One match is all but over but the other three semifinals are still very much in contention.
In the Women's Olympiad, China is assured of its first finalist berth in history. The Chinese led Canada by 180 IMPs going into today's last 32 boards. China Open and Women's teams have advanced to the playoffs many times in the Olympiad, the Bermuda Bowl and the Venice Cup, but they never have reached the final.
After the first 32 boards, it looked as if it was going to be all France the French actually led by 66 òver Chinese Taipei at one point. But Chinese Taipei slowly cut into that lead and went into today's play trailing by only 11 IMPs, 133-122.
In the other Open semifinal, Indonesia had a 34-point lead over Denmark. The possibility definitely exists that the Open final will be an all Far East affair Indonesia and Chinese Taipei.
In the other Women's match, defending champion Austria was trailing the United States, 188-175.
Richard Dubrovsky of the United States reported this interesting deal from the Mixed Teams.
East/West Game. Dealer South. | |||||
K J 10 | |||||
Q | |||||
A 7 6 5 | |||||
A Q 10 9 4 | |||||
A 9 8 3 2 | 6 4 | ||||
9 2 | K 10 8 5 3 | ||||
J 10 | Q 8 4 3 | ||||
K J 3 2 | 7 5 | ||||
Q 7 5 | |||||
A J 7 6 4 | |||||
K 9 2 | |||||
8 6 |
West | North | East | South | |||
1 NT (1) | ||||||
Pass | 2 (2) | Pass | 3 (3) | |||
Pass | 4 (4) | All Pass |
(1) 10-12 HCP.
(2) Artificial game force.
(3) Shows five hearts.
(4) Partner forgot it showed hearts.
So there was Dubrovsky playing in his 3-3 spade suit. He won the opening diamond lead with the king and finessed the Q successfully. He cashed the A and led a third club. East ruffed with the 4 and Dubrovsky overruffed with the 5. He got back to dummy with the A so he could lead a fourth club. This time East ruffed with the 6, so he overruffed with the 7. Next came the A and a heart ruff. He called for dummy's last club and ruffed it with the queen. West overruffed with the ace, but Dubrovsky had eight tricks in already, and the top two trumps were still in dummy. Making 4 was worth an IMP because the opponents played in 3NT at the other table, just making.
Team | 1st Segment | 2nd Segment | Total | 3rd Segment | Total | 4th Segment | Total |
Indonesia | 52 | 25 | 77 | 40 | 117 | 44 | 161 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Denmark | 42 | 31 | 73 | 29 | 102 | 25 | 127 |
Team | 1st Segment | 2nd Segment | Total | 3rd Segment | Total | 4th Segment | Total |
Ch.Taipei | 8 | 28 | 36 | 42 | 78 | 44 | 122 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
France | 51 | 31 | 82 | 26 | 108 | 25 | 133 |
Team | 1st Segment | 2nd Segment | Total | 3rd Segment | Total | 4th Segment | Total |
Austria | 55 | 64 | 119 | 26 | 145 | 30 | 175 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S.A. | 75 | 33 | 108 | 15 | 123 | 65 | 188 |
Team | 1st Segment | 2nd Segment | Total | 3rd Segment | Total | 4th Segment | Total |
China | 59 | 38 | 97 | 89 | 186 | 83 | 269 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | 34 | 11 | 45 | 6 | 51 | 38 | 89 |