Jun

12

Ed BruchI had the pleasure of being at a yearly checker tournament this past weekend in Grove City, Pa. Our current world champion, Mr. Alex Moiseyev, was there and he hosted other players who competed. Alex won the tournament by one point over Mr. Bruch, who lost but one game to Alex after 7 rounds of playing other opponents. Last year's American Checker Federation National Tournament was held in Medina, Ohio and the tourney was named in Mr. Bruch's honor.

In 1939 Ed played in the 10th ACA (American Checker Association) National Tournament (later in 1948 the name was changed to the American Checker Federation) which is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit under IRS guidelines for education. Below I quote from Ed’s biography. He has played competitive checkers all his life. His mind is sharp as a razor and he possesses a remarkable memory and has the patience of Job. I feel lucky to know him and have played him on several occasions.

Edward (Ed) Bruch was born on June 12, 1916, in Buffalo , NY and today at age 91, is the only active Grand Master player and one of just two survivors of the 1939 10th. Am. Tournament, the other being Eugene Zuber who, at age 97, is residing in a retirement complex in Northern Ohio. Ed became interested in the game at age 14, by one of his school's coaches, who was a member of the Buffalo Checker Club, where he met Harrah B. Reynolds, a ranking Master, who was instrumental in coaching Ed, and also Jack Dworsky, and Joe Kitka. Playing in Humbolt Park, across from the Buffalo Post Office, where Reynolds was Superintendent of the Postal Division. Practice such as this, over six or seven years, advanced all three to the expert class. And so, Ed Bruch entered his first U.S. National Tournament. Ed won three rounds over O'Melay, Gould, and Zuber, drew one round vs. Gene Winter, and lost to Fuller and Lewis, to finish in a tie for 7th.-8th. with DeBern.

Ed's checker career was interrupted by the advent of WW2, in which he served in an infantry division under Omer Bradley's 1st. Army, with combat in the Normandy Invasion, France and in the Battle of the Bulge in Germany, April 1941 to October 1945. He joined the Buffalo Police Dept. as a street patrolman in a densely populated high crime area, and retired in 1980 with the rank of Lieutenant.

Ed lives with his wife Vickie in a patio community in Buffalo, with his married daughter living nearby. Ed is the oldest active Master player and is rated in the top 10 players on earth. Later this year he will travel to the Plaza Hotel in Vegas to compete in a WCDF (World Checker/Draughts Federation) sanctioned World Qualifier.

Mr. Bruch always records his games and keeps them in a handwritten manuscript for later reference so hopefully the same mistakes won't be repeated again.

Much of what I have written carries over into the market and the market players who are attempting to master the Market Mistress. One must keep their ego in check, show humility, and don't execute a 'move' (checker game or market one) until you are sure and have done all the research.


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