Hi, my name is John McAllister. I have spent the past six years playing bridge all around the world. My goal is to win a world championship. Doing so requires getting into the minds of the world’s best players.
I can not think of a better, more fun way to do so, than to interview great bridge players and share their insights in podcast format.
Episode 23 – Jacob Freeman and Finn Kolesnik
Finn Kolesnik and Jacob Freeman are 17 and 19 years old respectively. Jacob first proposed the idea of Finn appearing on The Setting Trick at the 2019 Fall North American Bridge Championships. On a San Francisco street corner and seemingly as a lark, Jacob said, “will you have Finn on The Setting Trick if he wins the Blue Ribbon Pairs?”
I was impressed/jealous of Finn’s fourth place finish in the just completed Nail Life Master Pairs, though I thought the field was watered down because it overlapped with the new Soloway Knockout. I took real notice when I almost had to make good on our agreement. Finn finished third in the Blue Ribbons!
They weren’t finished! Playing as partners on the F Kolesnik team, these two youngsters tied for first in the inaugural NAOBC Knockout in August. The team bears Finn’s name, not as a nice gesture as I had originally thought, but because he and Jacob put it together!
Thanks to cajoling from Jacob, Finn started by calling bridge legend Bob Hamman and asking him to play the event. Bob and three other hall of farmers happily rounded out this “amateur” team.
Our conversation took place over two different days and is being published now largely due to host incompetence. I hope you enjoy it and consider sharing the story of these two young men with someone in your life who you just know will be a bridge player.
Search “The Setting Trick” on your preferred listening platform or click on one of the links below.
Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/applepodcast23jacobfinn
Soundcloud: https://tinyurl.com/soundcloudjacobfinn23
Thanks for listening, and we’d love for you to give us a review.
