Michal Kwiecien and and Jacek Pszczola of Poland came through with a powerful final session to win the prestigious Société Générale World Open Pairs today. They finished 86 points in front, more than a full board ahead of Larry Cohen and David Berkowitz of the United States. Magnus Lindkvist and Peter Fredin of Sweden finished a miniscule 1.4 matchpoints back in third place. Chris Compton and Ralph Katz of the United States, who were fourth, were only 3.8 points further back.

The Poles, who play a natural system in general, have been playing as a partnership for about five years. This is their first world championship, but they were second in the European Teams in Montecatini last year. Kwiecien also was European Junior champion in 1982.

Kwiecien expressed happiness at winning, but Pszczola shouted, "We were lucky!" Both expressed surprise at winning - "We usually do better at IMPs. Usually we're not that good in matchpoints," said Pszczola.

Jill Meyers and Shawn Quinn of the United States capped a strong tournament with a victory in the Louis Vuitton Women's Pairs. They outdistanced Sabine Auken and Daniela von Arnim of Germany by 21.4 points, a bit more than half a board. Véronique Bessis and Catherine d'Ovidio of France were third, another 31.8 points back.

Meyers and Quinn also earned a bronze medal, tying for third in the Louis Vuitton McConnell Women's Teams. It was Meyers' third world championship - she also triumphed in the Venice Cup in both 1993 and 1997. Quinn was victorious in the 1996 Olympiad.

The winners were playing as partners for the first time - both of their partners canceled a couple of weeks before the tournament, so they decided to play with each other. Their only previous experience together came for a few days in California just before they boarded the plane for France.