Kusharida - Rest in Peace
A pall of gloom spread over the entire bridge playing community of India as Pritish Kushari, the top ranked master point player in India succumbed to a particularly virulent attack of the Covid 19 virus.
He was detected Covid-positive on the 27th of April 2021 (despite having taken both vaccine doses) and had to be admitted on the 29th. He had been on a ventilator since 30th April before finally succumbing to the virus yesterday.
Pritish had been a multiple time National Champion in Bridge, and had represented India on many occasions.
He overcame a battle with cancer in 2016 and went on to win both, the Summer and Winter National championships subsequently.
His partnership with Manas Mukherjee was the toast of the Indian bridge circuit in the last two decades of the previous century. Both of them, having hailed from DumDum, Kolkata, they won the Singhania BAM trophy in 1983. The partnership won as many as 6 Ruia trophies and 25 national trophies. They represented India in the world championships in 1987, 1990 and 2004.
Kushari was the first player to amass over 10,000 Master Points in the history of Indian Bridge.
Words cannot describe the loss felt by the community. Nevertheless, we will pick up a few tributes paid to him over various WhatsApp groups that this author could pick up.
Eulogies
Though he was not as flamboyant as some of his peers, I personally always found him as one of the hardest players to earn IMPs against. His greatness didn't only lie in his playing abilities, he has left back his legacy in some of the best bridge players of present.
Koushik Mukherjee
Whenever i went to any tournament ... anywhere ... I was always sure to meet him. He was a "permanent" member of the Railways team till he retired.
To improve his students, he would partner many of them in major tournaments... but would scold them for mistakes...... sometimes loudly. On one such occasion, I gave him a PP. But he took it with a smile, unlike many who start to argue.
He overcame a great personal tragedy not so long ago.... one that could break most people.... But he overcame it and rebounded. Greatly respected him for that.
He will surely live on in our memories for a long time.
V K Sharma
He was an ocean of bridge. Apart from being one of the greatest exponents of the game, he had the extraordinary capability of adopting the styles of his partners to make them his own.
Not only did he excel at the game, but he also groomed many a talent to don India colors. In this modern era of distractions galore, he also groomed his son Sayantan to become a National Champion in his own right.
Sowmik
Whenever I asked him about any problems related to bridge, he always gave solutions with a smiling face. Some were very important tips that, I will never forget in my lifetime. I can't believe that he is no more with us.
Anupam Ghosh
Memorial to Kusharida
As a mark of respect to our Champion, BridgeFromHome will be hosting a Pritish Kushari Memorial game on Wednesday 12-May-21 at 630 pm.
There will be No Entry Fee. We will be distributing a few free passes to our weekly events as prizes.
We humbly request all of you to come together and remember him!
JM Shah Memorial Pairs Championship
Priya Balasubramanian
Playing bridge for some time turns even born optimists into sceptics. When opponents offer you a free finesse of the J you worry that the Qx is falling beneath your AK. When you make that overtrick in a small slam you wonder how many bid the grand. But there is no catch in this one..
The week long extravaganza of bridge to celebrate JM Shah’s incredible talent is no Greek gift. Coming close on the heels of the prestigious national championship pairs this is indeed a case of ‘Sone pe suhaaga’
I never had the opportunity to meet or kibitz JM Shah. As I read through the reminiscences of his numerous students, peers and friends it became clear he finessed his way through life with high thinking. He promoted many of his acolytes to Aces by freely giving of his talent. He balanced his temper with sweet thoughtful gestures. But what was crystal was that he was a deadly opponent. So, what did JM stand for? Just Murder! Cause he just murdered his opponents on the table.
This week’s celebration of JM Shah’s life started off with Swiss team event, followed by a 2-day IMP pair event to be capped off by a MP pair event. Thank you to the many sponsors of the event.
The bidding went as below.
An interesting hand that came up in yesterday’s pair event. South was the dealer and opened 1♦ playing standard. West overcalled 1♠. Righty bid 1N. East holding ♠10, ♥K1085432, ♦4, ♣J1074 passed. South rebid 2♣ showing at the very minimum a 5/4 hand. West passed and North invited bidding 3♦. It was East’s turn. The bidding marked West with at least 2+ hearts emboldening her to come in with a 3♥. South bypassed 3N to 4♦.
West holding no values in his suit, could visualize 1 or 2 losers in ♠, 1 in the minors & 1 or 2 in ♥, raised to 4♥. When NS went on to bid game East, looking at the favorable vulnerability, went on to bid 5♥.
Holding the bulk of the points between them South doubled the contract which, unfortunately, was ice cold on any lead. Sometimes having too many points can be a Greek gift.
The complete hand was as shown alongside. While I have made an attempt to blank out the names of the players, I hope that even if some of you can make out, it doesn't matter too much.
May the force be with you, JM Sir. Good luck to the contestants for the rest of the event. Hope that when you don’t sit across me you ‘JM’ your opponents.
PS: Special thanks to Subhash Bhavnani for the technical edit.
PPS: While writing this bulletin, I heard the sad news of one of India’s greats Pritish Kushari losing his final battle against COVID. This will indeed leave a huge gap. My condolences to his friends and family.
A very nice bulletin. Sukrit on Kushari and an excellent tribute to JM and a nice hand penned by Priya. Kudos
Kista
Dear Sukrit, I pay my heartfelt condolences to Kushari family. What a player, a true magician.
Remember a hand in 1995 Summer Nationals team finals at Guvahati between Indian Railawys and Maharashtra. Kusharida bid vul 6H and expectedly his equally competent opponent sacrificed 6S NV. Kusharida quickly assessed that this will be push board, and baited his opponent by bidding 7H, which was cool 1 down. Opponent fell for his bait and bid 7S, promptly chopped for 1100, 7 IMPs gain, enough to win finals .
What a player, a true magician. Rest in peace dada, we will always miss you