France wins world c'ships: Bermuda Bowl

By Djanwar Madjolelo

JAKARTA (JP): Congratulations first to France which has achieved the great feat of being Olympiad and Bermuda Bowl Champions in consecutive years: 1996 and 1997.

That this year's final was between the holders, USA II (Nick Nickell Teams) and the Olympiad Champions, France, implied the route was destined. Norway took third place after beating USA I (Seymon Deutsch team 97 - 67) in a shorter, 32-board, clash.

Round robin finak rankings (20 boards, 17 matches): 1. USA I 323 2. USA II 315.4 3. France 296 4. Norway 294 5. Italy 290.1 6. Poland 285 7. China 278 8. China (Taipei) 277 9. Brazil 274 10. Denmark 264 11. Australia 256 12. Canada 233 13. India 226 14. Venezuela 223 15. New Zealand 205 16. Chile 189 17. South Africa 174 18. Tunisia 154

Quarter final (the best 8 teams, 96 boards): 1. USA I-China 241-191 2. USA II-China-Taiwan 213-179 3. France-Poland 225-193 4. Norway-Italy 229-217

Semifinal (96 boards): 1. France-Norway 220-157 2. USA II-USA I 276-157

Final (160 boards: segment of 16 boards) Total IMP 1. France-USA II 328-301

Board : 48 Vulnerable: East/West Dealer : West

NORTH

(S) J 8

(H) K 5

(D) 9 6

(C) A Q 10 8 7 5 2

WEST EAST

(S) K Q 5 4 (S) 10 7 6 3 2

(H) Q J 3 2 (H) 9 8 6

(D) 10 5 4 3 (D) A 8 7 2

(C) 9 (C) 6

SOUTH

(S) A 9

(H) A 10 7 4

(D) K Q J

(C) K J 4 3

Closed Room:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Levy Nickell Mari Freeman

Pass 1C Pass 1H

Pass 2C Pass 4D

Pass 4H Pass 6C

All pass

As you can see, a Spade lead beats this contract, but it can make with any other lead. Mari led a Diamond, and Nickell chalked up 920.

Open Room:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Hamman Perron Wolff Chemla

Pass 1C Pass 1H

Pass 2C Pass 2D

Pass 3C Pass 4C

Pass 4H Pass 4S

Double Pass Pass 5C

All pass

Chemla no doubt wishes he had never made that spade cue-bid -- it gave Hamman the apportunity to double to suggest a lead.

When the bidding came back to him, Chemla still wanted to bid the Slam, but now he feared to the Spade lead. It was likely that an Ace had to be knocked out, and after a Spade lead the defense could cash a Spade to defeat the contract.

He settled for 5 Clubs. This just made after a Spade lead, but 11 IMPs to the Americans cut the margin after 48 boards 13 IMPs, 95-82.

The first time France won the Bermuda Bowl was in Paris in 1956. The players were P.Jais, R. Trazel, P. Ghestem, R. Bacherich, Roger Lattes and Bertrand Romanet and nonplaying captain, Baron de Nexon.

The second time was in Hammamet, Tunisia, in 1997 when the players were Paul Chemla,53, winner of the Olympiad in 1980 and 1992; Michel Perron,46, Olympiad winner 1980 and 1992; Christian Mari,52, Olympiad winner in 1980 and 1996; Alan Levy, 49, Olympiad winner in 1992 and 1996 and the nonplaying captain was Jean Louis Stoppa, 65.

All are bridge professionals.