Martin Fleisher
Encyclopedia
Martin Fleisher (born October 12, 1958) is an American bridge
player, employee benefit
s attorney, manager of investments in life insurance policies and investment advisor
.
For the cycle beginning in July 2011, he sponsors the 'Fleisher' team comprising himself and Mike Kamil, Bobby Levin
–Steve Weinstein, and Chip Martel–Lew Stansby. They entered the 2011 Bermuda Bowl
as USBF champions and finished fourth. For the cycle beginning in July 2012 Nick Nickell ('Nickell') has signed Levin–Weinstein and Fleisher will add Michael Rosenberg
–Chris Willenken.
and placed second in seven others. Summer 2010, his team won the United States Bridge Championship for open teams to earn entry in the 2011 Bermuda Bowl (as one of two US entries). He and Eric Rodwell
won the 2000 Cavendish Invitational
, the world's strongest contest for money prizes.
In 1976, Fleisher became the youngest American Contract Bridge League
(ACBL) Life Master from the New York metropolitan area at age 17. At the same time, his team reached the final of the Grand National Teams
knockout championship, making him the youngest player ever to reach the finals of a North American team bridge championship a record he still holds. Sports Illustrated
reported this accomplishment and featured Fleisher in its Faces in the Crowd
section. Less than two years later he won the Intercollegiate regional bridge championship by the largest margin ever recorded in a pairs championship.
and graduated from Teaneck High School
in 1976. He attended Swarthmore College
, and New York University School of Law
. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Andrea Bierstein. He is the half-brother of the American comic book writer Michael Fleisher
.
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, employee benefit
Employee benefit
Employee benefits and benefits in kind are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries...
s attorney, manager of investments in life insurance policies and investment advisor
Investment Advisor
The term Investment Advisor is an individual or firm who, for compensation, engages in the business of advising others, either directly or through publications or writings, as to the value of securities or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities...
.
For the cycle beginning in July 2011, he sponsors the 'Fleisher' team comprising himself and Mike Kamil, Bobby Levin
Bobby Levin
Robert J. Levin is an American professional bridge player. He is best known as the youngest winner of the world championship for national teams, namely the 1981 Bermuda Bowl, and as five-time winner of the Cavendish Invitational with his regular partner Steve Weinstein...
–Steve Weinstein, and Chip Martel–Lew Stansby. They entered the 2011 Bermuda Bowl
Bermuda Bowl
The Bermuda Bowl is a trophy awarded to the winners of the Open series in the World Team Championship in contract bridge and is named for the site of the inaugural tournament held in 1950...
as USBF champions and finished fourth. For the cycle beginning in July 2012 Nick Nickell ('Nickell') has signed Levin–Weinstein and Fleisher will add Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg is one of the top bridge players in the United States. He moved to Scotland as a child and returned to New York in 1990 where he lives with his wife Debbie, also a top player....
–Chris Willenken.
Bridge career
Fleisher has won five national bridge championshipsNorth American Bridge Championships
North American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
and placed second in seven others. Summer 2010, his team won the United States Bridge Championship for open teams to earn entry in the 2011 Bermuda Bowl (as one of two US entries). He and Eric Rodwell
Eric Rodwell
Eric Victor Rodwell is an American professional bridge player. He has won the Bermuda Bowl representing the U.S. five times and is one of ten players who have won the so-called triple crown of bridge: the Bermuda Bowl, the World Open Pairs and the World Team Olympiad...
won the 2000 Cavendish Invitational
Cavendish Invitational
The Cavendish Invitational is the largest money bridge tournament in the world. The , which concludes the tournament.-History and format:The Cavendish Club, whose name is associated with the event, was founded in 1925 in New York City...
, the world's strongest contest for money prizes.
In 1976, Fleisher became the youngest American Contract Bridge League
American Contract Bridge League
The American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
(ACBL) Life Master from the New York metropolitan area at age 17. At the same time, his team reached the final of the Grand National Teams
Grand National Teams
The Grand National Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
knockout championship, making him the youngest player ever to reach the finals of a North American team bridge championship a record he still holds. Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
reported this accomplishment and featured Fleisher in its Faces in the Crowd
Faces in the Crowd
Faces in the Crowd is a long-running segment from Sports Illustrated. Starting in the January 9, 1956 issue, the segment was originally titled These Faces in the Crowd. The predecessor to These Faces... was a segment called Pat on the Back. It differed in that it did not just focus on unknown or...
section. Less than two years later he won the Intercollegiate regional bridge championship by the largest margin ever recorded in a pairs championship.
Personal
Fleisher grew up in Teaneck, New JerseyTeaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
and graduated from Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, which is part of the Teaneck Public Schools district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States...
in 1976. He attended Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
, and New York University School of Law
New York University School of Law
The New York University School of Law is the law school of New York University. Established in 1835, the school offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in law, and is located in Greenwich Village, in the New York City borough of Manhattan....
. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Andrea Bierstein. He is the half-brother of the American comic book writer Michael Fleisher
Michael Fleisher
Michael L. "Mike" Fleisher is an American writer known for his DC Comics of the 1970s and 1980s, particularly for the characters the Spectre and Jonah Hex.-Early life and career:...
.
Wins
- United States Bridge Championships (1)
- Open Team Trials 2010
- North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(4)- VanderbiltVanderbilt TrophyThe trophy is awarded for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams national bridge championship held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
Knockout Teams (1) 2011 - Roth Swiss Teams (1) 2010
- North American Swiss TeamsKeohane North American Swiss TeamsThe Keohane North American Swiss Teams national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2004 - Mixed Board-a-Match TeamsChicago Mixed Board-a-MatchThe Chicago Mixed Board-a-Match teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The event is a board-a-match team event....
(1) 2005
- Vanderbilt
- Other notable wins:
- Reisinger Knockout Teams (1) 1999
- Cavendish Invitational Pairs (1) 2000
Runner-ups
- North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(6)- VanderbiltVanderbilt TrophyThe trophy is awarded for the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams national bridge championship held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(2) 2003, 2010 - Grand National TeamsGrand National TeamsThe Grand National Teams national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 1976 - Life Master PairsVon Zedtwitz Life Master PairsThe Von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs national bridge championship is held at the summer American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2006 - Open Pairs ISilodor Open PairsThe Silodor Open Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2003 - Mixed PairsRockwell Mixed PairsThe Rockwell Mixed Pairs national bridge championship is held at the spring American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship ....
(1) 2004
- Vanderbilt
- United States Bridge Championships (1)
- Open Team Trials 2009
Publications
- Individual Retirement Account Answer Book, 16th edition, Aspen PublishersWolters KluwerWolters Kluwer N.V. is a global information services and publishing company. The company provides products and services for professionals in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal and regulatory sectors...
, 2009, ISBN 9780735574199.
External links
- Martin Fleisher (playing record). World Bridge Federation. Confirmed 2011-07-11.