RI bridge team wins world GP

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian bridge team made a triumphant start to the 1999 season by winning the World Grand Prix Championship in Bombay, India over the weekend.

Fielding its best pairs of Henky Lasut/Eddy Manoppo, Denny Sacul/Franky Karwur and Taufik Asbi/Noldy George, Indonesia beat China 152.3-143 in the final played over four sessions, 64 boards.

The Chinese were represented by players who won the 1998 IOC Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland. They included grand masters Shi Jaojun, Dai Hanming, Cao Zueliang, Yang Lixin and An Yangbo.

In his press release made available to The Jakarta Post on Monday, the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (GABSI) chief of development and national team affairs, Roy E. Tirtadji, said the victory gave a pivotal boost to Indonesia's bid to win the 2001 World Championship.

National teams from Poland, Sweden, Japan, South Africa, Finland, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and host India also took part in the Indian tournament. (lnt)