Newest Youngest Life Masters
Becoming a Life Master is child’s play. Just ask Adam Kaplan, the ACBL’s newest youngest Life Master at age 10 years 43 days. The Canadian Bridge Federation also has a new record holder in Keith Veale, 12 years, 10 months.

Adam and Keith broke their respective records in March. Adam topped the 1994 record held by Dan Hirschman of Michigan at 10 years, 80 days. Keith topped his Ottawa neighbor David Sabourin, whose record was 14 years, 11 days in 1998.

How do you become a Life Master?

A resident of New Port Richey FL, Adam started playing at 5 on a cruise with his family. Intrigued with watching his father and grandfather — and already experienced at Rook and Hearts —  he started taking lessons from the cruise club director. Father Todd, a radiologist, became his regular partner ­— though he’s still a few points shy of the milestone.

“My favorite part of the game is bidding,” said Adam, a budding theoretician as he and his father devise meanings for undefined bids in their system. “It’s also important, of course, to learn how to evaluate your hand based on distribution. When you’re playing the game, it does tend to be very, very important. “

Keith started playing three years ago with his grandfather, Brian. He is in the seventh grade at D. Roy Kennedy Public School.

The “has beens” weren’t disappointed. The moment he knew someone from the ACBL was on the phone, Dan blurted out, “Did that kid break my record?” He’d heard Adam was on his trail. “It’s kind of a relief,” he added, “and now I get to join my brother on the list of formers.” His brother, Sam, became the youngest Life Master in 1988 at 11 years, nine months, five days. Today, Dan is a senior in mathematics and Latin American studies at the University of Michigan. Sam teaches mathematics at a middle school in Michigan and includes bridge as an extracurricular class for his students.

“Are you kidding me? That’s awesome,” David responded. “I was afraid I’d turn 40 and still be the youngest Life Master in Canada.” David, in fact, helped Keith along as a partner in Ottawa club games. “I knew he was capable of it. He played well.” David is a sophomore in criminology and sociology at the University of Ottawa.