RI set to cruise into Bermuda Bowl quarters

RI set to cruise into Bermuda Bowl quarters

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's chances of getting into the
quarterfinals of the Bermuda Bowl men's team bridge world
championships in Beijing are greater now despite its mixed
results on Thursday.

Indonesia routed Venezuela 21-9, fell 14-16 to Australia and
bounced back to upset favorite champion USA-1 18-12 in the 12th
round on Thursday.

"The wins expand Indonesia's chances of reaching the
quarterfinals," Amran Zamzami, executive director of the
Indonesian Bridge Association (Gabsi), commented in Beijing.

As of Thursday, Indonesia had recorded seven wins and five
losses. Whether or not Indonesia will advance into the
quarterfinals will depend on the results of its two matches
against Argentina and South Africa, scheduled for late yesterday.

Some Indonesian observers said that tying with the two would
be enough to guarantee Indonesia a quarterfinal berth, thanks to
its wide point margin.

Indonesia's victory over USA-1 seems attributable to a
reshuffle of its pairs after it fell 7-23 to the strong American
team on the first board.

It seemed that the replacement of Danny Sakul and Franky
Karwur by Sance Panelewen and Giovani Watulingas disturbed the
solidity of USA-1.

As a result, Indonesia's number one pair of Hengky Lasut and
Eddy Manoppo, who took on Robert Goldman and Paul Soloway, and
Sance and Giovani, who challenged James Cayne and Chuck Buroer,
could advance on the next 13 boards without much difficulty.

Twenty countries are taking part in the Bermuda Bowl
championship, which started on Oct. 9 and is slated to end on
Oct. 20. A total of 16 participating teams are split into two
groups, Group West and Group East, which play round-robin
matches.

Teams which finish among the top four in their respective
groups will reach the quarterfinals, which apply a knock-out
system, today and tomorrow. (arf)