Indonesia wins NEC Cup bridge in Japan

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's men's team wrote another success bridge story when it won the NEC Cup championship in Tokyo Friday.

It was the second victory since the Indonesian team won the Australia Open last month by beating the favorites, the host team.

Indonesia's top pairs, Henky Lasut/Eddy Manoppo and Denny Sacul/Taufik Asbi defeated Japan's H Hisatomi/T Teramoto, D Chen/H Abe and K Tatai/T Hara 216-105 VPs.

Commenting on the victory Denny said the Japanese players were very nervous during the final of the championships.

Indonesia won 53-12 IMP in the first round because of a weak defense from the Japanese. In the second round, Indonesia won 61- 35 IMP.

After a break, Indonesia won the third session 62-48 and the fourth and final round 40-10.

Indonesia won the championship 216-105 plus one IMP carry over. The national team brought home the NEC Cup and the US$15,000 first prize.

Indonesian Contract Bridge Association's chairman Wiranto greeted the victory and directly contacted the players in Japan.

Roy E Tirtadji, a top association official said the association had successfully created the new partnership of Denny and Taufik.

The association's spokesman Ananta Widjaja said the organization was still waiting for the results of the other national teams, competing on the Gold Coast, Australia, and in Iceland.

Bert Polii/Giovani Watulingas and Hasyim Arief/Noldy George are competing at the Gold Coast Bridge Open Tournament today while Sance Panelewen/Franky Karwur and Munawar Sawirudin/Dadan Waradia play at the Iceland Bridge competition on Saturday. (yan)