RI finishes runner-up in Senior Bowl

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The national contract bridge team could have been on top of the world. Instead, the foursome of Henky Lasut, Eddy Manoppo, Denny Sacul and Munawar Sawirrudin has to settle for silver from the 3rd Senior Bowl, the sport's most prestigious event for players aged 57 and over, on Friday.

Indonesia led for most of the final against two-time defending champion USA 1 before the contest was tied at 161 all in the fifth session of the world championships in Estoril, Portugal.

However, after an error of judgement that was described on the World Bridge Championships website as a "disastrous bidding misunderstanding by the Indonesians", USA 1 pulled ahead for a 213-190 victory.

"There was clearly a factor of tiredness," Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (PB Gabsi) spokesman Bert Toar Polii said in an e-mail. "They made several errors not in keeping with players of their caliber."

The national team fought back after trailing in their semifinal on Thursday to overcome Denmark. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the host team.

"PB Gabsi will provide a bonus to the players but the amount has yet to be decided," said Bert, who regretted the Indonesian public's lack of attention to bridge as a sport.

Indonesia did not compete in the first Senior Bowl in 2001 but finished fourth in the 2003 championships in Monte Carlo.

In the women-only Venice Cup held concurrently with the Senior Bowl and Bermuda Bowl, France defeated Germany. In the Bermuda Bowl, the sport's oldest and most prestigious event, Italy will play USA 1.