[Walddk]

Buratti and Lanzarotti are free to play in Europe on February 7, six months before their original suspension expires. The FIGB (Italian Bridge Federation) has modified the suspension for reasons unknown to me.

There is nothing secret about this. The letter is posted on the web site of the Dutch Bridge Federation. Here it is:

.....

Panos Gerontopoulos
EBL Secretary

To all European NBOs

13 December 2006

Dear Sir,

Players’ suspension
Would you please note that, in accordance with official information received from the Italian Bridge Federation (FIGB), the following players had their sentences modified, as follows:

1. Chiara MARTELLINI: 2 December 2007 --> 2 June 2007
2. Massimo de VINCENZO: 2 December 2007 --> 2 June 2007
3. Enrico BENASSI: 2 December 2007 --> 2 June 2007
4. Roberto TERENZI: 31 October 2008 --> 30 April 2008
5. Roberto BRACCO: 2 January 2007 --> 11 December 2006
6. Andrea BURATTI: 7 August 2007 --> 7 February 2007
7. Massimo LANZAROTTI: 7 August 2007 --> 7 February 2007

You are kindly requested to ensure that the ban is enforced also in your country, in accordance with article 14 of the EBL Statutes.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation, I remain with kind regards

Yours faithfully,
Panos Gerontopoulos
EBL Secretary

cc: World Bridge Federation

[FrancesHinden]

The FIGB currently have seven banned players?

Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I've never known the EBU to have more than one or two.

Does that mean more Italians cheat, or the the FIGB are better at catching them?

[Codo]

Hi Frances,

how can you compare the country which invent the gentleman, fairness and sportmanship to the country that invented the mafia?

On a more serious note: I doubt, that you can take any conclusions from this number, MAYBE they normaly have about one or two too?

And if there is a significant difference, maybe the Italians have more people who play seriously then you have in your country?

[mrdct]

I must say I've never heard of players 1 to 5. Does anyone know the details of their cases. I seem to recall that some of the Italian suspensions related to matters other than cheating (abusing the director or opponents?).

[pclayton]

B and L suspension?

I much prefer gas shocks - or something else that gives me more clearance when I'm off-roading.

Oops; wrong thread

[mrdct]

OK, I pulled my finger out and did some research on this myself.

Chiara MARTELLINI: http://www.worldbrid....asp?qryid=6987

Doesn't appear to have played any representative bridge, but has played in a few European Open Championships with fellow suspended players Massimo de VINCENZO and Enrico BENASSI; finishing nowhere.

Massimo de VINCENZO http://www.worldbrid....asp?qryid=6986

Same as above, partnering both MARTELLINI and BENASSI is various European Open Championships events with no notable performances.

Enrico BENASSI http://www.worldbrid...asp?qryid=10168

Same as above.

Roberto TERENZI http://www.worldbrid....asp?qryid=7525

Doesn't appear to have played any representative bridge, but has played in a few European Open Championships with no notable performances.

Roberto BRACCO

Doesn't have a listing on the WBF or EBL websites.

[Aberlour10]

M. Lanzarotti is listed as a member of team Ventin for The White House International Bridge Teams ( February, 2007)

http://www.hetwittehuisbridge.nl/WhiteHous...2007/index.html


Robert

[helene_t]

Funny, February 7th is also the day the White House Invitational starts.

[Walddk]

helene_t, on Jan 17 2007, 01:07 PM, said:

Funny, February 7th is also the day the White House Invitational starts.

Not quite:

"The tournament will be held 23, 24 and 25 February 2007", it says on the official web site.

Roland