It may be cool outside in Monte Carlo, but it’s getting hotter and hotter in the playing rooms as eight teams in the semi-finals of the Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup try to stay in the running for gold medals.

None of the matches is truly settled as play resumes today, although Italy in the Bermuda Bowl seem on their way to exacting revenge against Norway for their semi-final defeat two years ago in Paris. If the Italians hold on – they lead 128-61.7 with three rounds to play – they will face an American team in the final.

In the other semi-final Bermuda Bowl match, USA I is ahead of USA II 102.5-85, so anything could happen, and USA II ended play on Tuesday with the momentum. After losing the first set 41-17, USA II came back with wins in the next two segments by scores of 34-21 and 34-27.

In the Venice Cup, China and USA I were in the lead, but neither advantage is insurmountable with 48 boards still to play. China, with three solid sets, was ahead 129-82, while USA I was ahead of USA II 113.5-82, thanks to a big third set.

The finals of both events start tomorrow – 128 boards in the Bermuda Bowl, 96 in the Venice Cup.

Play continues today in the World Transnational Open Teams with rounds eight through 12. After the 15th round on Thursday, the top eight teams in the round-robin will go into knockout play beginning at 5 p.m. the same day.

After seven rounds in the WTOT, a Dutch team captained by Jan Jansma and an Indonesian team led by Henky Lasut were tied for the lead at 139 Victory Points. Right behind them, with 138, was the American team captained by Malcolm Brachman, whose team won the event in Paris two years ago.