deal. It's only a part-scorehand, but successful ones add up fast.Dealer West. All Vul[ K 6 5 3] A 9 7{ K 10} 10 7 3 2[ J 4 [ Q 10 7 2] J 10 8 3 2 ] K Q 5{ A J 8 6 { 9 5 4} K 5 } Q 6 4[ A 9 8] 6 4{ Q 7 3 2} A J 9 8This looks like a make, doesn't it? Itappears that declarer will lose only twotrumps and one trick in each side suit. ButMadala/Ravenna found the defence to beatit.Madala was allowed to hold the trickwhen he led the heart king, and heswitched to the nine of diamonds.Ravenna put in the jack, and declarer wonwith the king. He led a club to the eight,driving out Ravenna's king, and Ravennaswitched back to a heart, declarer winninghis ace.He ruffed his last heart (a second clubfinesse would have been a better play at thispoint. Ed) and led a diamond, Ravennarising with the ace and dropping declarer'sten.Ravenna then deliberately offereddeclarer a sluff-ruff, leading the heart ten.Declarer pitched a club as he ruffed indummy with the nine. Madala got rid ofhis last diamond on this trick. Declarercashed dummy's trump ace and led thequeen of diamonds. Too late - Madala wasable to ruff this. He led the club queen, todummy's ace. Declarer continued with adiamond which Madala ruffed with his ten.He shot back a club, which Ravenna ruffedwith the jack, forcing declarer to use theking for the overruff.That set up Madala's queen for the settingtrick. The defence took a club, a heart, adiamond and three spades. Little thingsmean a lot. That's the name of a lovesong, but it certainly can be applied tobridge as well.Daily Bulletin No1. Saturday July 7 Page 5

4th World Junior Pairs Championships — Stargard Szczecinski 6-8 July 2001Dealer West. N/S Vul[ 6 5 3] Q 7 3{ Q 9 4} A K 9 3[ K Q 9 8 7 [ J 10 2] J 4 ] A 10 8 6{ J 8 5 { 7 6 3 2} J 10 4 } 8 7[ A 4] K 9 5 2{ A K 10} Q 6 5 2West North East SouthPass Pass Pass 1NTPass 3NT All PassThe contract was the same at both tables- 3NT by South. Aguirre thought aboutleading the eight of spades, but thendecided that the king might be betterconsidering his holding. Declarer won thesecond spade, went to the board with aclub and led a heart. Esteverena, figuringthat partner must have five spades to leadthe king, missing the jack, quickly rosewith the ace and led his last spade - downone. At the other table West led hisfourth best spade, the eight, and Madalatook his ace immediately. As in the otherroom, he crossed to dummy with a cluband led a heart. East, thinking declarermust have a second stopper to have takenthe first spade, ducked. That was allMadala needed. He rose with the king andcashed out his nine tricks for a 12 IMPpickup.Teach Bridge and MakeImportant FriendsAs a teacher Ron Klinger claims that hasmet people from all walks of life.Although he knew several policemen whoplayed, he had only taught one whohappened to be one of the best studentsin his beginner class. Klinger says, "Sometime after the player had graduated Ronwas caught in a traffic snarl near KingsCross. We were chatting about bridgehands when the traffic started to flowagain. I was quick on the accelerator, butthe traffic cop at the approachingintersection was even quicker with his'Stop sign.' Our combined precipitousactions meant that I banged heavily intothe car in front, which had managed tostop in time."With a grim expression, the policemanstrode over to my car and bent down tome at the driver's window. I was ready fora stern lecture when I recognized him asmy bridge pupil.Simultaneously he recognized me and hisexpression quickly changed to a smile.""Why, Mr. Klinger. How are you? I'll beback in a moment. I just have to book theguy who reversed into you."Daily Bulletin No1. Saturday July 7 Page 6