The first twelve boards of the final session were every bit as exciting as one could have wished for. There were some big swings in both directions. If you are one of those players who likes to warm up with an easy deal then the first board of the day would not exactly be your cup of tea.

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

Five Spades was exclusion Key Card Blackwood so East knew the trump queen was missing. Declarer ruffed the opening lead of the ªA and played a heart to the ten. Although it lost to the queen dummy's ace stood guard against the spade suit and declarer claimed 12 tricks.

The stakes were much higher this time. Declarer ruffed the opening lead as before and looking for clues ruffed a diamond. He played a heart to the ace and a heart to the….. jack. What a start for Brazil!

Board 6. Dealer East. EW Game ª A 8 © Q J 10 3 ¨ A 4 2 § A K 8 7 ª 9 5 4 2 ª K Q J 7 6 © K 6 5 2 © 9 7 ¨ Q 5 ¨ 10 9 8 6 § 9 5 3 § 6 2 ª 10 3 © A 8 4 ¨ K J 7 3 § Q J 10 4 West North East South Jihong Chagas Weimin Branco Pass Pass Pass 1§ Pass 2§ Pass 2ª! Pass 2NT Pass 3NT All Pass

Chagas did not want a spade lead against what he knew he was going to bid on the next round and you have to admire his style. West led the ©2 and according to the records Branco quickly claimed 10 tricks. By my count the fall of the ¨Q gives him 11 and East can be squeezed in spades and diamonds for another trick.

How important would that prove to be?

Here East led the ªK and declarer was forced to win the second round. Its a textbook hand. You cash your clubs and then take the ¨KA. If the queen fails to appear you fall back on the heart finesse. Declarer knew his stuff and got a bonus when East discarded a diamond. Ten tricks and a flat board.

China earned a measure of revenge for their grand slam adventure on the next deal.

Board 7. Dealer South. Game All ª A K 9 8 © Q 10 3 ¨ A Q J 5 § A K ª 10 ª Q 5 © A J 9 4 2 © K 8 7 6 ¨ 10 9 8 ¨ 7 6 3 2 § Q 8 7 3 § J 5 2 ª J 7 6 4 3 2 © 5 ¨ K 4 § 10 9 6 4 West North East South Jihong Chagas Weimin Branco Pass Pass 2§ Pass 2© Pass 2NT Pass 3© Dble 4ª Pass 5¨ Pass 5ª All Pass

Two Hearts was a negative and the way the bidding developed North had no way of knowing about the heart control in the South hand.

Well bid for 13 IMPs to China.

Board 8. Dealer West. Love All ª A J 6 © 8 2 ¨ 8 7 3 § K J 10 4 3 ª K Q 5 2 ª 7 4 © Q 10 5 4 © A K 9 6 3 ¨ 5 ¨ A J 10 9 2 § 9 8 7 6 § 5 ª 10 9 8 3 © J 7 ¨ K Q 6 4 § A Q 2 West North East South Jihong Chagas Weimin Branco Pass Pass 1© Dble 3© 4§ 4© All Pass

The defenders led a club and switched to a heart but there were no problems making ten tricks.

The double saw Brazil pick up 5 IMPs.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª 10 9 8 4 © K 10 3 ¨ K Q J 8 4 2 § — ª A Q 3 2 ª 6 © 5 © Q 8 6 4 2 ¨ A 9 ¨ 10 7 6 3 § A Q 10 9 6 4 § K J 5 ª K J 7 5 © A J 9 7 ¨ 5 § 8 7 3 2 West North East South Campos Xu Villas-Boas Zhuang 1§ 1¨ 1© Pass 1ª Pass 2§ Pass 2¨ Pass 2© Pass 5§ Pass Pass Dble All Pass

North led the ¨K and declarer won with the ace and returned the suit. If South ruffs his partner's winner and switches to a trump declarer will need the spade finesse but as the play went North won and switched to a spade. That was an easy +550.

With 12 boards to play Brazil led by 10 IMPs.

