| Jacquelyn MITCHELL |
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Jacqui, nata a New York city nel 1936, è stata al suo tempo una delle più note giocatrici e insegnanti di bridge del mondo.
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Amante degli animali ed eccellente cuoca, Jacquelyn è sempre riuscita a trovare il tempo per seguire i suoi sport preferiti.
Suo marito Victor Mitchell è stato, a sua volta, una delle più eminenti figure del mondo del bridge del secolo scorso.
Women World Grand Master ancor oggi trova posto nella classifica femminile delle giocatrici più forti di tutti i tempi edita dalla WBF, ha vinto due volte la Venice Cup (1976, 78) e le Olimpiadi femminili (1980, 84), ed una vota i Campionati del Mondo a Coppie Ladies del 1986.
Medaglia d'argento con Jimmy Cayne ai Mondiali a Coppie Miste del 1974, Jacqui ha anche vinto numerosi titoli nazionali tra i quali, ben 5 volte il Whithead Trophy.
Jacqui è anche una delle sole 7 atlete al mondo che si sono potute fregiare della prestigiosa Triple Crown (Venice Cup, Olimpiadi Femminili e Mondiale a Coppie Ladies).
Taken from the Hall
of Fame
If Jacqui was seen at the bridge table minus her needlepoint, knitting or a mystery book on her lap, one would suspect she was an impostor. Despite the combination of her signature jeans and T-shirt appearance and nonchalant table demeanor, she is an intensely serious, competitive, brilliant, analytical and calculating player --- the antithesis of what meets the eye!
According to close friend and partner Amalya Kearse, "She is not only a terrific player, but she also has such a love for the game that she never treats a hand casually, even if it is near the end of an event she no longer has a chance of winning or placing well. Every hand gets the attention it deserves."
For many years, Jacqui was ranked as the leading WBF woman player and has captured several World Championships (Venice Cup in 1976 and 1978; World Olympiad Women’s Teams in 1980 and 1984; World Women’s Pairs in 1986) as well as NABCs, sectionals and regionals. In her second year of tournament play in 1958, she earned the title of New York Player of the Year, which marked the beginning of more than four decades of impressive triumphs.
Although her active professional involvement in teaching bridge and playing keeps her busy, this soft-spoken human dynamo is a fanatic exerciser, finds time to follow her favorite sports teams and tennis icons, excels in the kitchen and is an inveterate animal lover of all kinds.
Demonstrating the latter two, when a dinner guest arrived at her home one evening drooling from the wonderful smells emanating from the kitchen in anticipation of a delectable feast, Jacqui admonished her not to get too excited. "That’s not our dinner," she said. "I'm cooking chicken for the Central Park cats." Oh, yes, she has a sense of humour, too!
