Tom Kniest, Grand Life Master

Tom Kniest of University City MO won his 10,000th masterpoint at the Seattle Fall NABC to become a Grand Life Master. 

Grand LM is the highest rank in the ACBL. It requires 10,000 masterpoints and a victory in a national championship with no upper masterpoint limit. Fewer than 350 players have attained this rank since ACBL was founded in 1937.

Tom has won two championships -- the Rockwell Mixed Pairs in 2006 and 2009. He also has numerous second-place finishes in other national events, including the six-session von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs in Toronto in 1986. He went over on November 30 in a knockout team event in Seattle.

Tom is only the third player in District 8 to achieve the rank of Grand LM. Bob Carteaux of Fort Wayne IN and Chris Benson of LeRoy IL are the other two.

Tom recently retired from a 30-year career as a self-employed CPA. He and his wife, Donna, have three daughters: Rebecca, Jessica and Katrina.