| Source:www.usbf.org(Author:
Michael Rosenberg) Zia
Mahmood needs a bio less than any
other world-class bridge
player. His name is
probably the best known in the
game, and his countless successes
have been widely publicized.
His triumphs have come with many
different partners. It seems that
he plays each National Pair game
with a different partner, yet his
name is always up there on the
leaderboard - often on top. And
lest you think his main skill is
taking advantage of some of the
weaker parts of the field, you
should note that he has won the
prestigious invitational Cap
Gemini tournament (which no
longer exists, but was the
premier pairs event in the world)
SIX times, with 4 different
partners.
Almost nobody can play the game
on Zia's level, and just
occasionally he reminds his
partners of that fact.
However, there is some relief for
these poor souls. A support group
has been formed - ziaanon - and
the sharing at the twice-monthly
meetings has been enough to
prevent permanent scarring on the
psyche of those who have had the
fortune(?) of sitting opposite
Zia.
Several years ago, Zia stunned
millions of bridge groupies by
marrying and then having two
children. I believe his
priorities now are family, golf,
haute cuisine and bridge, in that
order. However, winning this
Trials would put him in the 2007
Bermuda Bowl and, if that
happens, his priorities will be
temporarily altered. Winning a
major World Championship is the
only accomplishment his resume is
missing.
|