Germany's Thomas Gotard and Andreas Holowski have been doing very well in major pairs championships for the last few years and after three sessions of the Société Générale Open Pairs semi-final they looked certain to qualify for the final.

They racked up the matchpoints, scoring 226 of a possible 232 on this deal from the second session when they blasted their way into a slam.

Board 5. Dealer North. NS Game ª K 8 3 © 4 2 ¨ K 9 8 § Q 10 7 6 3 ª Q 10 6 4 ª A J 9 7 2 © A K 9 5 © 8 7 6 3 ¨ - ¨ 6 3 § A J 5 4 2 § K 9 ª 5 © Q J 10 ¨ A Q J 10 7 5 4 2 § 8 West North East South Gotard Hackett Holowski Hackett Pass Pass 3¨ Dble Pass 4ª Pass 5ª Pass 6ª All Pass

South led the ¨A and East ruffed in dummy and ran the ªQ. When that held he played a spade to the jack and ruffed his remaining diamond. He crossed back to hand with the §K and drew the outstanding trump. He played a club to the ace and when South showed out he simply cashed the top hearts and claimed.