Eric Murray (bridge)
Encyclopedia
Eric Murray is a Canadian contract bridge
player and co-founder of the Canadian Bridge Federation
(CBF). Along with his partner Sami Kehela
, Murray is considered one of the top Canadians ever to have played the game. The Eric R. Murray trophy, awarded to the team representing Canada in the Open Teams at the World Olympiad, is named in his honour.
Between 1962 and 1974, Murray placed second in four Bermuda Bowls, three times with Kehela. Unique among world players, Murray and Kehela also represented their country as a partnership in every one of the first six World Team Olympiads, from Turin in 1960 to Valkenburg in 1980. Together they won the Life Master Men’s Pairs, the Life Master Pairs, the Vanderbilt, and the Spingold Trophy three times. They were also runners-up in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)'s 1969 Blue Ribbon Pairs.
At the 1965 Nationals (now called North American Bridge Championships) in Chicago, Murray led a group of Canadian organizers and enthusiasts to create the Canadian Bridge Federation. Initial meetings were held in Murray's home, and the organization ran its first national final in Winnipeg in September 1967.
A member of both the ACBL Hall of Fame (2001) and the CBF Hall of Fame (2010), Murray lives in Toronto, where he maintains an active law practice.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
player and co-founder of the Canadian Bridge Federation
Canadian Bridge Federation
The Canadian Bridge Federation is the primary organizational body for contract bridge in Canada. Like its American counterpart, the American Contract Bridge League, the CBF promotes bridge by running tournaments for youth and adults, provides financial support for teams that represent Canada in...
(CBF). Along with his partner Sami Kehela
Sami Kehela
Sami Kehela is a Canadian contract bridge player. A member of the Hall of Fame of both the American Contract Bridge League and of the Canadian Bridge Federation, he is considered, along with his partner Eric Murray, one of the top Canadians ever to have played the game.Between 1966 and 1974,...
, Murray is considered one of the top Canadians ever to have played the game. The Eric R. Murray trophy, awarded to the team representing Canada in the Open Teams at the World Olympiad, is named in his honour.
Between 1962 and 1974, Murray placed second in four Bermuda Bowls, three times with Kehela. Unique among world players, Murray and Kehela also represented their country as a partnership in every one of the first six World Team Olympiads, from Turin in 1960 to Valkenburg in 1980. Together they won the Life Master Men’s Pairs, the Life Master Pairs, the Vanderbilt, and the Spingold Trophy three times. They were also runners-up in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL)'s 1969 Blue Ribbon Pairs.
At the 1965 Nationals (now called North American Bridge Championships) in Chicago, Murray led a group of Canadian organizers and enthusiasts to create the Canadian Bridge Federation. Initial meetings were held in Murray's home, and the organization ran its first national final in Winnipeg in September 1967.
A member of both the ACBL Hall of Fame (2001) and the CBF Hall of Fame (2010), Murray lives in Toronto, where he maintains an active law practice.
See also
- Edgar KaplanEdgar KaplanEdgar Kaplan was an American bridge player and one of the principal contributors to the game. His career spanned six decades and covered every aspect of bridge. He was a teacher, author, editor, administrator, champion player, theorist, expert Vugraph commentator, coach/captain and authority on...
comments on the Kehela-Murray partnership in an interview with Audrey GrantAudrey GrantAudrey Grant is a Canadian professional educator and contract bridge expert, known for her "simple and humorous" approach to teaching bridge....