For the first time in a World Championship event that was open to both sexes, we have a winning partnership of two women. Sara Sivelind and Cecilia Rimstedt of Sweden emerged victorious, but it was a close run thing!

In a desperately exciting finish, three pairs entered the final round of four boards of the Junior event separated by less than a top. Two of the pairs who had slugged it out for three sessions at the top of the leaderboard were still there; Jacek Kalita and Krzysztof Kotorowicz, led Cecilia Rimstedt and Sara Sivelind but by only 10 matchpoints. Meanwhile the pair who had been in 12th place before the session started, Marion Michielsen and Vincent de Pagter had closed to within half a top of 2nd place, so any of these three pairs could have won with a good last round.

The Swedes had edged in front with one board to go. On that deal with both sides vulnerable, the Swedes collected +600 in 5♣ for an average plus score, while the Dutch defended 3♠ doubled and collected 800 to close the gap on the chasing pairs. The Poles defended 3♥x, and should have taken 800, but a small slip allowed declarer to escape for -500, giving them a score of 71/140 on the deal, and leaving them second by just 36MP. Had they collected 800 the additional 54MP would have been enough for them to win. The Swedes' winning margin was 36 points over the Poles, with the Dutch third, a further 35 points behind.

In the first ever World Schools event it was a Polish one-two, to make up for the World Cup, perhaps? Igla/Machno edged out the leaders at the start of the day, Bernatowicz/Betley. In third place, by less than a matchpoint, came Franceschetti/Landry of France, denying the Latvian pair of Bethers/Imsa a first ever World Championship medal.