Paul Soloway

Paul Soloway (October 10, 1941 – November 5, 2007) was a world champion American bridge player. He won the Bermuda Bowl world team championship five times and won 30 national championships. Soloway was inducted into the American Contract Bridge League's Hall of Fame in 2002. [cite web
title = Hall of Fame
author =
publisher = ACBL
url = http://www.acbl.org/about/hall-of-fame/biography.php?id=96
date =
accessdate = 2007-11-11 ] At the time of his death he held 65,511.92 masterpoints – more than any other player in history, and more than 6000 points ahead of second place.

Early life

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Soloway nearly drowned at age 3 when he fell into a swimming pool at the home of family friend George Raft. He was saved by gangster Bugsy Siegel who jumped into the pool and pulled him out.

Soloway learned to play bridge in college, where he majored in business studies. Shortly after graduation he became a bridge professional. In 1971 he joined the Dallas Aces bridge team, but left after one year. In 1998 he joined the Nick Nickell team. He died in Seattle, Washington. [cite web
title = Paul Soloway, 66, World Bridge Champion, Dies
author = Phillip Alder
publisher = New York Times
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/arts/08soloway.htm
date =
accessdate = 2007-11-11 ]

Honors

* ACBL Hall of Fame 2002
* Lazard Sportsmanship Award 2001

Awards

* McKenney Trophy 1968, 1969
* Barry Crane Top 500 1998
* ACBL Player of the Year 1998
* Mott-Smith Trophy 2002
* Fishbein Trophy 1998
* Herman Trophy 1976

Tournament record

Wins

* Bermuda Bowl (5) 1976, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2003
* North American Bridge Championships (30)
** Life Master Men's Pairs (1) 1965
** Life Master Open Pairs (1) 1999
** Master Mixed Teams (2) 1966, 1987
** North American Men's Swiss Teams (1) 1989
** Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (3) 1991, 2002, 2006
** Open Board-a-Match Teams (1) 1993
** Grand National Teams (2) 1974, 1976
** Spingold Knockout Teams (9) 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007
** Vanderbilt Knockout Teams (6) 1969, 1978, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003
** Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams (4) 1976, 1980, 2004, 2005
* United States Bridge Championships (13)
** Open Trials (13) 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 (Jan), 1979 (Dec), 1984, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007
* Other notable wins:
** Cavendish Invitational Pairs (1) 1995
** Warren Buffet Cup (1) 2006

Runner-ups

* Bermuda Bowl (2) 1975, 2005
* World Open Team Olympiad (2) 1972, 1980
* North American Bridge Championships (19)
** Men's Pairs (1) 1969
** Jacoby Open Swiss Teams (1) 2005
** Men's Board-a-Match Teams (2) 1970, 1984
** Open Board-a-Match Teams (3) 1995, 1998, 1999
** Spingold Knockout Teams (4) 1973, 1990, 1994, 1996
** Vanderbilt Knockout Teams (4) 1971, 1972, 1976, 2002
** Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams (4) 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994
* United States Bridge Championships (1)
** Open Trials (1) 1969
* Other notable 2nd places:
** Sunday Times Invitational Pairs (1) 1990
** Cavendish Invitational Teams (5) 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.worldbridge.org/people/person.asp?qryid=3775 World Bridge Federation Profile]