Wiranto bridge event debutes with 57 pairs

Wiranto bridge event debutes with 57 pairs

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta

The inaugural Wiranto Cup bridge competition began here on
Friday with the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association (Gabsi)
expecting to use the event to qualify players for upcoming
international tournaments.

Being held as part of a development program launched by Gabsi,
the competition, which will run until Sunday, features 57 pairs
made up of eight women's, nine junior and 40 senior pairs in the
open category.

The preliminary stage of the open competition will be played
over six rounds. The top eight pairs will advance to the finals,
where they will play in a round-robin competition.

A total of Rp 45 million (US$4,790) in cash prizes are up for
grabs, with the winners taking home Rp 10 million.

A number of prominent duos such as Eddy Manoppo/Hengky Lasut
and Denny Sacul/Munawar Sawiruddin, who have regularly
represented Indonesia at international events, are among the
participants.

Amiruddin Yusuf, Gabsi deputy chairman, hoped that their
participation would strengthen the field ahead of national
selections for the Pacific Asia Bridge Federation championship in
Chinese Taipei in July, and the Olympiad in Turkey in September.

The national selections will take place from June 29 to July
6.

Alexander Sondakh, chairman of the organizing committee for
the Wiranto Cup, said it was hoped that the event would become an
annual affair.

The tournament is named after Gabsi's former chairman, who is
currently running for president. Gabsi is now headed by Miranda
Goeltom.