Results	Contents
BB18, BB19, Butler VC18, VC19, Butler Final, Playoff	China v Egypt USA2 v Italy USA1 v France The queen of Nile Orbis Daily Column

After seven days of play and nearly 400 deals, the Orbis Bermuda Bowl and Orbis Venice Cup move into the quarterfinal rounds today.

With the defenders, France, eliminated, a new champion is guaranteed in the former event but there is a chance for a repeat in the latter.

Top teams in both qualifying events were allowed to choose their opponents for the quarterfinal knockout phase. The match-ups, with carryover IMPs in parentheses, are:

There were some disappointed former world champions in both events.

France, defending champions in the Orbis Bermuda Bowl, finished 10th out of 20 teams in the round-robin standings, 14 Victory Points out of eighth place, the final qualifying spot.

Norway led the Orbis Bermuda Bowl qualifiers with 345 VPs, just ahead of second-place USA 1, with 340. Poland held down the third spot, followed by Brazil, which vaulted from eighth place on the strength of big victories against China and Chinese Taipei.

In the Orbis Venice Cup, USA 1, which includes three members of the team which won the event in 1997, led qualifiers into the quarterfinal round, followed by The Netherlands, Austria and Denmark. Members of the winning team from 1997 now in the quarterfinal round are Jill Meyers, Randi Montin and Tobi Sokolow.

USA 2, whose lineup includes four previous winners of the event, had a chance to make the cut with a win over Austria and some help from other teams, but it didn't work out. They finished in ninth place. Sue Picus won the Venice Cup in 1991 and 1993 and was non-playing captain of the winning team last year. Lynn Deas and Beth Palmer won in 1987 and 1989, Deas won again in 1991 and Lisa Berkowitz won in 1997.

Three other former world champions less than pleased with their results are Pat Davies, Sandra Landy and Nicola Smith, winners of the Venice Cup in 1981 and 1985. They finished 11th, well out of the final qualifying spot.