Bridge League enters semifinal round

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.