Danish Dynamite
By Djanwar Madjolelo
JAKARTA (JP): The entrants in the 6th World Junior Team Championships 1997 include 17 nations from seven zones and two teams from Canada.
Zone 1 (Europe): Denmark, Norway, Russia, Israel
Zone 2 (North America): USA I, USA II
Zone 3 (South America): Brazil, Argentina
Zone 4 (Asia & Middle East): India, Pakistan
Zone 5 (Central America & Caribbean): Martinique/Guadeloupe, Columbia
Zone 6 (Asia-Pacific): China, Japan, Taiwan
Zone 7 (South Pacific): Australia
Two teams from Canada: Canada Red and Canada White as the host country.
Indonesia was eliminated from the World Junior Team Championships 1997 by 1/2 VP in the Zonal 6 Championships, from May 7 to May 18 in Hong Kong.
Round Robbin: 17 rounds, 31 boards, final rankings:
1. Russia 332.4 2. Norway 312 3. Canada Red 308.5 4. Denmark 307 5. USA II 292.5 6. China 287.5 7. Canada White 271 8. Israel 262.5 9. Japan 247.5 10. Australia 242.5 11. Brazil 237 12. Taiwan 236.5 13. India 225.5 14. Martinique/Guadeloupe 220 15. USA I 201.5 16. Argentina 196 17. Columbia 187 18. Pakistan 146
Semifinals, 64 boards:
For the semifinals Russia chose Denmark over whom they had a 12 IMP start. Canada Red conceded 0.7 IMPs to Norway in the other match.
Denmark beat Russia on the last deal, 164-159, and Norway beat Canada Red 173-138.7.
Final, 96 boards:
Denmark had a start of 13.7 IMPs from the Round Robbin. Norway leveled after two stanzas, but Denmark won each of the last four stanzas to win by 247.7-178.
Denmark's victory was sweet revenge for Norway's win in the Europeans in Cardiff.
"We are red, we are white, we are Danish Dynamite" is the slogan that powered Denmark to the European Soccer Championships in 1992, and similar fireworks were on view on the bridge table this year.
Danish Dynamite bidding and play:
Board : 6
Dealer : East
Vulnerable: East-West
NORTH
(S) J
(H) K 10 9 2
(D) A K J 2
(C) K Q 10 6
WEST EAST
(S) A K 9 8 7 6 3 (S) Q 2
(H) Q 7 6 (H) A J 8 4 3
(D) 7 (D) Q 10 6
(C) J 7 (C) 9 4 2
SOUTH
(S) 10 5 4
(H) 5
(D) 9 8 5 4 3
(C) A 8 5 3
Open Room:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Eriksen Morten Charlsen Lund
- - Pass Pass
3S Double Pass 4D
Closed Room:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
Ron Saur Brondum Brogeland
- - Pass Pass
1S Double Redouble 2D
3S Pass 4S All pass
The Madsen brothers made 4D at one table. At the other table Ron reached 4 Spades. After a Diamond and two Clubs, West Trumped the next Diamond. He played three high trumps, then the Queen of Hearts to the King and Ace. Coming back home again on a Club ruff, the rest of trumps followed.
When the last Spade was led, North was caught in a red suit squeeze, and had to throw in the towel.
List of Champions World Junior Team:
1. 1987 Netherland: Amsterdam
2. 1989 Great Britain: Nothingham
3. 1993 Germany: An Arbor, USA
4. 1995 Great Britain: Bali, Indonesia
5. 1997 Denmark: Ontario, Canada