The Setting Trick: Conversations with World Class Bridge Players
At the age of 10 years and 43 days Adam Kaplan set the record as the American Contract Bridge League’s youngest ever life master. A subsequent article in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin, commemorating Adam’s achievement, inspired his successor Richard Jeng who broke Adam’s record with ease at the age of 9 years, 6 months, and 12 days.
Both Richard and Adam are members of the USA1 Under 21 team whose journey in the 14th World Youth Team Championships we chronicle in Double Dummy. A film which Adam largely inspired. Here are two brief conversations about Richard and Adam’s quest to become the youngest life master and what the title meant to them.
2:16- The event where Adam won his last needed masterpoints
4:04- Two club games per day—the dedication needed to get those masterpoints
6:39- The fame ensuing after his achievement
7:46- What the achievement means to him
9:14- “I was a terrible partner” ~ Adam
12:14- Adam’s current level of bridge involvement
14:04- The story behind Adam’s nickname
15:39- Adam’s partner in Double Dummy
19:54- An optimistic grand bid by Adam
24:09- Adam’s current career plans
26:30- Richard’s first reaction on hearing about Andrew Chen’s achievement
27:05- How Richard first started playing bridge
28:40- Richard’s inspiration on becoming the Youngest Life Master
29:50- Richard’s meeting up with the teen whose record he planned on beating
30:35- This record is meant to be broken!
31:35- Life Master is a title given only to those who mastered life
31:55- The event where Richard won his last needed master points