Three-quarters of the way through the round-robin stage, Gabriel Chagas' Brazilian team led Group E and just needed a series of solid results to be sure to qualify. Louis Gauthey's French team, however, lay sixth, well in touch but in need of some good wins to make the top four.

Board 12. Dealer West. NS Game ª 10 9 8 © 9 5 ¨ A 10 9 7 2 ¨ A 5 2 ª A 7 6 4 ª Q 2 © J 10 8 7 6 3 © A 4 2 ¨ 4 ¨ Q 8 6 5 ¨ Q 3 ¨ 10 8 7 4 ª K J 5 3 © K Q ¨ K J 3 ¨ K J 9 6 West North East South Campos Audebert Villabois Pham van Gang 2© Pass 4© Dble All Pass

Christian Pham van Gang doubled primarily for takeout, but Pierre Audebert decided to let the double stand since he had two aces and no really good suit. Campos lost the obvious five tricks - two clubs and one in each of the other suits - so GAUTHEY was plus 500. But the bidding took a completely different turn at the other table.

Marcelo Branco opened 1NT in fourth seat. And Michel Metz showed hearts with his overcall. Gabriel Chagas doubled, and Gauthey bid hearts, showing three. Now Branco came in with 2ª on his four-card suit, and of course Chagas was quick to jump to game. The Brazilians were playing a Moysian fit.

Branco called for the 10 when a diamond was led, and the 10 held the trick. Next he passed the trump 8 successfully, but a second spade went to the ace. A heart was won by East's ace, and Metz was able to ruff the diamond return. But that was the last trick for the defence. Branco won the heart return, drew the last trump, won the ¨A and ruffed a diamond, then got back to the board to cash the last diamond. His ¨K finished the action for a 4-IMP gain. CHAGAS made partials at both tables on the next board, and one of the partials was doubled.

Board 13. Dealer North. Game All ª A 8 5 © Q 9 8 5 ¨ Q 9 7 ¨ 10 6 2 ª J 9 6 2 ª 7 3 © A 10 6 4 © J 3 2 ¨ J 10 6 3 2 ¨ A K 8 4 ¨ — ¨ K J 5 3 ª K Q 10 4 © K 7 ¨ 5 ¨ A Q 9 8 7 4 West North East South Campos Audebert Villabois Pham van Gang Pass 1¨ 2¨ Dble Pass 2¨ Pass 3¨ All Pass

The ªQ held the first trick, and South switched to his singleton diamond. That picked up the trump queen, and Villabois gave up a second spade. Villabois ruffed the club return, ruffed a spade and gave up a heart. Another club came back which he ruffed, and he cashed the ©A. The ¨K came next, followed by the ©J. He ruffed another club and then ruffed a heart to make nine tricks - plus 110.

Gauthey decided his club holding was good enough to make defence a reasonable gamble, but it didn't work out that way. West led the ¨J and continued the suit, Branco ruffing. He led the ¨9, losing to West's jack, then ruffed another diamond. He knocked out the ©A, and when a spade came back he let it ride to dummy's 10. Now he had the rest of the tricks to make two overtricks - plus 580, a 12-IMP pickup. All Pass

Board 15. Dealer South. NS Game ª Q 5 3 2 © 9 6 5 2 ¨ A 9 ¨ 8 7 6 ª 10 9 7 ª A J 4 © 7 © K J 8 3 ¨ J 5 4 3 ¨ Q 8 7 6 ¨ A Q 10 9 5 ¨ K 2 ª K 8 6 © A Q 10 4 ¨ K 10 2 ¨ J 4 3 West North East South Campos Audebert Villabois Pham van Gang 1¨ Pass 1© Pass 2© All Pass

Both North-Souths arrived in 2© on this deal, but Chagas made his contract and Audebert was beaten a trick - 5 more IMPs to CHAGAS. Both declarers received a diamond lead to the jack and ace. Chagas immediately took a finesse to the ¨10 and then got rid of a club on the ¨K. Audebert did not take the finesse, so he had to lose an extra club trick. Villabois, despite the unfavourable vulnerability, was not willing to let his opponents play a notrump game on Board 16.

Board 16. Dealer West. EW Game ª 10 7 4 © K 5 4 ¨ A ¨ A K Q 8 6 5 ª 3 2 ª A Q J 9 8 © J 10 © Q 8 7 3 ¨ K J 9 8 6 5 4 ¨ 10 7 3 ¨ 9 2 ¨ 7 ª K 6 5 © A 9 6 2 ¨ Q 2 ¨ J 10 4 3 West North East South Campos Audebert Villabois Pham van Gang 2¨ Dble 2© 3¨ Pass 3NT 4¨ Dble All Pass

His 4¨ was doubled, but he escaped for down one - minus 200. North led the ¨A and switched to a heart to partner's ace. A heart return put North back on lead, and he led a spade. Campos went up with the ace and got rid of his losing spade on the ©Q. As a result Campos managed nine tricks.

At the other table Branco was allowed to play in 3NT, and he managed 10 tricks for a 6-IMP gain.

Both teams got to a bad slam on the last deal, but one declarer came close to making it.

Board 20. Dealer West. Game All ª 8 4 © A Q 9 ¨ 8 6 5 4 ¨ 7 6 4 2 ª 10 7 3 2 ª A J 9 6 5 © 2 © J 8 7 6 4 3 ¨ A Q 3 ¨ K 7 ¨ A K Q J 5 ¨ — ª K Q © K 10 5 ¨ J 10 9 2 ¨ 10 9 8 3 West North East South Campos Audebert Villabois Pham van Gang 1¨ Pass 1© Pass 1ª Pass 4¨(1) Pass 4¨ Pass 4ª Pass 4NT Pass 5NT Pass 6ª All Pass

(1) Splinter.

Campos won the diamond opening lead with the ace and cashed the trump ace, dropping the queen. He gave up a spade to the king and South shifted to a heart to score the setting trick.

Metz also got a diamond lead, winning the king. Then he cashed two more diamonds, pitching a heart. This was followed by his four top clubs, on which he pitched four more hearts - but he still had one left. He led his good club, but Chagas ruffed with the 8. Metz overruffed and Branco in turn overruffed with the queen. Of course he shifted to a heart for down one and a push.

CHAGAS won the match, 23-7, outscoring Gauthey, 28 IMPs to 2.