1972 – 2025

Ishmael Del’Monte passed away on 25 July 2025, a devastating loss to the Australian and New Zealand bridge communities.

Known almost universally as “Ish,” he was born on 15 November 1972 in Auckland. He learned bridge as a teenager from his father, Simon (“Curly”), and would often travel to weekend tournaments in New Zealand to watch him play.

In 1992, Ish moved to Australia. Early signs of Ish’s natural talent appeared in 1993 when, at just 20 years old, he won the New Zealand Open Teams. That same year, he also captured both the Gold Coast Pairs and Teams titles. He clearly enjoyed Queensland hospitality, returning the following year to successfully defend both titles.

In 1995, Ish represented New Zealand on the Youth team that earned a silver medal at the World Junior Teams Championship in Bali – the only youth-level world medal New Zealand has ever achieved. All of these accolades were earned in his longest partnership with close friend Ashley Bach. In the same year, he married his first wife, Kim, with whom he had two children (Julia and Ben).

Recognising that New Zealand was too small a pond for his ambitions, Ish switched his ‘bridge nationality’ to Australia in 1996. His impact was immediate: he qualified for the Australian Open Team in 1999, then again in 2002 and 2003, each time with a different partner. In 2003, he helped Australia to one of its best modern-day Bermuda Bowl performances, reaching the quarter-finals.

During his years in Australia, Ish also established two successful bridge clubs in Sydney and Melbourne, both named Kings and Queens. As his international career flourished, he would return home and share hands and stories from abroad in his popular lessons.

Across roughly 20 years in Australia, Ish amassed an astonishing 46 national titles and won the prestigious McCutcheon Trophy for most masterpoints in a year five times. His 1994 total of 651.9 masterpoints as a 22-year-old remains a record that no one has come close to breaking.

Between 2011 and 2013, Ish reached the pinnacle of his career with three wins and three runner-up finishes in the highly competitive US Nationals. In 2011, Ish’s team narrowly lost the Vanderbilt final by just 4 IMPs. In the last set, he and his partner bid to 7♦, only to discover they were missing the ace of trumps – a hand that quickly became famous worldwide when his opponents in the other room had a similar mix-up and bid to the same contract. A year later, however, he had his redemption, winning the Vanderbilt Trophy decisively by 50 IMPs in what he considered his greatest career result.

In 2014, Ish married his second wife, Lisa, and relocated permanently to the United States.

Beyond his many triumphs at the table, Ish played a crucial role in 2015 exposing the high-profile cheating scandal involving the Israeli pair Fisher–Schwartz and others. His work, sometimes controversial at the time, has since been recognised as instrumental in preserving the integrity of the game. We know now beyond all reasonable doubt that Ish was on the right side of history.

Ish’s final major bridge victory came in 2022, when his dark horse team of Del’monte–Finn Kolesnik and Kevin Rosenberg–Simon Cope won the Soloway Knockout Teams in Phoenix. Trailing by 17 IMPs with just two boards remaining, they pulled off swings of 12 and 11 to win by 6 IMPs – a fittingly dramatic finish for a player of his flair.

Ish’s talent was matched by his charisma. His infectious enthusiasm drew people into his circle, whether sponsors, partners, or friends. Over the years he partnered with some of the biggest names in the game – Boye Brogeland, Justin Lall, Brad Moss, Thomas Bessis, among many others. In a tribute, American champion Moss wrote, “I can honestly say of all the great players I’ve competed with, nobody and I really mean nobody had more natural talent for the game. He was amazing.”

When asked in an interview what he valued most in a partner, Ish answered simply: “I like to have fun at the table. Humour is the biggest necessity!”

The last years of Ish’s life were spent in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he had no shortage of clients willing to learn from him. The cause of death was a cardiac arrest.

Ish is survived by his children, Julia and Ben; his first wife, Kim; and his second wife, Lisa. Our thoughts are with his siblings Shadrach, Shalom and his extended family. May his memory be a blessing.

Written by Liam Milne
27 July 2025

Ish’s family has made the decision to have his ashes brought back to his homeland – New Zealand, however they need help to cover the expenses of his cremation, the flight home, and funeral costs.

A link to the fundraiser is below, any help will be greatly appreciated by the family

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-us-bring-our-brother-home-1

Australian Representative Appearances

• 2014: Commonwealth Nations Open Team
• 2013: Bermuda Bowl – NPC; U26 World Youth Open Championships – NPC (2× Silver medals)
• 2011: Open APBF (Silver); Bermuda Bowl
• 2010: Open APBF – NPC (Silver); World Junior Teams Championship – NPC (Qualified for QF)
• 2009: Seniors Bowl – NPC
• 2008: World Bridge Games Seniors’ Teams – NPC (Qualified for QF)
• 2005: Open APBF – NPC (Bronze)
• 2003: Bermuda Bowl – Qualified for QF; Australian Junior Team (NPC)
• 2002: Open APBF (Bronze); Commonwealth Nations Open Team
• 1999: Open APBF (Bronze); Bermuda Bowl
• 1997: Australian Junior Team

Posted in Latest News on July 28, 2025