RI's team sails into Bermuda Bowl c'ship

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian men's team is assured of a place in the Bermuda Bowl world bridge championship in October after it downed Chinese Taipei 20-10 in the penultimate round of the Far East championship in Perth, Australia, on Sunday.

With a haul of 344 victory points and a game in hand, Indonesia looks certain to win the Zone VI Bermuda Bowl qualifying round. Indonesia's major rivals Japan and Chinese Taipei are more than 100 points behind. Whatever happens in the final round, neither team will be able to bring Indonesia down from the top place.

The Far East bridge championship brings together 12 teams from Zone VI and Zone VII, with the winner of each group qualifying for the biennial Bermuda Bowl in Beijing. Australia and China were both awarded automatic entry to the world championship.

An emotional celebration followed the victory of Indonesia's national ace quartet of Henky Lasut/Eddy Manoppo and Denny Sakul/Franky Karwur, who earned their team a decisive win over C.H. Kuo/Patrick Huang and S.R. Wu/C.H. Wu of Chinese Taipei.

"We have completed half of our duty with flying colors. We are now poised to bring home the coveted trophy," an elated Indonesian team manager Roy E. Tirtadji was quoted by Antara as saying.

After the 21st round matches on Sunday, Indonesia was a mere one-and-a-half points behind leader New Zealand, which has also made it to the Bermuda Bowl, representing Zone VII.

Indonesia, fielding its best combinations Henky/Eddy, Denny /Franky and Munawar Sawiruddin/Bert Toar Polii, will play host Australia in the final round, while New Zealand will play China.

A total of 90 countries are battling for 16 places in the Bermuda Bowl championship.

The national women's players did not fare as well as their male teammates, despite their double victory over the lowly Philippines and Malaysia. Vonny Chairani and company are now in fifth place in the provisional standings, with just one game left.

Only two teams from the Far East Bridge Federation Championships will qualify for the Venice Cup world women's championship, held together with the Bermuda Bowl. Indonesian women's team has never yet succeeded in making an appearance at the world meet. (amd)