(b. 1930) - Billionaire investor and philanthropist. Buffett has a reputation of a die-hard player, having been quoted as saying, "If I'm playing bridge and a naked woman walks by, I don't even see her.
(1904 - 1997) - Deng Xiaoping, the renowned Chinese leader who steered China into an era of reform and modernization, was not only a political mastermind but also a devoted bridge player.
(1890 - 1969) - WWII General and 34th President of the United States. Eisenhower had a reputation as an excellent bridge player in a 2009 NY Times article.
(b. 1955) - Billionaire businessman and philanthropist. Gates reportedly got addicted to bridge through Warren Buffett
(b. 1961) - Isaac Mizrahi is a well-known fashion designer, TV personality, and performer, but few people know about his passion for bridge. He has played regularly for 30 years and counting.
(b. 1956) - Tennis legend and winner of 59 Grand Slam titles. On the topic of bridge, she has been quoted as saying "No matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table."
(1932 - 2015) - Charismatic star of "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago", Omar Sharif has also enjoyed a long career as an expert bridge player and columnist.
Yes, Snoopy is a bridge player too. Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz, a long-time player, occasionally penned comic strips in which Snoopy, Woodstock (and Woodstock's buddies) play bridge. Alan Truscott once wrote an article about Snoopy's bridge game for the New York Times.
( 1923 - 1995) - Member of the Italian Blue Team that won 13 Bermuda Bowl world championships and three World Olympiads.
(b. 1925) - Well-known in international play for his unflappable countenance, Forquet won 15 world championships while a member of the Italian Blue Team.
(b. 1927) - One of the world's best players for decades, Garozzo won 13 world championships, including the Bermuda Bowl 10 times.
(1901 - 1991) - "Mr. Bridge," as millions knew him, was a renowned player, writer and teacher.
C (b. 1938) - Considered by many to be the best player in the world, Hamman was a member of the famous Dallas Aces that trained as full-time bridge players in the '60s.
(1902 - 1984) - Ozzie Jacoby was one of the world's best players and writers for fifty years. In the '30s, Jacoby played on the famous Four Aces Team that won several national events.
(1913 - 1996) - Terence Reese was England's greatest bridge player and writer. He won the 1955 Bermuda Bowl world championship as well as 4 European titles and 20 national events.
(1910 - 1969) - When once asked how it felt to play with a great expert, Helen Sobel Smith pointed to longtime partner Charles Goren and said, "Ask him."
© Jeff Tang. All Rights Reserved.
