Rosenthal squad takes Vanderbilt Trophy
ACBL President Joann Glasson presents the Vanderbilt trophy to captain Andrew Rosenthal and his team (from left): Boye Brogeland Aaron Silverstein, Chris Willenken, Christian Bakke and Jan Jansma
Andrew Rosenthal has captained powerful squads in major NABC team events for more than a decade, but victories in those contests has proved elusive … until last evening. Rosenthal led his team to the winners’ circle in the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams, defeating the squad captained by Vinita Gupta, 119–104. With the win, Rosenthal of New York City became a Grand Life Master.
Rosenthal’s teammates were Aaron Silverstein and Chris Willenken of the U.S., Jan Jansma of the Netherlands (but who now lives in New York), and Norwegians Boye Brogeland and Christian Bakke.
Gupta’s lineup: Danes Morten Bilde, Emil Jepsen, Andreas Meister, with the U.K.’s Simon Cope.
Runners-up in the Vanderbilt (from left): Simon Cope, team captain Vinita Gupta, Emil Jepsen, Andreas Meister and Morten Bilde
After a near-tie in the first quarter, Rosenthal opened up a 34-IMP lead in the second set. Gupta shaved their opponents’ lead to just 12 IMPs in the third quarter, but a balanced last segment allowed Rosenthal to stay in control, winning the match by 15.
Andrew Rosenthal’s only previous national win was in 1999: the Red Ribbon Pairs, a masterpoint-limited contest. His best showings in open NABC events were second-place finishes in the 2011 Roth Open Swiss Teams and the 2018 Spingold Knockout Teams.
For the runners-up, this was Vinita Gupta’s first appearance in the final of the Vanderbilt.