Source: IBPA Bulletin June 2026
Dick Freeman Award for Junior Hand Of The Year
Candidate 2
Nominee: Nicolai Heiberg-Evenstad
Journalist: Knut Kjærnsrød
Article: Norwegian talent in action
Event: European Transnational Championships
Source: IBPA Bulletin 727, August 2025, page 16
Our superstar 17 year old Nicolai Heiberg-Evenstad captured a bronze medal in the pairs in Poznań, pairing Tor Erik Hoftaniska, but here we see him in action in the mixed event where he played with Sofie Sjødal, another great talent:
Dealer South. All Vul
 8 6 4 K 5 4 2 K 10 9 J 4 2 |
||
| Q 7 5 3A Q 9 8A Q 68 3 |
K J 10 9J 68 4 2Q 10 9 5 |
|
| A 210 7 3J 7 5 3A K 7 6 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Evenstad | |||
| 1 |
|||
| Double | 11 |
1 |
2 |
| 2 |
All Pass |
1. Hearts
South cashed the ace and king of clubs and shifted to a heart. Without a flicker of hesitation Nicolai rose with ace and played another heart. When North played low, the jack won, a spade went to the ace, a spade came back and a third round of trumps cleared the suit.
The queen and ten of clubs took care of dummy’s diamond losers, and a diamond to the ace was followed by the queen of hearts, ruffing out the king. Making ten tricks was of course a near-top on the board.
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