Bridge League enters semifinal round
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Bridge League (LBN) will enter the semifinal and final rounds next week, with organizers promising the winners and runners-up will be sent to the Pacific Asia Bridge Federation (PABF) Pairs Championship in Manila.
The semifinal round, which is scheduled for April 11 through April 13, will feature the 48 pairs who emerged as the top pairs in local league competitions playing in 17 cities and towns across the country.
"The cities and towns have different quotas for the number of pairs, depending on the quantity and quality of the participants," Bambang Kartono, LBN director, said here on Monday.
Bambang said the competition in Jakarta would involve the highest number of participants of all the venues, with 12 pairs, followed by North Sulawesi with seven pairs.
The top 14 pairs from the semifinals will qualify for the final, where they will be joined by the top 10 pairs in the national rankings. The final will take place from April 14 through April 16.
The top 10 pairs in the national rankings are Wang I Ming/Prananta (Jakarta), Tony Suhartono/Piskanto (Medan, North Sumatra), J. Tumewu/R. Kodoati (Manado, North Sulawesi), Ludfi Nuryono/Imam Prihanto (Yogyakarta), Robert Tobing/Lusje Bojoh (Jakarta), Martis Sinyar/Muharar (Padang, West Sumatra), M. Asyikin/Dyah Yulianto (Yogyakarta), Pambudi/Lilik (Surakarta, Central Java), M. Wajong/J. Fehr (Manado) and Tommy Rogi/Octa Wohon (Manado).
Bambang said the winners and runners-up would be sent to the Philippines to take part in the PABF championship in Manila in June.
The Manila championship also will serve as a qualifying event for the men, women and senior teams hoping to take part in the International Bridge Championship in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Meanwhile, Bert Toar Polii, deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association, said the next season of the LBN, which is scheduled to commence its opening three days of competition on Friday, would serve to select the national team.
"We hope that the pairs involved in the team selection will be restricted. Only the best players are eligible for selection," Bert told The Jakarta Post.
"The shortlist of the pairs will be picked from the LBN and the national championship," he said.
Bambang said the next LBN would involve about 300 pairs in about 20 cities and towns, with a prize of an overseas trip, likely to the ANA Gold Coast Congress in February 2004.