As luck would have it the order of the draw had produced a situation where the two teams at the foot of the table were in opposition leaving the other four to fight it out for a place in the final. The match between Brazil and China could see either team eliminate the other whilst the USA and France knew that a big win for either of them would more or less guarantee a place in the final whilst a narrow win would leave their fate in the hands of the two leaders.

The deals in the first half were fairly quiet and in the first match we feature there was little to choose between Brazil and China, some early gains for the South Americans being mostly wiped out by half-time.

Such was the speed of play that one was reminded of the Wild West. It was like a gunfight at the IOC corral.

Board 6. Dealer East. EW Game ª A 5 2 © J 2 ¨ 9 6 3 § K Q 10 9 8 ª J 9 3 ª K 10 8 6 © 7 4 © Q 10 6 5 3 ¨ Q J 7 5 ¨ K 10 8 § A J 6 5 § 4 ª Q 7 4 © A K 9 8 ¨ A 4 2 § 7 3 2 Closed Room West North East South Campos Jianming Villas-Boas Haiojun Pass 1© Pass 1NT All Pass

West found the best lead of the ¨5 and declarer was held to 8 tricks. China +120.

Marcelo Branco (Brazil)

With a decent five card suit Chagas did not bother to invite game.

West led the ª3 and East won with the king. Would he find the diamond switch?

No!

He played back a spade and Branco quickly wrapped up nine tricks when the §J behaved itself.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª K Q 8 5 2 © 10 9 4 2 ¨ 7 4 § 10 2 ª J 7 6 ª 3 © J 6 © A K 8 ¨ K J 5 ¨ Q 10 8 6 3 2 § A K Q 7 6 § J 9 4 ª A 10 9 4 © Q 7 5 3 ¨ A 9 § 8 5 3 Closed Room West North East South Campos Jianming Villas-Boas Haiojun Pass 1NT Pass 2§ Pass 2¨ Pass 3§ Pass 3¨ Pass 3© Pass 3NT Pass 4¨ Pass 5§ All Pass

The Brazilians avoided the doomed 3NT and with no diamond ruff being available for the defence they recorded +600.

Since East had promised a singleton spade on this sequence West's decision to try for the nine trick game looks dubious. North led the ªK and it was soon all over. Indeed if you blinked you were likely to miss an entire hand such was the speed of the performers. Two down and 13 IMPs for Brazil.

For the second half we turn our attention to the other key match between the USA and France. USA led by 6 IMPs at half-time and as the half unfolded it became clear that they were the team that the leaders had to fear as they extended their lead by a few points.

News came through that the leaders had fought out a draw so the situation was clear. USA needed a total of 86 VP to head the table. A total of 85 VP would leave a three way tie at the top.

This board put the USA in sight of their goal.

Board 26. Dealer East. Game All ª K J 6 5 3 © K J 7 6 ¨ 10 9 6 2 § — ª A ª 9 4 © 8 5 4 2 © A 10 ¨ J 7 5 4 ¨ A K 8 § K 9 7 2 § A Q J 10 5 4 ª Q 10 8 7 2 © Q 9 3 ¨ Q 3 § 8 6 3 West North East South Soloway Perron Hamman Chemla 1§ Pass 1© Pass 2§ Pass 3ª Pass 4¨ Pass 4NT Pass 6§ All Pass

Once West splintered in spades showing his club support East was not going to stop short of slam. When the ¨Q appeared on the second round of the suit it meant +1370.

Bob Hamman (USA)

After the 2NT opening a slam was never in the picture.

Of course France were in a safer contract and they also made twelve tricks when North predictably discarded a couple of diamonds but it was 12 vital IMPs for the USA.

Hamman and Soloway bid and made another 6§ contract on the next board with these hands:

Board 27. Dealer South. Love All ª K Q 8 © Q 9 4 3 ¨ Q 9 4 § 8 5 4 ª A 7 6 ª J 10 2 © A K 6 © — ¨ A 8 7 ¨ K 10 5 3 2 § K Q 10 7 § A J 9 3 2 ª 9 5 4 3 © J 10 8 7 5 2 ¨ J 6 § 6

but Mouiel and Multon thwarted the Americans by doing the same thing.

There was only one deal left and when France defeated 1NT in one room and made it in the other the American dream was over - at least for this year.