*|FNAME|*,

By now all bridge players must surely have heard about the Gala Regional. It is scheduled for May 19-22 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center just off of I-495 in Marlborough, MA.

The hotel's bridge-related facilities are both comfortable and spacious. The location is quite easy to reach. The bridge rate of $119 includes free parking, Wi-Fi, and—get this!—a free breakfast. There is only one catch: The deadline for reservations at this rate is April 22. So, there is no time like the present to book your room. Reservations can be made at the Best Western by telephone at (508) 460-0700.

The reasons for attending the Gala are simple. There will be four days of face-to-face bridge in a never-before-seen schedule that was designed to provide enjoyable competition—both pairs and teams—for players at all levels. District 25 needed to obtain special approval from the ACBL for this approach, and it was only granted after a marathon session of thumb-wrestling. It may never be offered again.

There are also plenty of side games, including ones on each of the first three evenings. The full schedule for the tournament can be viewed here.

The district's objective is to provide an enjoyable and rewarding environment to facilitate a return to face-to-face tournament bridge by players at all levels. Every day something special has been added in order to enhance the experience:

On Thursday everyone who pays to play will receive a voucher allowing them to play for free on Sunday.
A free lunch will be provided to all players on Friday.
Cocktails and appetizers will be available following the afternoon session on Saturday.
Players who take part in Sunday's bridge will receive a voucher redeemable for one entry fee for a regional event at the Summer NABC in Providence, RI, July 13-24. More information about that exciting tournament is available at ProvNABC.org.

No one should miss this opportunity just because they need a partner or some teammates. If you fill out the appropriate form on the NEBridge.org website, the tournament staff will be happy to match you up with others who are also looking. You can also email Lois DeBlois at loisd401@gmail.com.

All players who have been vaccinated are welcome to play at the Gala Regional. As always, the best source of information is NEBridge.org

Mike Wavada
D25 Webmaster & Communications Chairman