Interview with Eddie WoldEddie Wold is a professional bridge player living in Houston Texas. He is a WBF Open Life Master and an ACBL Grand Life Master, who topped the 55,000 masterpoint plateau in 2009. Eddie is a full-time player who won the Barry Crane Top 500 in 2003 and tied for first in 1995. He won the Lou Herman Trophy (now called the Goren Trophy) in 1990 for winning the most masterpoints at the Fall NABC. He won the Mott-Smith Trophy for winning the most masterpoints at the Spring NABC in 1998 and 2005. Eddie can be found at every NABC.
How old were you when you learned to play? 19
What drew you to learn bridge? As a child I loved card games and played hearts, spades. In college a threesome needed a fourth. I told them I didn’t know how to play; they said it’s easy we’ll teach you. I played rubber bridge first, then duplicate. At my first duplicate game, which was a Junior game, we won…. So we moved into the “big game”...I don’t think I broke average again for two months.
Did your parents play? No, but I taught my mother to play after I learned.
Why do you still play? It’s how I make my living. I also play for the game itself and the social aspects. I also love puzzles. Even if I didn’t do this for a living, I would play regardless.
Have you played continuously? Yes
What is your best bridge memory? Winning the National Open Pairs with my life partner, Bob Morris.
What do you look for in a partner and/or teammates? A partner who is very supportive and helps you through your bad hands; teammates who do not second guess your actions and don’t talk behind your back. All team mistakes and baggage should stay within the team, you should only tell about the good things your teammates did to outsiders.
How did you balance bridge-school-dating- other activities? Once I learned the game, I wanted to play bridge continuously. Luckily, my college offered the opportunity to take a sabbatical, which I did for about a year. Then I went back and finished my degree.
Words of advice to young players? Keep bridge in perspective because it can consume you and take over your life.
Any other thoughts? It’s great to learn the game while you are young because it’s easier to grasp the concepts, and it is an activity for life. Bridge is really challenging and a form of competition that you will always be able to enjoy.
Interview conducted at the 2008 Boston NABC by Patty Tucker, Atlanta GA.