RI cruises to Senior Bowl semifinals

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The national contract bridge team beat host Portugal 320-201 to secure a berth in the semifinals of the Senior Bowl in Estoril, a spokesman for the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi) said on Tuesday.

"Our players played very well in Monday's quarterfinals sessions. They will face Denmark in the semifinals," Bert Toar Polii said by e-mail.

"In Monday's quarterfinal sessions, we defeated Portugal 61-34 international match points (IMPs), 53-35 IMPs and 80-36 IMPs."

Earlier in Sunday sessions, the Indonesians were down 31-35 IMPs and 24-36 IMPs. The visitors, however, fought back in the third session with a 56-25 IMP victory.

The team is led by manager Anton Suleiman and nonplaying captain Roy E Tirtadji. The players are Henky Lasut, Eddy Manoppo, Denny Sacul, Munawar Sawiruddin, Amiruddin Jusuf and Arwin Budirahardja.

"Because the Indonesian team beat the Danes 20-10 victory points (VPs) in the qualifying sessions, they are awarded 10.5 IMPs of carry over, or they have already got points before the semifinals sessions start," said Bert.

"There are six sessions in the semifinals, three each on Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time or 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight Jakarta time."

In the quarterfinals, Denmark defeated Israel 303-191 IMPs.

In the other semifinals, USA 1 will face the Netherlands. The Americans defeated France 217-131 IMPs while the Dutch beat USA 2 205-187 IMPs.