Fred Gitelman

Fred Gitelman (born February 6, 1965 in Toronto, Ontario) is one of the leading American bridge players. He has won five North American Bridge Championships, Gold Medal in the 2002 IOC Grand Prix, and ended as runner-up in the 1995 Bermuda Bowl.

In 2005, Gitelman was elected as the International Bridge Press Association's personality of the year.

Additionally, he is well-known for the educational software he produces through his company Bridge Base Inc. His most recent project is Bridge Base Online (BBO), which he began in 2001, for online bridge play. BBO has developed into what is considered worldwide the most popular bridge playing site.

Gitelman was a member of the Canadian youth and later open international teams before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. He resides there with his wife, Sheri, who is also a well-known bridge player.

Creativity at the table

Gitelman is sometimes recognized for his creativity at the bridge table. In one tournament he discarded an Ace, as a signal to his partner to not lead that suit. His partner didn't, but led the remaining logical suit which Gitelman, being void, ruffed.

Bridge accomplishments

Awards

* ACBL Honorary Member of the Year 2005
* IBPA Award (Personality of the Year) 2005

Wins

* North American Bridge Championships (5)
** Spingold (1) 2005
** Reisinger (1) 2001
** Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1998
** Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (1) 2003
** IMP Pairs (1) 2006
* United States Bridge Championships (1)
** Open Team Trials (1) 2005
* Canadian Championships (2)
** National Team Championships (2) 1994, 1995
* Other notable wins:
** Warren Buffett Cup (1) 2006
** IOC Grand Prix (1) 2002
** Forbo-Krommenie Nations Cup (1) 2001
** Cavendish Invitational Teams (1) 2001
** Cavendish Invitational Pairs (1) 2003

Runner-ups

* Bermuda Bowl (1) 1995
* World Transnational Open Teams (1) 2000
* World Junior Teams (1) 1991
* North American Bridge Championships (6)
** Spingold (1) 2000
** Reisinger (1) 2006
** Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 2002
** Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (1) 2002
** Life Master Pairs (1) 1999
** Life Master Open Pairs (1) 2003
* United States Bridge Championships (2)
** Open Team Trials (2) 2006, 2007
* Other notable 2nd places:
** Forbo-Krommenie Nations Cup (1) 2002

External links

* [http://www.worldbridge.org/people/person.asp?qryid=3695 World Bridge Federation profile]