In front of a capacity audience China and Brazil fought tooth and nail as the IOC Grand Prix final reached its climax. These two boards appeared to put the match out of Brazil's reach.

Board 19. Dealer South. EW Game ª K Q 10 7 4 © 6 ¨ 10 5 § A 10 9 4 3 ª A 9 8 5 ª J 2 © 8 4 © Q 9 2 ¨ A K 9 8 7 6 3 ¨ Q 4 § — § K Q 7 6 5 2 ª 6 3 © A K J 10 7 5 3 ¨ J 2 § J 8 West North East South Zejun Chagas Weimin Branco 3© 4¨ Pass 5¨ All Pass

East's raise to Five Diamonds looks suspect but it was asking a lot for North to double. A quick consensus of the many World Champions in the audience saw them all supporting a pass. North led the ªK and when it was ducked he switched to his singleton heart. South played three rounds of the suit but declarer simpy discaded a spade and eventually made all the remaining tricks. -200.

Having played in China I can vouch for the fact that their players frequently double at the drop of a hat. North picked a fantastic moment for his side. He led his partner's suit and declarer drifted three down when the defence accurately switched to trumps. -800 gave China 12 IMPs and the lead.

Board 21. Dealer North. NS Game ª Q © A K 10 ¨ K 9 6 5 4 3 § Q J 10 ª 10 9 8 7 5 4 ª A 3 © Q 7 2 © J 6 5 4 3 ¨ J 7 ¨ 10 § K 8 § A 7 6 3 2 ª K J 6 2 © 9 8 ¨ A Q 8 2 § 9 5 4 West North East South Campos Jianming Villas-Boas Haiojun 1¨ 1© Dble 2© 3¨ Pass 3© Pass 3NT All Pass

Well bid to the foolproof game that made ten tricks for +630.

East's 3© bid made life tough for Branco. Although the defenders did not find their club ruff they managed to cash their three top tricks for another 12 IMP pick up.

20 IMPs behind Brazil looked down and out. Fortunately they had not read the script and they refused to give up withought a fight.

Board 23. Dealer South. Game All ª Q J 10 7 6 © K 8 ¨ Q 9 5 § Q 9 6 ª A 9 4 3 ª K 8 2 © A Q 3 © 9 7 5 4 ¨ A 8 ¨ 7 2 § 10 8 7 4 § A J 5 2 ª 5 © J 10 6 2 ¨ K J 10 6 4 3 § K 3

In the Closed Room West was one down in 3§. Not much hope of a major swing there.

There was no way of beating this and Brazil had 11 IMPs and a lifeline.

Board 26. Dealer East. Game All ª 10 4 2 © J 9 7 5 4 ¨ J 9 2 § 6 3 ª A K 9 7 ª Q 6 © Q 2 © A K 10 8 6 3 ¨ K 10 6 5 ¨ 8 4 § J 10 2 § A 8 5 ª J 8 5 3 © — ¨ A Q 7 3 § K Q 9 7 4

3NT is easy for East-West and Brazil recorded +660.

Was this going to settle the match in China's favour?

West led the ©Q and declarer ruffed and played the §K - a move that did not meet with the approval of the commentators. East won and switched to a diamond. The finesse lost and West played another heart. Declarer ruffed and played the §Q and his remaining club. West exited with a diamond and Branco took his tricks in that suit before exiting with a diabolical ªJ. It was simply too hard for West to withold the king and the Brazilian magician had escaped for one down and put his side into a commanding lead of 1 IMP!

The penultimate board was a dull game where the defenders took two aces and nothing else.

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

On the last deal China stopped in 3© in the Closed Room and when the ¨Q proved to be well placed made ten tricks for +170.

In the replay Brazil reached the same contract so it looked as if it was all over. East led a low spade and West put up his ace. Now declarer had a discard available on the king of spades and an additional option in the diamond suit. When in due course he put up the ¨K he lost four tricks for only +140. Our pugalists had fought out a draw.