Those who thought China might run away with the match were forced to think again as Brazil came out with all guns blazing at the start of the third session of the IOC Grand Prix final.

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

Four Hearts is clearly a comfortable contract and declarer emerged with eleven tricks, +650.

West led the §8 and Branco had to try and find a route to twelve tricks. He won in hand with the §A and crossed dummy with the ¨A. He cashed dummy's king of clubs discarding his losing diamond and ruffed a diamond. A spade ruff was followed by a diamond and when East discarded a spade South ruffed and ruffed another spade. He played a diamond and this time East ruffed with the ©10. Branco overuffed and ruffed a spade, felling the ace. He had a choice of winning lines, electing to cash the ©A and then playing the master diamond. He lost only to East's ©J. Well played for 13 IMPs.

Can you just find a winning line if West leads a trump?

Brazil continued to pick up points here and there and even when things went wrong the gods were smiling on them.

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

In the Closed Room Brazil reached a poor 4© which failed by two tricks, -200. In the replay East became declarer in 3NT after Chagas had mentioned his spades. Branco led the ªA and seeing a discouraging three from his partner he switched to diamonds. North won with the king and returned the suit. At this point all declarer needs to do is run the §10. When it holds he repeats the club finesse and plays dummy's ©Q. If North wins declarer has the entry he needs to collect six club tricks and if North ducks declarer simply conceeds a club. A classic 'Morten's Fork'.

When declarer muddled this line by playing a heart to the queen first North won and returned a diamond. Now the club situation meant the contract failed by two tricks for a flat board.

China did not score until the penultimate board of the set when they picked up three IMPs. Their lead was down to 16 IMPs but Brazil were about to do something silly.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª A K 5 4 2 © Q 7 ¨ K J 8 § A K 5 ª 8 ª Q 10 6 © J 10 9 8 4 3 © A ¨ A 4 ¨ Q 10 9 7 6 3 § J 10 6 3 § 8 7 2 ª J 9 7 3 © K 6 5 2 ¨ 5 2 § Q 9 4 West North East South Hongjun Chagas Zejun Branco Pass 1ª Pass 2ª Pass 3NT Pass 4ª All Pass

Chagas won the opening club lead and cashed the ªAK. He then eliminated the clubs and exited with a spade to endplay East.

Four Diamonds has some merit but 5¨ is simply taking things too far. This misadventure cost -1100 and a lot of the good work had been spoilt. It was like conceding a goal just before half time in a soccer match.

Still the margin was down to 26 IMPs. Could Brazil keep on charging?

Brazil's fight back continued and was aided by a huge stroke of luck early in the session.

Board 18. Dealer East. NS Game ª K 8 7 3 © 7 5 4 ¨ J 9 7 3 § 8 3 ª A J 10 9 2 ª 5 © A K 6 2 © 9 3 ¨ K Q 10 ¨ A 8 5 4 § K § A Q 10 7 6 4 ª Q 6 4 © Q J 10 8 ¨ 6 2 § J 9 5 2 West North East South Campos Jianming Villas-Boas Haiojun Pass Pass 1ª Pass 1NT Pass 2NT Pass 3§ Pass 3© Pass 3NT All Pass

As you can see there are nine top tricks in 3NT. South led the ©Q and declarer actually ended up with eleven tricks for +660.

West valued his hand well and the excellent slam was reached. South led the ©Q and declarer won and unblocked the §K. He cashed the ace of spades and rufffed a spade and tried the top trumps. When North discarded he crossed to dummy with a diamond. There are several ways to arrive at 12 tricks from here but having a rare blind spot declarer simply relied on a 3-3 diamond break and conceded one down. A huge swing for Brazil which should have gone the other way.

China were rattled but they kept going despite strong pressure from Brazil. They were 11 IMPS ahead when the last board of the day settled on the table.

Board 28. Dealer West. NS Game ª A J 4 3 2 © — ¨ 3 § A J 7 6 5 4 2 ª 7 ª K Q 10 © Q 5 4 © K J 10 8 2 ¨ K 8 7 6 5 4 ¨ A Q 9 2 § 10 9 3 § K ª 9 8 6 5 © A 9 7 6 3 ¨ J 10 § Q 8

In the Open Room China were allowed to play in 3¨ and lost the three obvious tricks.

This must have felt like Déjà vu for the Brazilian pair after their 5¨ disaster on the last board of the previous set. North cashed the ace of clubs and took a trick with the ace of spades but South inexplicably went to sleep with the ©A so the remaing hearts went on the good spades. +550 and we were almost back to square one with China just ahead by 2 IMPs.