Prasidha Cup attracts top stars

Prasidha Cup attracts top stars

SURABAYA (JP): Indonesia's contract bridge world beaters,
including Fredy Waluyan, Denny Sacul, Franky Kawur, Bert Polii
and Hengky Lasut, are among a field of more 200 participants in
the 12th Prasidha Pahlawan Cup Bridge Championship, which started
here yesterday.

However, unlike in major international events when they played
as a team, this time they are fighting against each other for the
top honors for their respective teams.

Denny is playing for defending champion Pupuk Kaltim from East
Kalimantan, Fredy for a Jakarta team, and Hengky Lasut,
Indonesia's most seasoned player, is the backbone of the Pelatnas
team, the national training team.

East Java, which has been named to host the 15th National
Games in three years time in which the brain sport will be
contested, is keen to make the event a success as part of its
preparations for the Games.

So many world-class players coming here for the two-day
championship after a year's lapse, "is a proof of how serious
East Java is in its efforts to win the bridge title in the next
Games," said Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (GABSI)
secretary-general Frans Waleleng.

The World Bridge Federation has chosen Indonesia to host two
of world's most prestigious championships, the Bermuda Bowl (a
men's team event) and the Venice Cup (a women's team event) in
2001.

"I hope this Pahlawan Cup championships will also mark part of
our serious preparation for the world championship in three years
time," said GABSI president General Wiranto in his speech read by
Frans.

"I also appreciate the involvement of the Prasidha Group as
the main sponsor of the championships, for its commitment to help
develop the sport in Indonesia," Wiranto, who is the Army Chief
of Staff, said.

The widely diversified Prasidha Group is sponsoring the
championships as part of its efforts to revive the previously
annual event that was not contested last year because of no
sponsor was found.

The group's instant coffee plant, one the biggest in the
Southeast Asian region, in Surabaya which began operations last
March.

"Being myself a former avid bridge player who once was also a
national player, I am honored to help organize such a prestigious
competition. It is a pity there was no competition last year,"
Mansjur Tandiono, the Prasidha Group president told The Jakarta
Post.

Mansjur said it was a good arena for East Java's contract
bridge players to compete against world beaters.

"Through such important tournaments we can gauge how high are
the skills of the East Javanese players."

The opening round is being played in five sessions. From the
quarterfinals the competition will take on a knock-out format,
with each round being played over 24 boards.

Until the fourth session concluded at 6 p.m. last night, the
Prasidha Team shared the lead with Pertamina I, each with 83
Victory Points with the players Chris Patty and Indra
Kusuma.

In third was the Pattimura II team with 81 VP and the Pelatnas
team with 75 VP in fourth. (rsl)