The final matchups are set in the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup and Senior Bowl, but not without some anxious moments for several of the competitors.
The giant-killing team from South Africa came close to pulling off another upset before falling to USA 1 in the Bermuda Bowl 207-199. USA partisans did not leave the edges of their seats until the final card was played.
USA 1 will face Norway, comfortable winners over the Netherlands, in the Bermuda Bowl final.
In the Venice Cup, Germany trailed the veteran French team by 11.3 IMPs going into the final set, but they rallied for a 248-240.3 victory. The key deal was one in which France played in 4♥ down one at one table while the Germans holding the same cards bid and made 6♦ for a 14-IMP swing.
In the USA 1 – China Global Times match, the Chinese had a chance to win the match on the final deal, defending 3NT doubled, which could have gone down 1100, enough for victory. The contract was down only one, however, and China lost 6 IMPs and the match.
In the Senior Bowl, the USA 1 – USA 2 match was a runaway from the second set on in favor of USA 2, who won 225-169. Brazil and Indonesia were close through the fourth set, but Indonesia pulled away and won 228-167.
|