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.