BRIDGE CONTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1933, Page 3

BRIDGE CONTEST

OFFENSIVE -REMARKS VOICED. CULBERTSON ASKED TO LEAVE. LONDON, June 12. At dispute partly .■ upset - the AngloAmerican br.uge content. Dr Meivil.e Smith, -who "is ireferee -at the tournament between British and foreign teams, say§ that Mr Ely Culbertson, the American expert, who was watching the tournament,' made offensive reAi rks which hurt the feelings of

many guests. , ‘Mr “Culbertson declared that the ‘tournament was not a test of merit, a'irid depreciated the skill of the players. '%i .'Manning Foster - sought, an explanation of'the criticisms, and added that although a. guest of the League, Mr Culbertson had not troubled to follow the play. He suggested that Mr Culbertson should not attend again. •Mr Cuilbertoon immediately departed.

Subsequently he said that he had not 'intended to be offensive. Any trouble was due to his decision not to play in an international match against any British team that w4 s not representative of the best players in the country. He would play -‘ Captain Mundy’s team for a wager of £2OOO to £IOO. ThO team played with a bad 'system, but it wa s a system. He would also play ''Co’ioiiel Boiler’s "team, which played ?no systenf at ai-l> f° r a wage* of £3OOO to £IOOO. / 1 “I can’t play everybody who challenges me,” Mr Culbertson added. ‘ I am challenged a dozen times daily, from California to the Caucasus.” •M,r Culbertson was the inventor of a system of contract bridge bidding which bears his name. His method of valuing is the basis of other systemis as well as his own.